Abigail stared at the massive castle with the flying flags and expanse of land and sea further than the eye could see. Daredevil moved up beside Abigail's char-colored mare and tried to rub against her. The mare tried to bite him, but Abraham rubbed her head, and she calmed down.

"Your land is beautiful."

Abraham smiled at her awe-struck sounding voice. "The Eastern side of the castle is ours. We will have privacy to consummate our marriage. "

Abigail pretended not to hear him as she watched Caroline and Ichabod continuing towards the western side of the castle. It would take a person about an hour to make the journey on foot.

"Why are they leaving?"

"Ich lives on the Western side. My father, the middle."

Abigail frowned when her mare Ember began following Daredevil towards the castle, ignoring her pulling on the reigns.

Abraham chuckled. "She wants to sleep in a barn and eat good food, maybe some apples."

Abigail relaxed the reigns. "Maybe we can explore this land."

"Later,"

"Today," Abigail smiled when he turned slightly and smirked at her.

"Next week, you will not be able to ride,"

He saw the confused look on her face give way to the realization that consummating their marriage would leave her bedridden.

"How can sleeping with you be a good thing if I can't walk afterward?"

Abraham chuckled. "I will show you why it is a good thing."

Abigail spurred Ember forward to walk beside Daredevil. "Maybe we can tell everyone that we did it and then go exploring."

"No,"

Abraham smiled as he looked forward as they headed towards the castle.

"Shouldn't we get to know each other before sleeping together?"

"We will get to know each other, and we won't be sleeping when we do it."

Abigail frowned at his smiling. "I am having misgivings about this marriage Abraham."

"No, you are not, and don't fear what will happen between us wife, I will be gentle with you, most of the time."

Abigail saw the way his eyes darkened when he turned towards her and spoke those words. A gasp escaped her lips, and Abigail spurred Ember into a hard gallop, racing towards the castle. Abraham chuckled, and Daredevil took off after her.

The guards swung the gate open as the char-colored mare barrelled towards it. Abigail forced Ember into a hard stop and then slid out of the saddle. A red-haired woman stood at the castle doors laughing, and she pointed towards the stairs ten feet behind her. Abigail ran into the castle. Abraham and Daredevil raced through the gate.

Katrina shook her head as Abraham got down from the saddle. "Off to a great start, I see, Prince Abraham."

Abraham chuckled at the healer. "As I have planned it, Katrina. Have all my requests been met?"

Katrina smiled. "Yes, your bride will fall into the bath if you don't hurry."

Abraham quickly walked into the castle and ran up the stairs.

Abigail stood in her bedroom with a mouth gaped open. Twenty-five to thirty floors to ceiling open windows with curtains littered the wall. The bright light from outside almost blinded Abigail, causing her to turn away; that's when she saw the massive bed. It was tucked away in a corner for seclusion from everything.

"No one will hear you moan for me." His whisper in her ear made her body tense.

Abigail moved away from Abraham and then turned and faced him. He released his long hair from the high ponytail and walked towards her as she walked backward.

"This room is not to my liking."

Abraham unhooked the light armor as he stared at her. "I will fuck you in this room, and you will like it then."

Her gasp made him chuckle as the armor fell to the floor.

"That is not something you should say to your wife."

"No, it is something that I shall do to my wife constantly."

Abraham suddenly reached out and circled his arm around her waist to stop her from falling into the floor bath. Abigail's hands clung to his shirt as his lips claimed hers.

Caroline prepared to dismount her horse as Ichabod suddenly appeared beside her. His blue eyes stared up at her as his hand touched her waist. Caroline stared down at him for a moment, then relented to his request. She felt his strength as he helped her down. Once her feet touched the straw, Caroline expected him to let go, but Ichabod held her. He stared down into her green eyes, getting lost in them and forgetting why he was angry with her.

Why was he staring at this outsider as if he wanted her? Prince Ichabod was hers, not some English tramp with fire hair. She was too fragile to survive here. And if by some miracle his wife survived the first week, I will make sure that the English bitch does not live another day. Della spoke the words in her head as she stood at the stable entrance watching her Prince lower his lips to his breathless wife.

"Prince Ichabod," A dark-haired woman ran up to the pair, smiling. Ichabod turned and faced the woman returning her smile. "Della, This is my wife, Caroline."

The woman smiled at Caroline and then curtsied. "I am pleased to meet you."

Caroline smiled. "I am pleased to meet you too."

"Everyone is inside waiting for you two," Della said, moving her long dark hair from her green eyes to view Ichabod better. He was so handsome. Della dreamed about him day and night.

Ichabod nodded, placed his arm around Caroline's waist, and led her from the stables.

Della watched them leave and let her smile fade. Why did he bring that woman to their home? First, she planned to scheme her way to becoming the Prince's mistress, then he went away and came back with a wife. Della looked at Caroline's horse, Wildfire, and pulled out a small blade and cut the horse on the snout. The beast grunted and moved away from her. Della walked from the stables and towards the castle, planning mischief for the new woman of the house.

The water came to her neck and only to his chest as he stalked her around the 10-foot wide bath that was 5 feet deep. Abigail floated back to the left side as Abraham pressed his body against hers.

"Do not fear what will happen between us, Abigail." His voice was deep in her ear.

Abigail closed her eyes. She did not understand the wonderful tensing of the flesh between her thighs whenever Abraham did anything or said anything. His hands touched every inch of her skin in the warm water.

He lifted her slightly as his body moved between her thighs. Abigail moaned, feeling his muscle and flesh press hard against her.

His kiss littered her neck.

"You shall know what bedridden means, my wife. You shall enjoy every minute of it."

Abigail moaned again as Abraham moved his hips towards her. His lips claimed hers again, and he pressed her hard against the wall of the bath. Abigail's arms circled his neck as she kissed him back, wanting to know just how powerful her husband was.

Henry barely made it into his hall before Katrina handed him a letter.

"What is this?"

"It came from Princess Caroline's parents."

Henry raised an eyebrow. "That was faster than we normally get letters."

Katrina frowned. "What do they want? Surely they will give her some time to get accustomed to her life here."

Henry opened the letter and began reading. "Surely, they will not. They will arrive in two days."

Katrina's face showed surprise. "Don't they trust you, my King?"

Henry chuckled. "Perhaps they are overprotective of Caroline and want to make sure that she is good."

Katrina shook her head. "You are a mighty King. What would they fear?"

Henry smiled. "We shall see. Jenis, "

The lead housekeeper bowed to the King. "Prepare a room for our arriving guests in my side of the castle."

The blonde-haired woman bowed and went to do the King's bidding.

Henry smiled at Katrina. "I want to get to know my in-laws."

Katrina chuckled. "When will you inform them of the visit?"

"Later, let them enjoy each other."

Katrina bowed as the King walked down the hall towards his bedroom.

Author's Notes

I hope that you enjoy this chapter. Please feel free and inspired to comment.~Frostbytefire