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“Do not worry. It was a horrid throw and I walked away from it. No bruises, as you saw when you so roughly inspected me at Aunt Rita’s house.”

Hugo grimaced.

“Yes, I was a little rough, wasn’t I? I apologize. I was just worried.”

“I forgive you,” she whispered, leaning in to kiss the tip of his nose.

He chuckled as he laced a hand around her throat, and brought her lips to his for a kiss.

“That is not what I mean though,” he went on. “I meanwhydid your mother throw a vase at you.”

Seraphina frowned. They’d just had the most perfect reunion and did not want to talk of her mother. However, they had both promised honesty, and she supposed that it was her turn.

“When she had come to Theo’s she was most kind and tender. I thought she genuinely cared for me. So, when she requested I come visit her on my own, I agreed,” she began to explain.

“It was not so when you arrived?”

Seraphina shook her head.

“No. She just wanted to know if I still had access to your money and to Merrivale. My father has given up his sponsorship of her. For good, I think. And within a month or two, she’ll have no money, nowhere to go, and soon thetonshe tried so hard make me apart of will descend upon her like vultures. She told me it was my duty to take care of her and insisted I give her access to your accounts and a place to stay here. When I refused, she grew rather upset. Hence the throwing of the vase.”

Anger passed through Hugo’s eyes as he no doubt envisioned the moment in question, and he frowned deeply.

“That will not happen again.” He stated.

Seraphina nodded and snuggled into him.

“No, it certainly will not,” she sighed.

“However, I will give her a small allowance. And I own a small matron’s cottage on the edge of Merrivale on the east side. She may occupy it if she wishes,” Hugo told her.

Seraphina’s head snapped up, her brow drawn down in confusion.

“You will?” She asked. “Why?”

“Because I am not the monster she thinks I am,” he replied, then a look of guilt passed briefly over his face, “I am not the monster I almost became, either. I want to prove this not just to her, but to myself.”

Seraphina’s heart swelled as a combination of emotions rippled through her.

Not knowing what to say, she said nothing, but only laid back down in his arms and kissed the center of his chest.

“If that is what you wish,” she sighed, “Then I will not protest.”

“There will be conditions,” he informed her, sliding down a little so they could look at one another.

“Such as?”

“She may only join us in our home when invited by you. There will be no random visits, no guilt-ridden messages delivered toyou to beseech you for company. And when we have children, it will be your choice as to whether she may be in their lives or not.”

Seraphina smiled as she felt a rush of euphoria shoot through her.

“When we have children?” She echoed.

Pure affection flowed from Hugo’s eyes as he cupped her cheek.

“If you want them, I shall want them with you, Seraphina. Though I must admit, I do want you to myself for a small while.”

Seraphina’s smile widened at the thought, and she rolled onto her back so she could caress her stomach. Their marriage was just to be about protection and friendship, but she adored how it had blossomed into so much more.