Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 107756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
“Your Grace.”
“What?” I snapped as the door opened.
“The steward?” Wallace replied.
Inhaling through my nose, I nodded. “He may enter, then call for the head guard of the grounds.”
I needed to make sure this house was secure, to see that my family was secure. I made an oath to protect them all—Aphrodite, Verity, Emeline. The world was cruel, and I did not wish for any of them to find out just how much.
22
Aphrodite
Everyone was silent.
Evander ate quietly.
Emeline ate quietly.
And so, I also ate quietly.
It had been like this yesterday, as well. I had asked him last night if something was amiss, but he merely kissed me, said no, and went to bed. I had been so busy throughout the day, seeking solutions to the issues here, that we had not talked much, and then, he had been gone for the rest of the evening. I had at least wondered where he had gone. However, he did not say a word as to where he had gone today either.
“Are you well?” I finally asked him.
“Yes, of course,” he said, seeming confused as to why I had asked. “Why?”
I thought to tell him but remembered Emeline. She ate exactly as she had yesterday for lunch, slowly and without speaking.
“Just asking,” I said, watching Emeline. If I did not know any better, I would have thought that she was trying to make us forget she was here. But she was just a child and could not be that discerning, so maybe it was just her personality. After all, Devana was quiet as well, though not like this. Regardless, that could be due to Devana’s older age. Whatever the case, I did not wish to push Emeline. But I also wanted her to know I was not ignoring her. Eating like this with us would help her become more comfortable—I hoped.
“We should have a painting commissioned,” I said as I lifted my spoon to my lips. “Of the family. What do you think?”
“That is fine,” he muttered and ate.
“Do you have any artist you prefer? I noticed the portrait of you with your mother and sister, which is lovely. He made your mother’s radiance shine.”
“Yes.”
“So, you do not have a person in mind?”
“No, whomever you choose is fine.”
He felt very distant and cold and I did not understand why. Did he not want me to talk about the painting? Or maybe he did not want to speak about his mother. Fine. I would focus on Emeline.
“Tomorrow, I will go into town. Emeline, would you like to join me?” I asked as she lifted a carrot to her mouth and paused.
“Into town?” Evander cut in, a grimace on his face. “Whatever for?”
“Tradition,” I replied, not sure why he was looking at me like that. “I was taught that a new mistress of the house gives gifts to the tenants and goes to town, so the people may see and get to know her—well, me. Did you not hear me last night? I asked if it was acceptable to give bread.”
His continued confounded gaze told me he was not aware of a word I had said, which made me wonder. Had he ignored me the whole night, and I did not realize?
“You wish to give them bread?” he asked.
“Not just bread, it is more like a basket of goods with bread, jams, fruits, and other things. They are preparing them now,” I explained.
“If the servants are already preparing the baskets, can they not make the deliveries themselves?” he questioned as he lifted his glass to his lips.
“Does that not defeat the point if I am not there? It is I who am familiarizing myself to them,” I asked in return.
“I do not see why that is needed.”
I was quickly growing annoyed by this. “I do not see why it is a problem.”
He frowned, leaning back in his chair. “It is merely unsafe for you to wander, Aphrodite.”
“Wander? Is this not your land? How can I wander?”
He sighed as though I were being difficult. Before I could ask him the actual reason behind his objection, Wallace entered the dining room with a letter, reminding me we were not in private. I glanced at Emeline, who had now stopped eating altogether.
“Have the servants deliver the baskets on your behalf,” he said, rising from his chair, his eyes on the letter. “I must go. I will see you later this evening.”
He did not wait for either Emeline or me to respond before he walked out, leaving Wallace in the dining room with us.
“Is everything to your liking, Your Grace?” Wallace asked me.
“Yes, everything is fine.” It was not. But I could not say that aloud, nor was it fair to take my anger out on him or the staff.
“Your Grace?” Mrs. Watson said as she entered the room, hands clasped in front of her. “If you are finished, I can take the miss for her lessons.”