Melliere Manor was a grand confection of a building with sprawling gardens, six bedrooms in the main house, and numerous offices and receiving rooms. 

Sir Linden's house looked like it could fit inside the Melliere's ballroom. 

"I know it's not as grand a home as you're used to," Linden's voice was sincere, apologetic.

Dark green ivy speckled with soft blue flowers climbed up the front of the house. Someone guided sheep through a side gate while two young children chased each other along the fence, stopping to peek over at the couple every few feet. 

"It's lovely, truly." 

Anise's words were drowned out by the horse's hooves. The animal seemed to pick up its pace, eager to get home. 

She meant it. The Manor had always felt too big. Every room was drafty unless it was stuffed with too many people. Your steps always echoed. A cozy home like this, more a cottage than anything, suited her just fine. 

Sir Linden dismounted, maintaining a hand on her waist to steady her as he did so. He reached for her, and though it made her red in the face, she let him help her to the ground. 

"Th-thank you..." Anise mumbled, gaze falling to the ground. He was standing so very close.

"Of course." 

The few staff members Linden employed had hurried out of the house to greet them.. a cook, two maids, two stablehands. All of them greeted her with wide smiles and open curiosity. 

He began walking the horse to the stables, and she realized he had no intention of introducing her. 

"H-hello. It's good to meet you all..." She had no idea how this was supposed to go. Was she supposed to make some kind of speech? Or something? "I'm Anise Bro-- ... Dathis." She said his last name quietly. 

It was a weird thing, to become someone else with just a few words from a priest.

The older of the two maids stepped forward. She reminded Anise of Violet and Kalina's grandmother -- short, plump, with greying hair and smile lines across her face. The maid curtsied and said, "I'm Elaine. This is Meredith. Our cook, Giselle, and the boys -- Graham and Nathan." 

Each member of the staff bowed or curtsied as their name was called, and Anise did her best to try and memorize the names. 

"Thank you. Hello. It's... good to meet you." Did I say that already? 

The line of them didn't seem to mind. 

Elaine gave a nod. "Alright, you lot, back to work." She smiled up at Anise and came to stand beside her. Elaine shot a look towards the stables, where Sir Linden had disappeared off to. "Gods know he's not one for proper manners... If you need anythin', you come to me, alright?" 

"Um, sure. Yes. I will?" 

Elaine gave a firm nod, the same she'd used to dismiss the staff, and turned to enter the house. "I'll have the boys bring up your things, my lady..."

Anise followed after the woman.

Inside, the house was just as small as it seemed on the outside. The stairs were narrow, the windows let in partially-shaded sunlight. 

"Upstairs is the bedchamber. You want me to 'ave Meredith set up a bath?"

"No, that's... thank you. I'm fine."

Another of Elaine's quick nods.

Anise was led into a room that was almost bare of decoration. The large windows with their full curtains were the only true ornamentation in the room. A large, but simple bed dominated the space. 

She couldn't stop staring at it. 

"Forgive my impertinence, but..." Elaine looked at her carefully, her voice going soft. "Did your mother teach you... how it is, between a man and wife?"

Anise swallowed hard. "I know about... lovemaking and bedsport, if that's what you mean."

The older woman looked utterly relieved. "Apologies, my lady. I know some noblewomen don't learn those sortsa things. Unladylike, pah!" 

Her bluntness made Anise smile. 

Elaine stepped to one of the windows and yanked the curtains closed. 

The room became a little darker.

Anise hugged her arms around herself. Her situation suddenly felt very, very real.

She stood beside the enormous bed, her heart racing. One Winter's End, the Melliere's family came to stay with them, and the girls had stayed up late into the night whispering with their cousins. They lived in the city, and the girls had opened Anise's eyes to... a lot of things. 

They said if he's too rough or too big, it's painful, even to the point of drawing blood... Anise bit her lip, her shoulder muscles tense.

Elaine whipped another curtain closed just as heavy footfalls sounded on the stairs.

Oh gods... Please have mercy on me...

Those footsteps made it to the door. Sir Linden made a surprisingly timid knock at the door.

"Come in, m'lord. I'll be outta your hair quick as a wink."

"Thank you, Elaine," rumbled Linden's low voice as he entered the room.

The glow of candles lit around the room replaced the brightness of sunlight with a soft gloom. But as Elaine pulled the final curtain shut, wrapping the room in darkness, every flame danced wildly and cast ever-shifting shadows across the room.

 Her husband's features warped in the light, his eyes dark with shadow. He looked like a monster from a fairytale. 

Get a hold of yourself, Anise... She chided herself in her mind. 

Elaine gave Anise a final warm smile, bobbed a curtsy, then hurried out of the room. 

The bedroom door made a soft click as it latched shut.

And she was finally alone with him.