A/N: Just a little warning that like all truly good romances there must be a little angst, heartbreak and suffering before the lovers find their way to one another. Things will get a lot worse before they get better. They will suffer angst, lust, love, anger, hate and redemption.

Chapter Seven

Better Not to Know

Pricilla opted to wear one of her old brown dresses. Wearing attractive clothing had certainly not added anything to her position. As far as she knew Erik had taken no notice of how she looked during the ceremony or this morning before mayhem had taken over in the kitchen. She could excuse this morning's neglect to compliment her but on her wedding day a woman wants and needs to hear she at least doesn't look like the old sea hag on the rocks luring sailors to their death in revenge for not loving her.

Well as Pricilla reminded herself she had not been exactly forthcoming when it came to compliments. Erik had looked very dapper. More, he had looked dashingly handsome. She could admit it now, he had taken her breath away from the moment they had met and it had only gotten worse as time passed. Lord knows what sort of mess her vulnerable heart would be in with the passage of time.

Every once in a while Pricilla would cast Erik a quick look to ascertain if his angry mood had gentled into only a slight disgruntled mood. He did not speak and kept his face forward. His lips did not look to be held in a tight line. In fact they look quite…well quite delectable. Pricilla recalled how they had felt pressed to hers. Neither of them had added much more to the kiss beyond a melding of mouths. It had been enough to set off sparks inside Pricilla.

She probably had ruined any chance of him becoming less austere with her. Why should he put himself out to be pleasant when she had done nothing to earn any sort of consideration from him? First he gets stuck with her as an unwanted bride, then she nearly set fire to his home and last but not least she had nearly scalded the hide off of him.

No, she had not shown herself in a good light at all. Nervously she cast a look at Erik wondering if this trip to town had only been a ruse to get her out of his home quietly and without further damage. If that happened Pricilla could see herself hiding out in the hotel until the next train left for home.

Pricilla cursed herself for ever letting Charlotte talk her into this. To be fair and honest Pricilla admitted that it really hadn't taken all that much convincing that this would be the only option for her. Of course Charlotte had not stated it so bluntly but the had both knew the reality of the situation. The future had looked bleak and lonely. Now it appeared that Pricilla would face that lonely future once more. Perhaps she and Loretta could travel back to Boston together. They could even find rooms somewhere to share.

When Erik pulled back on the buggy's reins Pricilla looked around to see they had made the journey all the way to town without her taking any notice of her surroundings. Erik had stopped in front of a small café next to the hotel. The hotel had a wonderful dining room but the café catered to the less affluent while also serving the finest fare in town. Since Pricilla had not been made privy to this information she thought that Erik did not want anyone to see them together. Maybe he was so ashamed to be seen with her so he chose the smaller place to eat.

Breakfast had been a silent affair. Erik had wanted to say something but could not think of anything to say that sounded appropriate. What did one say to someone they did not really know? If he asked her questions that might set the conversation going in the right direction. Before Erik had worked out anything to ask the meal had been completed.

The ride to Michael's did not take long as his home stood just on the outskirts of town. He only had five acres but had made the best use of the property to optimize the space. He had a small stable where he kept two riding horses as well as two that pulled the wagon when needed.

He had planted every variety of flower one could think of. Anything that would grow in the region had been set in the ground. Charlotte had come running down the stairs where she had been on the front porch watering several potted plants while Michael cunningly took a spot that afforded him a pleasant view of his bride as she moved about on the sunny porch.

Michael felt a little surprised to see Erik. He hoped this did not mean he and Pricilla were already on the outs. Charlotte had told him that Pricilla had a very soft heart and took criticisms to heart. She had such a low opinion of her worth she believed what others said about her. She always gave in to others trying to win their approval. There was not anyone in the world Charlotte would trust with keeping her secrets or wish to have by her side when times were hard. Charlotte smiled at Michael as she clarified that now of course she had him to share and keep secrets with.

Michael greeted Erik and Pricilla wondering what had brought them to town. Surely they had plenty to do unpacking the numerous trunks his new bride had brought with her. Charlotte hugged and kissed Pricilla excited to see her so soon. There was much to tell and Charlotte felt ready to burst holding back what she wanted to impart to Pricilla.

When they had entered the house Charlotte asked Michael with a beaming smile, "Shall I make tea? I think there is still some of the apple pie left from this morning. Unlike Pricilla, Charlotte had been using a wood stove ever since her parents could not afford the added cost of gas in the house. She had learned the necessity of regulating how much fuel to use when baking or even just using the top burners.

