Finding Him

14l Switching To Coach

He was shrugging on his night shirt when he heard Hadassah emerging from the tub. He assumed she was unclad, a part of him wishing to regain his sight long enough to see her. In only a few hours, they would be married and if she would let him, they would consummate their marriage.

Heat climb up the back of his neck so fast, settling on his cheeks and setting his entire face ablaze as he imagined what their first night together would be like. Never, in a million years did he imagine he would be married, and to a lady. He had always imagined himself trapped in a building somewhere with servants to see to his needs. He never thought of marriage nor possessing love. Yet, here he stood, about to be married. He would have marriage but he doubted he would have love.

He heard her silent footsteps cross the room, the sound of fabrics following and he immediately guessed she was trying to find her nightdress. The noise stopped, his ears struggling to listen for more sounds of her actions around the room. He didn't hear anything else, only the soft sounds of her breathing. She was to his right hand side, he thought, sensing her. She most likely sat on the edge of the bed with her back to him.

Curious, "Hadassah?" He missed hearing her movements, he thought, surprising himself. How had he moved from hating the idea of a valet, to enjoying the sound of his valet, who was now his soon-to-be wife's, movement?

"Do you need something?" He was right, she was seated on the bed.

"No, I was making certain you were still here. You were being too silent."

"I was braiding my wet hair, I would hate for it to get tangled."

Nodding to her words, he moved with great caution around the bed, his leg bumping against the wood once in a while. It was a good thing there was a small carpet spread on the ground before the bed, he thought. He had felt it under his feet.

Tapping the bed, he felt four pillows on it. He carried two in his arms and walked over to where he knew the carpet was sprawled on it. He placed the pillows on the carpet.

"You intend to sleep on the floors?"

Surprised at the disapproval in Hadassah's voice as she voiced her complaints, he nodded solemnly. "It is only proper."

"Please, Daniel, do not feel pressured to sacrifice so much for me. You have made it clear to the owner of the boarding house that we are married, have you not? Also," He heard her walk over to where he stood. "We are to be married tomorrow. Sooner or later," She took his arm and led him around the bed before helping him settle on it. "We shall share a bed."

"Hadassah?" He took hold of her wrist as he felt her hold on his weakening.

She stood frozen for a few seconds. When she spoke, he realized their faces were only inches away from each other.

The more he knew her, the more of her he realized he wanted to know. He had been cruel to her for nothing, absolutely cruel. And now, they were to be married. He knew he didn't want their marriage to be built on his past stupidity, he wanted it to be built on perhaps a friendship, knowing love was too much to ask for.

Her closeness reminded him of the night before, the evening he had gone down on his knees and asked her to marry him. His actions had been spontaneous and devoid of common sense. He knew he hadn't thought it through, acting completely on the commands of his heart. He had knelt before her, realizing he wanted to marry her and not for the reasons everybody else thought but for the reason of the simple answer she had given to his question; she would love him irrespective of his blindness. It had been the first time in his life that his heart skipped a beat, forcing him to his knees before her.

"Forgive my cruelty over the past few months. You didn't deserve it."

"You have done more than enough to earn forgiveness; you have given me hope of something better." Her soft breath tickled his face, his hand unconsciously shooting up to caress her cheek.