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)
Which was foolish.
“Please…no…”
As I passed Verity’s room, I paused, hearing the sound of sobbing. I stepped to the door and was preparing to knock when a hand caught my wrist. And there was Evander looking down at me, his expression strained and heavy.
“Waking her will make her feel worse,” he whispered gently. “It’s best to pretend you do not hear. No matter how hard that may be.”
“But is she all right?” The sound of her crying clearly said no.
“It is a nightmare. She shall feel better with the sunlight.”
“The sunlight? What do you…” I stopped as I felt the question forming once more. “All right.”
He stared into my eyes but said nothing.
“Evander, my wrist.”
“Forgive me,” he muttered and released me.
We both stood there until the sound of Verity’s whimpers was too much for him, and he turned to the door. “On second thought, I shall sit with her for a moment.”
“Very well, good night.”
“Aphrodite,” he called before I could leave, and so I turned to him again. “Are you going to Emeline’s room?”
“Yes.” I nodded and then added, “Just for one more night.”
“Should you not be tired, can you wait up for me? It will take only a few moments for Verity to request I leave her be.” The corner of his lip turned up, but that smile did not reach his eyes at all.
“I shall wait at my nook.”
“Will you be able to find it?” He now smiled.
“Do not underestimate me.”
“Never! I shall see you soon.”
I nodded. “You shall.”
He offered me his lamp. I had been so entranced by his eyes that I had not even realized he had one in his hands.
Taking it, I waited for him to go in before I made my way. I was unsure what he wished to say, and I was now even more concerned about Verity.
“No,” I muttered to myself. No more questioning. If he did not tell me, then I would not ask. Could I really do that? Knowing myself, the answer was a resounding no, but I would at least make some effort.
When I stepped into our bedroom again, it occurred to me how long it had been since I had been here. While three days was a relatively short time in the grand scheme, entering my own space felt…pleasant. Setting the lamp upon the side table, I took my seat at the window, where a blanket now rested. I glanced at the bed to see it was made. However, the pillow on his side was gone and was now also in my nook.
He could not have possibly slept in this space, could he?
That question, along with several others, spun in my mind until I heard the door open, and he entered.
“You do not need to stand.”
“Force of habit,” I muttered, taking a seat again.
He nodded, coming around the table to sit beside me. He adjusted his back against the wall, and he looked out at the dark forest before us.
“I—”
“The—”
We had both spoken at the same time and laughed.
“We are now awkward.”
“I do not wish us to be,” he replied.
“Neither do I.” I wanted us to be as we were. “I will not ask anymore. Anything you wish to tell me or not tell me, it is fine.”
He lifted my hand and kissed the back, much longer than necessary, but I did not mind his lips on me.
“Maybe I should open Pandora’s box and sort it out with you,” he muttered.
“What?” Damn, that was a question. “Whatever it is, you do not have to.”
“Thank you for saying so, but that is not what you truly want, is it?” he asked, our hands interlocked. “I have always told myself I would give you the world should you ask, should it mean you would be with me. Now you are, and you ask me about things I do not wish to speak of for so many reasons.”
“Then do not.”
“That is not what you want,” he said again.
“Marriage is not only about me.”
“Nor can it be only about me.”
I chuckled. “Have we switched roles? I am now seeking to stop you from sharing, and you have begun trying.”
“I believe we have.” He grinned. “I do not know where to begin because…because there is so much to say. So ask. Whatever it is you wish, ask, my love.”
I thought to start with something that might not be so heavy.
“Verity, is she all right?”
“Yes and no. She has had nightmares for many years, but come morning, she will act as though nothing has occurred and say she is fine.”
“Has she not seen a doctor?”
“It is mental.” He hung his head, looking at my hands. “They have given her tonics to relax her, but after some time, they lose effect. Her trauma returns.”
“Trauma?”
He inhaled deeply. “When I was sent away for school by my father, she was a little older then Emeline is now and left under the charge of Datura, as Father couldn’t have cared less for his daughter. Datura was cruel.”