Bound by Love or Chains?

Chapter 2

"I am in need of a wife."

Annalise has a moment where the world stops moving and it leaves her spinning instead, free of any grounding source. When she comes crashing back down, she finds Master Elliot still there in front of her, watching her closely.

So it had happened then. For a moment, she had her doubts.

She finds her voice slowly, her thoughts drowning each other in their efforts to be recognized amongst the sudden flood.

"I'm afraid I don't understand how that pertains to whatever favor you need from me." No title or honorific at the end. If he's going to throw her for a loop like this, he's going to have to be understanding of her lack of propriety while she finds her balance again.

Nodding like he had anticipated the confusion, Elliot crosses his arms over his chest, preparing to argue his case. Annalise has to admit, he makes an imposing figure like that, physically. Tall and strong, muscular, the definition of what his title suggests: powerful.

Slowly, looking down at her with a guarded expression, he explains. "My advisors are beginning to pressure me to marry. To find a wife in order to produce an heir."

Annalise nods. Practically every man's obligation: ensure they have an heir to pass on their family name and legacy. The more prestigious the title, the more pressure to marry and produce said heir.

"You see, the problem is that I have no desire for a wife. I am not… so inclined." There was more behind his explanation that Annalise was still missing. She narrows her eyes, quickly tiring of listening to him speak in circles.

"Perhaps it would help if you were to speak plainly. I have little patience for half truths." Frustration making her brave, she presses her luck a bit. If he needs her as he says he does, he will be lenient. 

If not, it ceases to be her problem.

Elliot huffs a laugh. "You are far too bold, Annalise. Were the situation different, it would make finding a husband difficult for you."

"I am." She agrees easily. "And fortunately, I have no desire for a husband." She raises an eyebrow in challenge. "It seems on that, at least, we are in agreement." 

Looking over the man's shoulder, she sees Hammond shake with suppressed laughter, lips pressed into a tight line to trap the sound. When Elliot speaks again, it isn't directed at her anymore, although he doesn't break eye contact with her. "Do you hear the attitude she takes with me? You truly think she is the best choice?"

Shrugging out of his silent shadow role, Hammond answers, "You think any meek, timid, little thing would even stand to hear your plan?" He's smirking, making his way to Annalise and her master in the middle of the room. "Brenton, anyone else and you'd have them turning tail to run the moment you dismissed the others from the room."

Annalise is no longer certain what the expectation is for her. If Hammond can speak so freely with Elliot, so familiar, what has she stumbled into?

Hammond notes her confusion and addresses her. "What Brenton is all too eloquently trying to say," he rolls his eyes, turning to face the man briefly before looking back to Annalise. "Is that we need to find someone for him to marry. Someone who won't mind being part of a marriage that's just for show. I told him you were the best candidate."

Annalise blinks at him. "Me? His slave?" She asks in disbelief. "You think I am the best candidate to marry him? To marry a man I hate, when I have no intention of ever marrying in the first place, just so that he can carry on with whatever women he pleases while I 'do my duty' and give him an heir? Ignoring the fact I will have given up what precious little freedom I have left?"

She knows as well as any other resident of the manor that her master prefers not to be tied down to just one partner. He is wildly popular among the women for that precise image.

Hammond looks at her steadily, trying to gauge her reaction. "No," he answers slowly. He reaches out a hand and takes hold of one of Elliot's. "We are asking you to marry Brenton so he doesn't have to maintain that image any longer. And so he doesn't end up married to a real wife, with certain... expectations of her husband. Expectations he will, for obvious reasons, not be fulfilling."

Shock. Overwhelming shock is the only thing Annalise can register. She lets her eyes flick between the two men, both with hesitant expressions on their faces, before her gaze catches on their clasped hands.

Oh.

She does understand. It takes shockingly little for her to catch up. Just like they must have known to expect from her. They had chosen her for a reason, after all. Or Hammond had, at least.

"You want me to act as a front?"

Elliot looks at her almost apologetically. "It would be a marriage of convenience. My advisors would be pacified. You, of course, would be elevated to the status befitting my wife. You would have to remain here for a time, true, but then after several years, when it became clear we had done all we could to… produce an heir, we could come to an agreement of sorts."

