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)
I did not know that I did, as I was sure my heart would ache more for him. “What?” I asked.
“ ‘So much effort…for a girl.’ ” He clenched his teeth tightly. “Those were his first words to Verity, and then he never paid any mind to her. His attention to me was solely for the running of the estate, maintaining our good name—the name he’d dragged through the mud, dumped in my lap, and wished me to maintain. He cared for no one, Aphrodite. There was no love in this house. It was cold and cruel and harsh till the day he died. Sometimes, even to this day, I feel a chill here. I cannot explain it any more than this. And I feel mortified speaking of it.”
I kissed his knuckles, holding on tightly. “I do not mean to force you to relive such agonizing memories. I was merely seeking to understand you better, and now I do. You need not say any more. Forgive me for pushing you so. You are right. I am ignorant of such hardships.”
“Do not apologize for that ignorance, it is one of my favorite qualities in you.” He chuckled, resting his forehead on mine. “I fell in love with you, but I also love your family. I wish for the same for myself—for us.”
“So, six children then?”
“I prefer eight,” he replied.
“That is far too many!”
“The more, the merrier. I wish Everely to be louder than Belclere Castle, with siblings who laugh, tease, and fight but deep down truly love one another.”
“I promise you that it is not advisable. My mama made it look simple, but I am not her, and such a litter would drive you mad.”
“You have whipped the house into order, and I believe you will do the same with our children. However, if you insist, we may settle—you’ll have six.”
“With Emeline, that is seven, which is barely a concession!”
He laughed. “Yes, but barely a concession is better than no concession at all, so shall we begin?”
He kissed my lips, and it felt as though ages had gone by since I had kissed him. I wrapped my arm around his shoulder. Soon I found myself drawn into his lap.
“Wait,” I said as I felt him lift my skirt. “I cannot stay the night.”
“Why ever not? Have we not reconciled?”
“We have. But I promised Emeline I would read to her.”
“It is late. She may very well be asleep,” he replied, kissing my neck.
“She will still be awake. I have noticed she does not sleep well until she hears a story. Mrs. Watson used to do it for her.”
He paused at the mention of Mrs. Watson’s name, then lifted his head. “I dismissed her because—”
“I know,” I replied, cupping his face. “Emeline told me.”
“She…she did not harm Emeline in any other way, correct?” A deep frown hung upon his lips. “Please tell me I did not also ignore any further insult to or abuse of her?”
With the context of what had occurred to Verity and how his father had done nothing, I understood what he meant by not also. He wished not to be like his father.
“No, not that I can see,” I said, brushing his face. “Mrs. Watson took good care of her, all other things considered.”
He exhaled a breath of relief and rested his head on me. He said nothing more, and I would not push. This was fine. Holding him, being near him, was perfect.
“I love you, Evander,” I whispered.
“And I you.”
“Thus, now there is true love in Everely. We brought it.”
“That we very much did.” He smiled, and my heart shook.
27
Aphrodite
“You know,” Verity suddenly said as we walked into town with Emeline and Eleanor.
“I know what?” I asked.
“About my nightmares,” she said, holding my arm. “I was sure your brother would have said something before he left, or you might have heard me over the last two days.”
“It was the latter. My brother said nothing to me, nor did Silva,” I replied softly.
Her face bunched bitterly. “Your family is kind. That is why remaining in your home any longer was not possible. I could see how concerned they were for me, how much effort they made on my behalf. It grew to be…too much.”
She was pained. I could see it in her eyes; she looked as though she were fighting back tears.
“I shall not ask you about anything you do not wish to speak of,” I replied, nodding to the tenants in town as we walked by.
Her grip on my arm tightened. “Thank you.”
“Not at all.” I had learned my lesson. I should have learned it before, when he had told me the truth of his brother’s misdeeds. I would not force either of them. Instead, I would wait for them to share whenever they were ready.
“Good mornin’, Your Grace,” Mrs. Stoneshire, the keeper of the Three Boar Bar & Inn, called to me as she swept over the front door.