Sam Sook and her mother were walking up the path to their house when the woman’s elderly neighbor stopped them both.
“What’s this I hear, Sam Sook? You’re getting married to the young Kim Yeo Wool?”
The first thing that Sam Sook noticed was the woman’s use of her given name. And the lack of her title. But even that discourtesy did not prepare her for the next words that flowed like poison from her lips.
“You will not be his first choice of bride. He might marry you. But you’ll never be beloved. He will seek a younger wife at some point. Men enjoy young wives. Someone innocent – and inexperienced – whom they can mold to their will. Why do you think Lord Jeong wanted you?”
Sam Sook gaped in the presence of such spiteful words. And wondered what business of this woman her love life was. Why were other women always so petty? Couldn’t she be allowed to enjoy her life for once? To revel in the sweet attentions of a youthful gentleman?
So what if Yeo Wool was nearly three years younger than her? He made her feel oddly alive. Wonderfully alive. Desirable. Adored. She had never felt this way when her husband had looked at her. Se Ho had loved her in his own way.
Lord Jeong had been kind to her. And lavished her with gifts. But she had always felt that their relationship more greatly resembled the friendship that she had enjoyed with her father. It had certainly not been that of a connection with a fiery lover. Her husband had been gentle with her and seen to her comfort until he’d been too frail to enjoy physical intimacies anymore.
But she had rarely derived pleasure from the experience. She’d simply endured it. Waiting for the times when Se Ho would once again wish merely to speak with her. She’d enjoyed those moments in his bed the most. Scintillating conversation. Intellectually, they had had much in common. They’d even enjoyed similar reading material. They had spoken for many hours at length on various topics. Always savoring each other’s company and opinions.
But Lord Jeong had never made her heart flutter.
Certainly not the way Yeo Wool did.
And the way she felt when he touched her, his fingertips simply gliding along the top of her hand or over her arm, gave her hope that maybe someday she would be able to do more than simply endure his presence in her bed. She was already fighting an uphill battle in her relationship with him. Why had this vindictive woman had to spill such poison into her ears just a few days before her wedding to the beautiful man?
The woman’s words were a crueler echo of her own. Her promise to Yeo Wool that if he grew tired of her and desired a younger, more willing bride, she would step aside and allow him complete freedom to pursue a second wife. So why did this woman’s words sting so much? Was it because Sam Sook still doubted her fitness as a wife? She remained uncertain about her ability to welcome his touch in less innocuous places than her hand or her arm.
She delighted in his kisses. And in his innocent caresses.
But sex was an altogether different animal. And the traumas of the past kept being replayed in her nightmares of late. How to overcome them? Could she and Yeo Wool truly be happy together? Or was she about to make him the most miserable man on earth?
But then she thought of Se Ri and Se Yeon. And their joy when they’d discovered that Yeo Wool was going to become their father. She couldn’t disappoint all three of them, could she? Just to give in to her qualms?
“Han Bit Dasom,” Lady Yang suddenly bit out, “you will apologize this instant to my daughter.”
The woman instantly stiffened. “What? What disrespect is this?”
“Disrespect?!” Sam Sook’s mother thundered. “You just spoke the rudest words that I have ever had the displeasure of hearing pass anyone’s lips! And if you do not apologize to my daughter right now, I will never speak to you again.”
Lady Yang could feel her daughter’s distress. She wasn’t exactly sure what was going on with Sam Sook, but ever since she’d spilled Se Ri’s secret to Lady Yang, Sam Sook had been different. She’d been on edge in Lady Yang’s house. Clearly uncomfortable with her daughter’s bedroom. She had, in fact, asked for a completely different set of rooms for her and the girls a few weeks back. After Yeo Wool had proposed to her.
But in Yeo Wool’s presence, Sam Sook seemed to come alive. Lady Yang had never seen her daughter so happy. Nor had she heard her laugh as much as she did when the young man came to visit. And he clearly adored both Se Ri and Se Yeon. And Lady Yang adored him.
So she was not about to allow anyone to badmouth him. Or her precious daughter.
“Well,” their neighbor huffed, “I’m sure I meant no disrespect. Just pointing out the obvious.” Her beady eyes squinted up at Sam Sook. Who was a head taller than her. “You are three years older than the man.”
Lady Yang opened her mouth. But Sam Sook stopped her with a gentle hand on her arm. “It’s all right, Eomma. I’m going inside to pack. Good day to you, Han Bit Dasom,” she bowed to the elderly woman before hightailing it into the house. She had no desire to encounter that woman ever again.
And right now, she had a wedding for which to prepare. And a marriage for which to plan.
Her girls were so excited to be moving into Yeo Wool’s house as they called it. She smiled as she thought of them. Right now, they were playing at Jung Sook’s house. Happily surrounded by Bo A’s dollies. And enjoying Lady Kim’s rice cakes and tea. Which Se Ri swore up and down were the best in the whole wide world.
“Don’t tell Grandma,” she’d whispered into Sam Sook’s ear.