Michael had told her last night that Erik had plans for building a storage facility for the gas so every home within the towns immediate area could benefit from the use of an efficient way to cook, light the wall lamps and eventually heat the homes. Erik seemed to be a highly intelligent man. One had to wonder why he hid his genius so far from the larger cities where his talents could earn him far more than they did her in Tyler's Crossing.

As soon as the two women had left Erik began to regal Michael with the events since they had left town yesterday. He wanted to ask Michael if it would be too soon to have the marriage annulled. No consummation had taken place so that did not add any complication. Erik could not say he felt happy to disclose that bit of humiliating information for everyone to use as fodder for gossip over the next few months. If he could think of some other believable reason he would save himself much discomfort.

In the kitchen the two women talked around what they both wanted to discuss. At last Charlotte could not withstand the need to shout out her happiness if only to her cousin.

"Oh Pricilla, Michael is the most wonderful man in the world." She laughed as she continued, "But I suppose you would say the same about Erik. I think…no, I know we will be happy."

Even in her own time of distress Pricilla found it within her to be happy for her cousin. Charlotte could not be held to blame that God had bestowed pleasant features that was only out shown by her inner goodness.

Dying to know Pricilla leaned toward Charlotte to whisper, "What was it like? Do the books do it justice or do they exaggerate?"

"It?" Charlotte questioned in bewilderment then blushed to the roots of her hair when she figured out what Pricilla referred to in such conspiratorial tones. She fidgeted a moment the grasped Pricilla's hand to drag her to the kitchen table where without really giving great detail she conveyed enough to have Pricilla agape at the telling.

Erik finally got the courage to speak his mind. "Michael this isn't going to work." Seeing Michael lifting a questioning brow Erik clarified. "This…this farce of a marriage. It was a colossal mistake. I don't know what I expected as I only went through the ceremony to keep her from being held up to ridicule. She is pleasant enough but she will never set the world on fire. Michael she is all but useless in the home. She nearly burned the house down this morning.

"Erik it has only been one day, not even that. Give it some time. Charlotte has faith in her. Why not give her a chance to prove herself to you? What harm can it do? You may even find yourself coming to care for her." Michael hoped he could convince Erik to hang in there a while longer. It would be a blow Pricilla might not recover from if half the things Charlotte had told him were true. Pricilla had not had an easy time of it. Overbearing and selfish parents had been the least of Pricilla's trials.

"You have a wife who could rival Helen of Troy while I have been stuck with…well not anyone near such beauty. I had not had expectations of anyone such as your Charlotte but I had hoped for someone I might find the least bit attractive. A lifetime is a very long time to be with someone who does not raise your ardor in the least." Erik could not admit he had found her attractive but his own insecurities concerning his manhood had let him fabricate a few untruths to aid in his cause to unbind himself from this woman before he did something that could not be taken back. Now, Michael's words were giving Erik more to consider. Perhaps with time things might work themselves out as he had first considered upon making his decision to marry a somewhat homely woman. Erik mentally corrected himself. Pricilla had some hidden innate charm that only on closer inspection could be seen.

"I suppose I have only myself to blame. I should not have let myself feel sorry for her. I am no great prize myself but for once I wanted something, someone who rose above what I felt I deserved. I have had to settle for the lesser value in everything during my youth. I had hoped to have gone past that as a man.

I think perhaps you are right though Michael. We need time to adjust. She may grow on me. Propinquity will surely allow me to find something redeeming in her. I already find her of a sweet nature even if she is not quite as well learned as I had at first thought her to be. What woman does not know how to cook? She nearly burned the hide from me during her try at burning down my house.

Erik sighed heavily. Pricilla was not at all as bad as he made her out to be. If things between them did not work out Erik wanted it to be established that her lack of looks and talents about the home were the worms eating away at their relationship and not any lack of confidence in his ability to perform his manly duties.

Michael clapped him companionably on the back in sympathy. Pricilla was very sweet but men wanted fire between the sheets, not sweet capitulation. Charlotte had been innocent much to Michael's surprise and delight. When the lights had been turned down she had become the sultry temptress he had hoped for but not expected to find.

Charlotte and Pricilla had returned to the parlor where Michael and Erik had gone when they separated from the women. They had been smiling happily after discussing all that Pricilla could look forward to once she and Erik finally came to some sort of understanding. Charlotte had assured Pricilla that no man could hold out from partaking of what they considered their husbandly rights.

