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“You picked up some flyers at the center, ones about living with an abusive partner and how to get free.” He looked up at her as the realization dawned, spreading across her face.

“And they think I took the pamphlets because you’re abusive and gaslight-y.” She closed her eyes. “I’m so sorry, Siah.”

The use of the familiar nickname by his wife warmed Josiah’s heart. “Don’t worry about it. Maybe be a little more careful in the future, but I have nothing to hide. I know I’m not abusive in any way. I hope you know that. I’d hope the people know me well enough to know that, too. I assume you just wanted to know more about what to look for, to help others.”

There was a slight hesitation before she nodded.

“Is there something more to it?” he asked.

Bekah stared at her hands. “I don’t know.”

Rather than pressing further, Josiah waited, trying to be patient.

Taking a deep breath, Bekah went on. “I already wasn’t sure I wanted to go through with the wedding to Ian before it happened. There were signs, little ones, that he wasn’t the guy I thought he was. But I went through with it anyway. I probably shouldn’t have, but I did. By the time I started to really question it, the wedding was just a couple of weeks away. We weren’t married long, but even then, he’d changed more. Looking back, and after hearing some of what was said at the center, it made me wonder if I dodged a bullet. I was going to do some more reading on it later. The information about gaslighting seemed all too familiar.” She didn’t look at him as she finished.

Anger rose in his chest, but Josiah shoved it down. That wasn’t what she needed, even if it wasn’t directed at her.

“What can I do to help?” That seemed like a safe thing to say.

She shook her head. “Nothing. It’s something I need to work through by myself, for now at least. Just tell me how to make sure I don’t cause your family any more trouble.”

Were those tears in her eyes?

Josiah knelt next to her seat and took her hands in his. “Unless you’re purposely trying to cause my family problems, then there’s nothing to worry about. And no one believes you did. Not even a little bit.” He let go of one hand and reached up to brush a tear off her cheek with his thumb. “If there’s anything we can do to help, please let me know.”

“And maybe do an internet search instead of taking pamphlets that might make people think you’re not a great guy?” She gave him a watery half-smile.

He grinned back. “That might not be the worst plan.”

“Duly noted.” Bekah sniffled, but managed a bigger smile.

Josiah squeezed her hands, then stood and kissed her forehead before going back to his own seat. “I’m sorry you’ve gone through all of that, but I’m glad you won’t have to live in that kind of relationship until things got bad enough to get out.”

“Or not,” she replied with a sigh. “How many of those women never get out of those relationships? Or only find their way out through means you and I would never consider? Or only get out when the abuser takes them out? I wouldn’t wish anyone dead, not really, but I’m also glad things didn’t get worse like I now suspect they were going to.”

She seemed to be thinking about something else, but she didn’t say anything.

“I’m glad you’re here with me,” he told her. “I mean that. Not just that I’m glad you’re not with someone questionable at best, but I’m actually, honestly, glad you’re here with me.”

“I am, too.” Bekah looked around. “And not just because it means I get to live, even temporarily, in an actual palace or a cabin that deserves that title about as much as I deserve the titleprincess.”

Josiah sobered. “None of us deserve the titles we were given at birth, Beks. The best we can do is hope to live up to them. Remind me someday to tell you about Wulfriths. They trained knights, including the first real king of Eyjania. Benjamin always feared he’d never live up to the title he was given, but our ancestor learned from them. All we can do is do our best to live up to the trust the people put in us and not abuse it or the power we’ve been given. We all learned that from Uncle Isaiah. Regardless, you are as deserving as anyone. I’m just sorry you had to live through that to get to this place.”

Bekah grew somber again. “I’m not,” she whispered. “There’s a very important reason I’m not.”

He waited.

“I’m pregnant.”

CHAPTER 9

As Josiah blinked slowly, Bekah barely managed to convince herself to watch him.

“Could you say that again?” he asked.

It could have been much worse. “I’m pregnant.”

She could almost see the wheels in his head turning. “I see.”