Annalise tries to process the information being hurled at her, but it's so much. Her own swirling thoughts begin to make her dizzy, threaten to prevent her from taking in anything new. Which, considering the context of their conversation, could pose a problem as she needs to stay present for whatever remains.

"What kind of arrangement?" She hears herself ask the question and is impressed. That is a good question. She wishes she could remember thinking of it.

"Well, you say you feel caged here. I am certain we could find a cage that might please you. Away from this place." Elliot's eyes are softer than she cares to notice as he says it. Almost like he knows what those words do to her heart. Like he can feel the tightness she feels, like a fist around the organ, trying to restrict it's beating.

Or has felt it himself, his own heart struggling in the same manner.

"Away from you." She knows it's one of the things he has intentionally left unsaid. Surely he would never plan to leave the estate, not while he held the title. Which, if the plan he was presenting to her was successful, he would never have a direct heir, leaving the title to pass laterally to some other blood relation.

"Yes. I would remain on the estate." He looks at the man beside him, expression hopeful. "And with Jacob."

Hammond, or Jacob, apparently, raises their twined hands to his lips, placing a soft kiss to Elliot's knuckles.

Brenton's knuckles? Her master? How is one expected to address a man proposing a sham of a marriage? 

She is drawn out of her mind again by more words. "We would remain married, of course. You would maintain the protection of my name and be well taken care of. A portion of my assets would be set aside in your name, and your name alone. Wherever you settle, the land would, of course, be deeded to you. You would have control over the household, both here for the remainder of your stay and then, later, at the property of your choosing."

Jacob speaks up again. "We would have a lawyer draw up documents. Protections in place for both parties." Annalise jerks back, physically moved by the shock that induces. "We have no intention to take advantage of you, Miss. Neither of us are under any illusions. We are well aware that we benefit from this much more than you ever could."

Annalise looks to Elliot. "He's right. I am left with painfully few options. You have the power in this negotiation, that is no secret." He gives a rueful little smile. "My fate, in your hands."

It's so far from anything she has ever wanted for her life, but at the same time is exactly the answer she had resigned herself to never finding. Her ticket out of this place. She can see it, right there in front of her, close enough she can practically touch it. She need only reach out and take it.

"I would not hold you to any wifely expectations, for obvious reasons. Provided you remain discreet, I will afford you the same courtesy you afford me in turning a blind eye to any partners you choose to entertain, romantic or otherwise."

She nods, numb to the scandalous details being discussed. 

"As we will not be producing any children through our union, I would be accepting of any children that may come during your stay here." He looks a bit pained at the mention of children. Yes, she thinks. That must be difficult to accept in their position, with no way to have a child of their own.

She would never have guessed him to be the kind to want a child, but she supposes that is exactly the image he had been actively trying to promote, what with all the women he 'entertained' and the secret he has been so successful at hiding. 

He continues. "I would claim them, of course. Avoid scandal, ensure the 'Elliot line' doesn't die out. In name, if nothing else." He pauses a moment. "The only restriction to that would be after you've left. Timed correctly to coincide with myself paying you a visit, perhaps. But any child conceived after our separation would be held under immense scrutiny." He flicked his gaze over to Jacob and back so quickly she almost missed it. "Scrutiny I would rather avoid, if at all possible. I'm sure you can see how that would be prudent in our situation?"

She nods again. It all makes perfect sense. Everything, from the proposal to Jacob's confidence that she should be the one they spring it on. 

She finds it hard to believe, but she agrees with them. It is well thought out, it is fair; generous, even. And she could be free of this place. It would take some time, of course, but eventually.

It is a fair sight better than the outlook she had started the day with.

Jacob, seeing her furrowed brow and mistaking it for being overwhelmed by the information, is quick to reassure her. "You are free to take your time with your answer. It is no small thing we are asking of you. Take whatever time you need to think-"

She shakes her head, finding her voice again and cutting him off mid sentence. "I'll do it," she finds herself saying.

It's unclear who is more shocked, the men in front of her, or herself.