Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 116547 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 583(@200wpm)___ 466(@250wpm)___ 388(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116547 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 583(@200wpm)___ 466(@250wpm)___ 388(@300wpm)
“I know I come without appointment, Your Grace, but I received the most concerning letter and I thought the matter could only be addressed in person,” he said seriously.
“I see. Well, whom do you wish to address?” Aphrodite questioned.
“My fiancée.”
I tried not to smile so wide but I could not help it. My lips moved of their own accord. Aphrodite gave me a glance.
“Very well, I shall go see to my daughter for the moment. Verity, do please see to our guest.”
I nodded to her, neither Theodore nor I moving until she stepped out of the room. When she was gone, the expression on Theodore’s face changed, the look in his eyes taking my breath away.
“So, I have not cared for your welfare?” he asked, his eyebrow risen.
I sought to stand my ground but as he stepped closer and closer, each part of me began to tremble. I bit my lip, nodding as he placed the roses upon my writing desk. He stepped so close to me I could feel the warmth of him.
“Forgive me, my dear lady, I promise, from tomorrow you shall never be left alone again. I fear you may even grow tired of me,” he whispered down to me.
“Is such a thing possible?” I asked in return.
“I do believe we will have a lifetime to find out,” he said, reaching up and cupping my face.
“I am both nervous and excited.”
“What unnerves you?” he leaned near to whisper. “We have already shared a bed, have we not? Or is that what excites you?”
There was that sensation once more. That desire to reach out and…return to bed. Ever since that night, we had been unable to find another moment to do so again. But the desire was always there when he and I stared into each other’s eyes for long enough.
“You wish to seduce me, sir? I shall not allow it.” I lifted my head up to look at him defiantly.
“Indefinitely or until tomorrow?”
I shrugged. “We shall see tomorrow.”
He opened his mouth to speak when there was a cough at the door. We both turned to see my brother glaring at him intensely.
“Do you not have patients you ought to be seeing?” Evander snapped at him.
“No, Your Grace, I have cleared my schedule, as I am to be wed soon,” Theodore replied.
“Soon, as in not currently. As such you are a bit close to my sister.”
“Evander!” I called out to him as Theodore took a step away from me. “Must you still be difficult?”
“Yes, I must, and you ought not complain, as you have had it quite easy.”
“Easy? In what capacity has anything been easy for us?” I frowned.
“Do you think knighthoods are so simply given and over mere months?” Evander scoffed as he took a seat, still glaring at Theodore. “Would you not agree, sir?”
“You do not have to agree with him,” I said, quickly moving to touch his arm when once again Evander cleared his throat.
“I dare not anger His Grace…at least until tomorrow.” Theodore snickered.
“Well, let that be our truce for the evening,” Aphrodite said as she came in holding Emeline’s hand. “At least until we have had supper?”
“I will not be able to avoid his company after tomorrow. Can I not be given a reprieve tonight?” Evander frowned.
“Think of it as a way to soften the blow,” Theodore said to him, causing both of them to exchange glances. I looked to Aphrodite, pleading for her to help me. Why Evander had gotten more childish as this day approached was beyond me, and I had no method to stop him.
“Emeline, grab Papa’s hand so we may go to supper,” Aphrodite said, and the little girl rushed to Evander’s arm, grabbing on tightly.
“Come, Papa, there is pie!” she exclaimed, causing the tenseness in his jaw to relax as she drew him away.
“Hurry, you two, before he finds another reason to storm in here,” Aphrodite said to us.
“Thank you, Your Grace.” Theodore smiled.
“You may call me Dite or Odite, Theodore, we are basically related now, whether my husband can stand it or not.” She giggled before walking out the door.
I glanced to him and I saw that the look in his eyes was somewhat somber. “Theodore?”
“Hmm?”
“Is everything all right?”
“Yes. How could it not be?” he answered, but still I felt his expression was off.
“How did you fare with your grandfather and uncle? Shall they be in attendance tomorrow?” I had wished to meet them before but he had discouraged me from doing so. I did not push. I, more than anyone else, knew family was often…complicated.
“They refused,” he replied softly. “I knew they would. It is a lot to take in for them. They believe I have abandoned them and they are not altogether wrong.”
I reached for his hand. “You have not abandoned anyone, Theodore. Maybe in time, with persistence, they shall come to change their minds.”