Total pages in book: 208
Estimated words: 209645 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1048(@200wpm)___ 839(@250wpm)___ 699(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 209645 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1048(@200wpm)___ 839(@250wpm)___ 699(@300wpm)
“Now finish what Lady Vanka wished you to say.”
“She wants to speak to you without Her Grace knowing she’s here until after she speaks with you.”
Mars tipped his head to the side and demanded, “Was that that difficult?”
“No, Your Grace,” she murmured.
“Bring the lady to me,” he ordered.
“Yes, Your Grace.” She dipped a curtsy and disappeared out the door.
It was the second time in five minutes he did not have good feelings, this about Vanka seeking him, and only him.
Fortunately, his wife was now his wife.
She, as had he, had much enjoyed making up for lost time in their bed.
Therefore, he was in a very good mood.
Further lighting his mood, over the past days, Silence had grown open and honest and curious, and if not consistently talkative (which was not her way), the bonds they’d been forming since nearly the moment they met (in his consideration) were fortifying.
Rapidly.
He was falling in love with her.
And she him.
For his part, this was a surprise. He would not have foreseen falling in love with a wee, quiet, pale, reflective Dellish woman, no matter she was a great beauty.
She was still wee, quiet, pale, reflective.
And Dellish.
But now, he could not consider a future without the daily opportunity to look in those silver eyes, to listen to her thoughtful words, to experience the profoundness of her passion, to gaze upon her pale skin beside him in bed or be buried in her wet cunt.
But oddly, of all that, her contradictory demeanor was what he found most attractive.
She was independent, but due to her upbringing, she brought out a protective instinct in him the likes he had not known existed. He was prone to protect the ones he loved, but the maltreatment she endured and the machinations they both were now having to put up with he found intolerable.
She did not need him.
And yet she did.
She gave every impression that she could live her life with her books, her other pursuits, her maid Tril, and that was all, and she would be perfectly content.
But that was not what life gave her.
Life gave her Mars.
As well as a rearing that was abusive in its neglect.
So in the end, she did have need of him.
And one of the reasons why appeared right in that moment at his study door.
He looked at Vanka then past her to the maid.
“Close the door behind the lady,” he ordered.
The maid nodded, curtsied and did as asked.
Vanka had taken two steps in and stopped.
She began it with, “Mars, I cannot say how relieved I am that you agreed to speak to me.”
“You’re my wife’s mother,” he pointed out, coming up from his seat behind the desk. “Though, I will note, I’m not much comfortable with having a conversation without Silence knowing you’re here, so I would suggest you get on with it before what minimal comfort I have vanishes.”
She took his words to heart, two more steps into the room, and stated, “It’s my understanding harsh words were spoken with my husband.”
“Only to the extent such words were returned,” he replied. “It is clear Johan made no effort to know his daughter while he raised her, and thus it is no surprise that he underestimates her.”
Vanka winced at this statement, but she did not deny it.
Mars continued, “He was attempting to drive a wedge between husband and wife, for reasons I do not understand, though in the end, I do not care. Such won’t be abided, no matter the reason. Silence read his intent and made it clear she won’t abide it either.”
“This is…it is…somewhat what I wish to discuss with you.”
He was not following.
“What is? My desire to further strengthen my marriage to a woman who is my queen and will be the mother of my children, a woman I’ve come to care for deeply, rather than having it undermined when it’s barely over a month old? Or your husband’s conniving to make certain that does not happen?”
“You care deeply for her?” she asked quietly, staring at him intently.
His brows shot together in annoyance. “I must warn you that minimal comfort I had with our conversation is swiftly vanishing.”
She shook her head, started to lift a hand, dropped it and said quickly, “I wish to discuss, that is…it’s been reported…” She drew in a deep breath. “What I mean to say is, you are in Wodell. We are a certain way here. And…and…”
Her cheeks pinked, much like her daughter’s, which was a fortunate reminder or his reaction to what she said next would have been far more explosive.
“I understand how it is between a new husband and wife. But the forcing upon servants of the, erm, that is to say, a certain…decadence is considered unacceptable in this realm. I know it is much different in your land, but it is not the same way here. Obviously spending the day in each other’s presence is suitable, especially at this point in your marriage and most especially since you did not have a proper courtship. But, erm…in a bedchamber.” She said no more on that and finished, “It reflects badly on Silence and—”