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“I am not drunk,” I replied, suppressing a hiccup. “I am simply tired.”

“Well, you look stunning.” Azriel’s lecherous gaze was so overwhelming I did not even have to look at him to sense it. “The colour is so much more becoming against your skin than black.”

“I did not feel that it was necessary to keep the charade going any longer.” I pressed a bitter smile in his direction before snatching up the wine that had already been served into a tall glass, throwing back a gulp that was far from ladylike. “Since the wedding is tomorrow and the staff shall all know what kind of master they serve.”

“And what kind of master is that?”

“One that marries a woman illicitly when he knows plainly he cannot have her.” I narrowed my eyes at him. “I do not think you are prepared for what this will mean for us.”

He rubbed his lower lip thoughtfully, then shrugged and took up his own glass of red wine. “Your maid has declared her intention to leave then?”

“No, thank God.”

Azriel raised his eyebrows. “Well, see then. Her devotion to her mistress is truly admirable. How kind and generous you must be, for her to stay despite your imminent downfall.”

I scowled at him, the brandy heating my blood and fuelling my simmering rage further. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”

“Watching you come undone?” He leaned on the table, his eyes wandering over my face. “Watching this facade you have built up shatter into a million tiny pieces, ever so slowly? Yes, I confess I am enjoying it immensely.”

“Do you hate me so?”

“I have never hated you, beloved.” He reached out to take my hand, his lips lifting into a brief smile when I pulled my hand away. “In fact, it is you who hated me, all these years, and I could never quite figure out why.”

“Because you are a cad, and a liar, and you spent your father’s money on all those pleasure jaunts to Greece.”

“My mother’s money.” He corrected me so calmly and quietly, smiling at me softly. “You look confused. You did not know?”

I blinked at him, cursing how much brandy I had imbibed, for now my brain was so fuzzy it could not make sense of what he was telling me.

“Your - your mother’s money?”

Azriel nodded slowly. “Indeed. She was from an exceedingly wealthy family from Barcelona. I share blood with the Spanish royal family.”

“I had no idea, your father told me he’d married well below his station all his life.”

Azriel laughed bitterly, swirling the wine in his glass. “Yes, he loved that claim. And when he brought home my mother, with all the exotic beauty of a Spanish duchess, it was an easy claim to make.” His brow furrowed for a moment, but he quickly recovered, looking at me over the rim of his glass. “So was it jealousy that made you hate me? That I was out in the world, philandering, while you were stuck here in this dreary manor?”

“Certainly not.”

“Then what?”

I glared at him, my head starting to throb. “I hated you for many, many reasons. I hated the way you looked at me. The way you spoke to me, calling meEvieandstepmother. The way you were so familiar, and yet so distant.”

“All reasons for annoyance, surely, but hatred?” He shook his head, looking me up and down slowly as though admiring a painting hanging on the wall. “Hatred is something much deeper, Evie, and I fear you are not being honest with me.”

The door swung open, and one of the maids hurried in,followed swiftly by a butler. Both carried trays of food, the smell of which made my stomach lurch and grumble at the same time. The food was laid out before us, but before they could serve, Azriel waved them away.

“Leave us.” He commanded, his eyes remaining on me, not saying another word until the footsteps of the two servants had retreated, and we were once again alone. “You look rather pale, beloved. Come, you must eat.” He placed slices of beef, golden boiled potatoes, and a ladle of peas on my plate, covering the food in a thin brown gravy.

“This is your special dinner, is it?” I couldn’t help but laugh as I cut into the meat. “I had expected something much more grand. Duck perhaps, or a suckling pig.”

“Perhaps I am saving that for our wedding feast.”

“Oh yes, what a feast we shall have.” I affected a sing-song voice, looking at Azriel with raised eyebrows and clapping my hands together. “How many of our friends shall be in attendance? Hmm? Who shall stand up for you? And for me? My goodness, how many bridesmaids shall I have? It is only a shame my own father could not be here to give me away to this cursed family yet again.”

“Have you told them yet?”

“Of course not.”