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It would simply be torture, and she was not quite sure she could survive it.

“I suppose you do not have to live in the same house with me,” William said simply.

“What are you trying to say?” Eveline croaked.

“I suppose it is only right that I move out,” he said.

For a moment, Eveline thought the floor had been yanked from underneath her feet.

“I shall move to my estate in Bath,” William added.

Eveline shivered.

William had always thought himself strong. And yet this had been the hardest thing he had ever done.

He had been hoping to put off the conversation with Eveline for as long as possible until he was ready.

However, when she walked in, supported by Gracie and asking him questions, he knew that there was not a better time.

Even at breakfast, while she had tried to make conversations with him, his resolve had faltered, and he had wondered if he could go through with his decision. Not only because it would break her, but also because it would break evenhimin the worst way possible.

He had watched her confusion give way to anger and then sadness, and he had even seen her fight back her tears quite a number of times, and he hadachedto take back his words.

The only thing that had stopped him from doing that was the fact that this was the best decision for her.

The hurt that clouded Eveline’s eyes when he mentioned that he was moving out of the castle was palpable.

“Certainly, you do not mean that. Do you?” she asked, the tears she had held at bay for so long finally spilling over.

William reached out to wipe her tears but he quickly caught himself.

He was not quite certain what to say, so he began to ramble.

“I imagine it will be hard for you to have to be in the same house with me, especially now. My presence would probably only cause you grief.”

Eveline did not seem to find his words so comforting, as her eyes narrowed into angry slits.

“You do not have to worry about not causing me grief, William,” she said in a scathing tone. “Your words already did.”

“Eveline, I?—”

“I would have wished that you would be truthful as to why you do not want me,” she continued.

William knew he could not do that. After all, if he expressed his fears, his wife would probably only seek to reassure him until he foolishly believed her… again.

“You must believe me, Eveline,” he insisted. “I have told you.”

“You have not told me anything beyond that we are simply friends and you do not have feelings for me. If you were truly a man, you would simply tell me that I am not good enough for you and it is for that reason that you have chosen to abandon me.”

William felt a deep, piercing pain in his heart. How could she ever think she was not good enough?

Even as he regarded her, her eyes flashing with anger, he knew the opposite to be true.

Eveline was too good for him.

And that was the problem. He could not forgive himself if he lost her, especially now that he had grown to care for her. And it is for this reason that he must detach himself from her.

“Do not utter such words,” he pleaded.