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)
“It is much better than I could manage. You must keep it well,” Evander said to her, and she nodded.
“Papa, are you still mad?”
The room stilled, and I wished to sink into a hole, vanishing from the earth. Immediately, I felt Verity’s, Silva’s, and my brother’s eyes upon me, but I did my best just to watch Emeline.
“I am not mad.” He cupped her cheek. “I just have not gotten much sleep, that is all.”
“Because you are sleeping alone?”
Kill me.
Hide me.
Dear God, please save me. She was worse than Abena!
Evander
They had come at the very worst possible time.
“What is going on with you and my sister?” Damon questioned now that we were in my study.
I was sure that, after Emeline had thoroughly humiliated me and after a painfully awkward dinner, the situation between Aphrodite and me would be clear enough for him to ask. I knew, and yet I still did not wish to have the conversation.
“It is nothing of concern,” I muttered, pouring myself some brandy.
“You are drinking, and she has not been in your rooms in three days?”
I turned to him. “Do you not feel as though you are crossing a rather personal line here?”
“Belclere Castle is only a day’s ride away, so if you do not want my sister, I can take her—”
“I would sooner kill you,” I snapped, glaring at him. “She may be your sister, but she is my wife now. The roles are changed. You do not—”
“Relax.” Damon chuckled, taking the glass from my hand, “I merely wished to see that you still burned with such a passion for her now that you had finally obtained her.”
“I am eternally inflamed.” I filled another glass.
“Then what is the issue?”
“Must your family always share?”
“Must your family always withhold?” he shot back. He sat comfortably upon the couch across from me. “Even when people are trying to help you, both you and your sister are withdrawn, though she hides it better than most. We are now family. Why hold back?”
“What does that mean?” I sat up when he brought my sister into this. “Did something happen with Verity?”
He opened his mouth and then closed it once more. “I shall tell you what happened with your sister, should you tell me what occurred with mine.”
“Damon, I am not in the mood.”
“Very well then.” He finished off his brandy. “I am weary from my travels and will make myself comfortable in your home for the night, brother-in-law, before my wife and I go home. Should you have questions about Verity, you may ask Verity. But I doubt she shall speak on it, as my sister will be silent on whatever is going on with you. Good night.”
Dammit.
“Is it not possible for us to move forward?” I asked him as he reached the door. “Why must everyone keep asking questions about what happened before? I can see it in your sister’s eyes. She wishes to know everything about my family’s sordid past. All the world knows it was not the best of times, and even still, she persists.”
“Has it ever occurred to you that maybe you are the one not moving forward?”
I did not understand. “Of course I am. Can you not see me—”
“We do see,” he interrupted, shaking his head. “That is the problem. That is most likely why my sister is seeking answers. You are carrying the burden of it all. It unsettles you and strips the joy from your face. So, of course, she wishes to understand why. Women, I have noticed, are inquisitive creatures, whether it be Pandora’s box or Eve in the Garden. They shall seek that knowledge.”
“In both of those circumstances, did that not lead to terrible trouble for the rest of mankind?”
“And yet here we all are, surviving this terrible trouble alongside them, so surely we are as mad they.” He laughed, as did I, shaking my head.
I would rather answer her questions than suffer from the lack of her.
“Verity,” Damon said with seriousness, “had terrors most nights. Once we realized this, we sought to get her care in any way possible, even calling for Dr. Darrington to speak with her. It seemed to be of little help. I believe Verity in the end grew tired of pretending she was well, and she wished to return here.”
I knew it. She must have forced herself to stay all this time for my sake. “Thank you for escorting her.”
“Of course. As I said, we are family. I hope you both shall learn to lean on us from time to time,” he replied. All I could do was nod, for he was exactly like his sister, requesting I do something so simple yet utterly antithetical to everything I had been taught.
26
Aphrodite
“Are you in need of anything else?” I asked from the door of the guest bedroom.
“No. You have been a most gracious host,” Silva replied. “You are a fine mistress.”