When they had reached the doorway Pricilla stood stock still as Charlotte knocked into her with the tea tray. At first she did not know what had her cousin locked into place with a look of horror on her face. Removing her eyes from Pricilla Charlotte turned her attention into the room where the men were conversing or rather Erik spoke for the most part with a few additions from Michael.

After hearing the first little bit Charlotte had set the tray down on the hall table then tried to pull Pricilla back down the hall so she would not be hurt any further by that big oaf Mr. Erik Dante. Pricilla shrugged off Charlotte's hand wanting to know precisely how Erik felt. She heard far more than she had bargained for.

Every word had a blade attached that cut a piece of Pricilla's hopes and dreams out of her heart. Every syllable ingrained itself in her brain. Those thoughtless words spoken by a man who should hold her in the highest esteem opened wounds that might not ever heal. Pricilla felt as if open wounds would slowly drain the very life from her. If God could strike her deaf and blind at this very moment she would give thanks for his mercy. Unfortunately Pricilla snd Charlotte had been privy to every hurtful word.

She had known how much she lacked but had thought he could at least think of her as someone who would help fill the lonely hours of the night. With the lights off would she not feel like any other woman? Was she so impossibly ugly that even darkness could not veil the unpleasantness? As for intelligence Erik had not been interested enough to discover if she knew the difference between a pea and a turnip.

Either Charlotte or Pricilla must have made some sound for the men turned toward the doorway where Pricilla and Charlotte stood. Erik began to apologize, "I…I am so sorry. I did not know…"

Pricilla raised a hand to quiet his words that would do neither of them proud. He could not form a lie that would change what Pricilla had heard. Really it was not anything she had not suspected or thought herself. How did one need it pointed out that you were less than nothing in the scheme of things? Pricilla would save selfcastigation for later. Now she had gather all her strength to make it through the next hour or so.

Brushing her hands down the skirt of her dress, Pricilla inconsequentially noted the drab color. Was she always destined to live in this drab world? Did she not have the right to something out of life other than being pitied and overlooked because her face did not meet what men found desirable?

When Pricilla heard Erik draw breath as if to speak she quickly responded to stay any more words of either of a degrading nature or pitying sufferage. Raising her hand once more to stay whatever else Erik might say Pricilla spoke in a voice laden with tears she would not let fall. Her voice choked with emotion she said, "Well at least now there will be no expectations that will never be fulfilled. We know where we stand and can move on from here. I for one am quite happy that things have been laid out in black and white.

There can be no mistake made by me lacking in intelligent thought as I am. Pity you must sacrifice having someone more suited to your choice of companion while being stuck with me. I can't do much about my appearance but I have a solution to my lack of skills in the home. Loretta will be coming out to the house as our housekeeper. No need to worry about the expense of it for I shall take the burden of her upkeep on my own. I would hate to burden you with monetary obligations along with having me as your unwanted wife.

I do sincerely apologize for any inconvenience I may had caused you so far and any embarrassment having me at your side may cause you in the future. I will do my best not to place any further strain on your forbearance. I shall become a shadow in your home so as not to offend you further. I pray that will suffice unless that too would be unbearable to you.

Now that everything has been made clear as glass between us shall we sit and drink the tea before all of Charlotte's efforts go to waste?" Having said what she thought needed clarification Pricilla took a chair as far away from Erik as the room would allow. He need not worry she would pounce on him. He had well and truly killed any silly expectations she had of them becoming something more than distant housemates. She had held onto the dream of them coming to at least care a little for one another. Pricilla chided her schoolgirl habit of seeing only the rainbows of life without seeing the storm clouds just beyond the horizon.

Well she had Erik to thank for at last waking her up to reality. Pricilla sat trying not to look as if she had shattered inside. Outwardly she appeared not to be affected in the least by Erik's cruel words. Inside she felt as if some precious part of her had been snuffed out like an unnecessary candle's light.

Only Charlotte would know how devastated Pricilla would be to have no hope for anything but cold cordiality between her and her husband. Out of all the people Charlotte knew Pricilla had been the one who held this fairytale vision of what courtship and marriage should be. Even when they discussed the arranged marriages of the wealthy Pricilla put forth a romantic scenario for the couple. Love would wind its way around their hearts leading them into a blissful life.

Now with a few carelessly spoken phrases Erik had torn the rose colored glasses from Pricilla's eyes. He had left her not one illusion to cling to. Pricilla had been stripped bare and exposed before others instead of things being handled in private. Erik had not even afforded her that grace.