Her lips twitched recalling her daughter’s secrecy. That secret, at least, was a harmless one. Although, on second thought, her mother might not agree.
Either way, Sam Sook needed to carry on with her task. She was marrying Yeo Wool in four days. And she intended to have these trunks removed to his mother’s house today.
Was she crazy to be contemplating marrying the man and moving in with his mother?
Sam Sook didn’t think so. She had discovered that his assessment of his mother’s feelings concerning her was accurate. The woman loved her. And Sam Sook adored her. She was forthright and had a sharp tongue. But she was also kind and always seemed to have the best interests of her son, Sam Sook, and her little daughters at heart.
Still, when Sam Sook entered the sitting room to greet Yeo Wool a couple of hours later, she quizzed him. “Are you truly happy to be marrying me? Even with our current arrangement?”
“You mean the arrangement where I get to hold you in my arms all night long while we enjoy sleeping – just sleeping?” He crumpled his brow and pouted his lips for a moment before he continued, “Well – and maybe a little kissing – in the same bed?”
She nodded.
He smiled at her. “Yes. I am perfectly happy with that arrangement. It sure beats sharing a room with four other hwarang and enduring Seon Woo’s snoring.”
“And you’re free to choose another bride if you tire of me,” she murmured as her gaze slid away from his.
“Which is never going to happen,” he responded flatly.
“Isn’t it?” she asked as her eyes wandered back his way again.
“No, it isn’t,” he enunciated each word clearly before planting a kiss on the tip of her nose. “Now, that’s quite enough of that nonsense. What brought up this unsavory topic of conversation?”
She shrugged.
“You’re not still thinking about that nosy woman’s crude remarks, are you, darling?” her mother queried as she slipped into the room.
Sam Sook stiffened. Had her mother overheard their entire conversation?
“Why would you ask that, Eomma?”
“Because you just told Yeo Wool he could choose another bride if he tired of you.”
“Did I? I don’t remember that,” she lied. “What else did I say?”
“I don’t know. Those were the first words I caught. But I am sure you said them. Don’t give that man an inch more than you truly want him to take. In my experience, men take a foot for every inch, you know.” Her mother glared knowingly at her.
Breathing a sigh of relief that her mother hadn’t overheard his comment about their uncustomary arrangement, she responded, surprised, “Even Appa?”
“Most certainly Appa. Why do you think I made it very clear to him when he sought my hand that I had better be the only woman he ever asked that question of?”
Yeo Wool grinned. “Did you really?”
Lady Yang glanced at him and quirked one perfectly manicured eyebrow. “You better believe it. Why do you think we were so happy, Sam Sook?”
“Because Appa was wonderful.”
“Hmm. And I kept him that way,” her mother declared confidently.
“How did you keep him that way?” Sam Sook wondered.
Lady Yang glanced from her daughter to her beau. “Hmm. I will explain that to you later, dear.”
Yeo Wool’s eyebrows flew up to smack the ceiling as he bit back a grin. Wondering just exactly what that dignified lady planned to spill into his fiancé’s ears.
“Anyway,” Lady Yang continued, “you needn’t worry about that vicious, old woman’s chatter. You two are going to be perfectly happy together.”
“We are?” Sam Sook queried. “How can you be so sure?”
“Because, darling, I’ve seen the way Yeo Wool looks at you. And I’ve seen the way he makes you smile. You have absolutely nothing to worry about. Now, you two, come. It’s time for dinner!”
Yeo Wool glanced around. “Where are my little darlings?” he quizzed his beloved a moment later.
“Oh, they’re at Jung Sook’s.”
He frowned. “But I wanted to see them,” he pouted.
And Sam Sook laughed. “Pretty soon, you shall see them all the time.”
“And it still won’t be enough. My duties with the hwarang are taking up entirely too much of my time these days.”
“It’s all right, Yeo Wool. We’ll be waiting for you when you come home each time.”
He grinned at her. “I know. That’s what keeps me going.”
“Is it really?”
“Mm-hmm. Well…that. And this.” He tugged her close suddenly and bussed her lips.
In full view of her mother.
“Yeo Wool!” Sam Sook gasped, slapping him on the top of his arm.
“What? Your mother enjoys a good show. Same as anyone.”
Lady Yang chuckled. “That I do, you rascal. That I do. And I can’t wait for the show you’re going to put on in four days. When you will become my son-in-law,” she averred proudly.
He flashed his beautiful grin at her. And the woman was putty in his hands. Unlike her prickly daughter. Who pulled herself out of his arms. And marched towards the dining room.
“Come along, darling,” Lady Yang commanded as she turned towards the gorgeous man.
She reached out to take his arm. And bent near to his ear. “My daughter will learn – eventually – not to pass up such delicious occasions. No matter who is watching.” Then she chuckled as he led her into the dining room.
And Yeo Wool beamed. He was pretty sure that he had won the hearts of all four of the ladies in this household. But one thing was for certain. They had all won his.
