Chapter 12 - Time to think

Jenny left the house and road towards the park, where she had arranged to meet Rowan, though now that she thought about it, maybe what she actually needed was some time alone to think. After all, it was not as if Rowan was an unbiased party in this situation.

Rowan greeted as she arrived at the lake, which had already become their usual meeting place.

"Jenny," he said casually as he greeted her with a kiss on the top of her knuckles. "I trust that my service has provided you with whatever you desire so far?" He took a step closer as he assisted her off her horse. "That is… If you do not desire anything more?"

Jenny could feel herself blush - she simply couldn't help it, it had been a while since Ezra had spoken to her in that way. "I'm sorry," she said and pulled away slightly, "my head is far too filled for any such thoughts."

Rowan lifted his eyebrows, "you are worried about something. I do not hope your encounters with me have brought you into trouble. I will, of course, take full responsibility if your husband wishes to take revenge."

"Nono, nono," Jenny quickly said, panicking for a moment. "It is no such thing. My husband is barely jealous. He is only worried about his own reputation."

"I see," Rowan said with a single nod.

"But that is not what worries me," Jenny continued and sat down on the bench nearby.

Rowan joined her and said nothing as he waited for her to continue her explanation.

"I cannot live with him anymore. I want to divorce him, but it is not so simple." She pulled her legs slightly closer to herself.

Rowan nodded silently to allow her to continue at her own pace.

"I'm afraid he won't be heartbroken if I divorce him. I'm afraid he won't care." She sighed. "It will only portray me as the bad wife, and he will be pitied and quickly remarry someone wealthy." Another sigh. "And I will be left with nothing. Barely any money, and a reputation to drive me out of the city."

Rowan continued nodding, "I see. It is quite the situation you have been placed in."

Jenny sighed, "I thought I could plan myself out of it. I thought I could exit this easily, but now… everything seems hopeless."

Rowan turned his head towards her and reached his hand out to touch her on her waist and the other to turn her face towards his. "Everything is not lost. Listen to me."

His intense eyes stared into hers. "Your plan has barely had a chance to fold itself out into its full glory."

Jenny stopped breathing for a moment and couldn't help but nod. "Alright," she said and gasped quickly.

"I say you try to enjoy this time of uncertainty, take every chance you have to make his life miserable, and after all, what better chance to make this life miserable, than being a disobedient, unmanageable wife?"

Jenny smiled a little and finally laughed, as the thought of doing all the things Ezra hated the most in a wife was quite comical. "Alright I guess," she said and bit her lips lightly to stop herself from smiling too broadly, "that does sound fun."

Rowan smiled wickedly at her, "then why don't we start now?"

"Now?" Jenny slightly screamed as she panicked for a second, as the thought of an intimate moment in the middle of the park was perhaps just a little over her limits.

"I have something I want to show you in a place you most defiantly should not be seen."

Jenny's heart calmed down and returned to its normal pace. "A place I most defiantly should not be seen, does sound fun," she said and lifted her one eyebrow, "but could I know what place it is before we go there?"

Rowan considered for a moment, his lips slightly purged, very kissable, Jenny thought, before she shook her head to regain her focus.

"No," Rowan said with a grin, "I don't think you need to know." He grabbed her around her waist and pulled her up from the bench. "You should have a few good surprises to balance out the bad surprises."

Jenny shook her head a little, but laughed at him anyway, "but wouldn't that demand that I trusted you?"

"You don't trust me?" Rowan asked and pulled her closer, their lips only centimeters from each other.

Jenny shook her head slightly, "I trust no one anymore," she said and pulled out of his grip, still with a smile on her face.

"Alright then," Rowan answered, "but you still haven't convinced me to tell you anything before we get there."

Jenny shook her head as she stood with her back towards Rowan and jumped in the saddle on her own. "Okay, you have me convinced. I'm flowing over with anticipation. Can we go now?"

Rowan walked over to his own horse, "I would say it is best experienced in the evening and night, but perhaps for a first visit the daytime might be preferable."

Jenny smiled as she forgot all about her worries from before, "great, let's go." She started riding before quickly stopping. "Which way is it?"