Page 6

Mary dropped quickly into a bob. “Of course, sir.” She scurried out of the room, and I took a seat by the fire.

“You should not speak so unkindly to that poor girl,” I said with a raised eyebrow. “You are the master of this house now, you must act like it.”

Azriel’s face broke into a wide smile as he sat down, thesort of smile that no doubt had the wanton women of Athens and Rome falling all over themselves.

“I do apologise, Evie. I am not quite myself today.”

“Yes, I rather think we are all feeling not ourselves at the moment.”

He crossed one leg over the other, leaning back in his chair. “Indeed, and I fear that shall linger for some time. I can only imagine how keenly you are feeling the loss of my father. I know how much you loved him.”

I cleared my throat as quietly as I could manage. “I did, with all my heart, as I know you did, too.”

“Of course.”

“I can still scarcely believe that you are here.” I shifted in my chair, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. “When did you return?”

“In the early hours of this morning. I asked them not to wake anyone.” He sighed, rubbing his stubbled chin. “I will never forgive myself. If only I had insisted they wake my father, perhaps… something could have been done.”

“Oh, no, I am sure-” I broke off as Azriel raised an eyebrow, and quickly swallowed any incriminating words that threatened to slip out. “Your father was an old man, who died happy and warm in his bed. I am simply glad you were here to say goodbye to him properly.”

“As am I, Evie, more than you can know.”

This act was already becoming exhausting, the same lies being spun over and over. I did not wish to entertain endless conversations with Azriel over how much we had both loved his father, when we both no doubt hated the man with every fiber of our beings. I rubbed my temple gently, feeling a headache coming on.

“Are you well?” Azriel’s voice was low, interspersed by the crackling of the fire.

“I do wish everyone would stop asking me that, I just lost my husband and I do not need more insipid questions.”

“Forgive me, Evie.” If my irate tone had bothered him, he did not let it show.

I dropped my hands into my lap, and tried not to sigh as I looked at him. “May I ask you something? Only we know not how much longer we shall occupy the same house, and I have always wondered. I would hate to miss my opportunity to ask.”

Azriel’s eyebrows shot up, and he titled his head, eyeing me curiously. “You are making plans to move on rather swiftly.”

I balked, my mind racing to cover up my insensitivity. “I only mean, I mean… I had assumed you would want to keep your own house, and not have your stepmother leering over your shoulder as you seek to find a wife.”

“You are quite right.” The grin that spread over his face was wicked, such an expression that my discomfort at being so thinly robed in front of him only grew. “Parading my pretty young wife around in front of you would be uncouth indeed.”

I cleared my throat loudly. “Why have you always called me Evie?”

“I beg your pardon?”

I fidgeted with my fingers, wishing I could break away from staring into those icy eyes, but not wanting him to sense my discomfort. “Ever since we met, you have called me Evie. We barely knew each other, and yet you always called me such. It spoke to a familiarity I regrettably feel we never shared. Therefore, I always wondered why-”

“Did you wish us to be closer?” He interjected, uncrossing his legs, now draping his body in such a way that felt positively lecherous.

“No,” I snapped, and he laughed softly. My ruse was failing,and I stuttered out an apology. “I did not mean… I only meant… I did not wish to replace your mother, that would have been-”

“Obscene.” He interrupted me again, and my gaze snapped to his at the tone. His eyes flickered down the length of my body, resting for a split second on my bare feet. “My father, the old scoundrel, had actually suggested it. When I rejected his suggestion of calling you Mummy, of course.”

“Mummy?” I spat the word out, dripping in incredulity, before I could stop myself.

Azriel laughed, again bringing up a hand to rub the stubble along his jaw. “Can you imagine? A woman so much younger than I, and I should call her Mummy? My father had a rather… unique sense of humour, I think.”

More than you know.I did not say it out loud, but the smirk on Azriel’s face convinced me he knew I was thinking it. My cheeks flushed wildly, and I wished he would leave.

The door swung open, and Mary walked in balancing a tea service on a tray in front of her. Now I had to endure taking tea with Azriel. I suppressed a groan.