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“Forgive me. I didn’t know you were in here. Do you want me to leave you alone?”
“No, you don’t need to.” Victoria’s voice was soft. “It is your house, after all.”
“It’s your house, too.” Rafe looked around. “I haven’t considered this place a home for some time. It’s just as much a strange house for me as it is for you.”
“You don’t think this is your home anymore?”
“With everything going on, I don’t feel welcome outside of the house.” Rafe gestured towards the window. “This place is familiar, and the household staff are good people, but I do feel like an outsider. I hate having people stare at me and wonder what I’m going to do next. It gets tiring.”
Victoria frowned.
“So, you would rather be out in the wilderness hunting wild animals for pelts and food?”
“At least you knew where you stood with wild animals. They didn’t care what you are. Things are pretty simple for them.”
Victoria bit her lip.
“I suppose.” She hesitated and then moved towards the settee between them. “By the way, I was meaning to talk to you. Did you approve of your valet and my maid becoming betrothed?”
“I did.”
“Why?”
Rafe frowned.
“Why what?”
“Why would you approve of it?”
“Because they’re clearly in love, and who am I to stand in the way of that?” Rafe tilted his head to one side as he regarded his wife. “You disapprove of it?”
“Well, Manning works for you.”
“And because of your stance on me, you think Abigail is betraying you.”
Victoria didn’t respond, but her reddening cheeks said he was right. Rafe sighed.
“Look, Victoria, there’s nothing wrong with falling in love. It doesn’t matter what the situation is. If two people love each other, they’re going to make it work. The fact they hadn’t gotten married before was because of the animosity between our families. Manning didn’t want Abigail to be without some security if something happened to him.”
“And you agreed to it?”
“Why wouldn’t I?”
Victoria sighed. She looked at her fingers, picking at a stray thread on the settee.
“I don’t know. I guess I was letting my hatred of you get in the way. I just…I felt betrayed that Abigail would fall in love with someone in your household.”
“Abigail’s not going to betray you. And Manning isn’t me. We’re different people.”
“He still works for you. And Abigail believes you didn’t kill anyone.”
Rafe watched as her confidence faltered and started to seep away. Hesitating for a brief moment, Rafe went around the settee and moved in close to his wife. He touched her hand, and Victoria’s fingers stilled. Her skin felt so warm.
“I would never hurt you, Victoria.”
“What?” Victoria blinked, staring up at him. “Why would you say that?”
“I just wanted you to know that. I would never hurt you.”
