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“Of your sister?”
She shook her head.
He frowned. “Of you,” he stated.
She nodded.
“I did not think you the sort to be bothered by such things.” He cocked his head. “Chastity, you are one of the strongest women I know.”
“I am not always.” She pressed both hands to her ribcage. “Not all the time.”
“Well, one cannot be strong all the time,” he reminded her. “Will you tell me why it has hurt you so?”
She met his gaze and searched it. He saw the moment she decided to give in when she pressed away from the wall and sighed. He gestured to the nearby chair that occupied the one side of the entranceway and she followed him over, sitting as though the world weighed heavily upon her shoulders.
“I married John when I was but sixteen,” she said.
Not unusual but still young. He imagined even Chastity had been naïve and innocent at that age. He let her continue rather than comment, though. Whatever burdened her, he wanted her to unload it upon him. Goodness knew, he’d unloaded everything about his father upon her, begrudgingly, but there had been something remarkably remedial about admitting his hurts to her.
“I thought we were very much in love but that changed swiftly.” She gave a tight smile. “He was not the man he appeared.”
Valentine stiffened. “Did he beat you?”
“No, nothing as awful as that.” She shook her head. “I feel silly to even still think on his behaviors when I know there are women who are experiencing far worse even now.”
“I hardly think anyone’s experiences should be compared,” he said. “If it impacted you so that you are still upset by it now, it must have done some damage.”
She stared at him for a few moments and a slight smile curved her lips.
“What is it?”
“You are an astonishingly insightful man, Valentine.”
“Well, I did not know you thought me a dolt.”
“Only to begin with.”
He liked the way her eyes warmed when she teased him. Much better than seeing pain flickering in them. “So what exactly did your husband do?” he pressed.
Chastity glanced at her lap, plucking the edge of her apron and running it through her fingers over and over. “It’s hard to pin it down sometimes.” She looked back to him. “He used to make me feel stupid.”
“You are far from stupid.”
“I know but he made me feel it. He’d mock me or dismiss me.” She lifted both shoulders. “I do not think that’s unusual in many marriages unfortunately.”
He released a disgusted noise. His experience of marriage was limited to his parents which, whilst not a love match, was respectful and amicable. But no one could be immune from knowing there were plenty of awful marriages within Society.
“Why anyone should wish to dismiss the person they are to spend the rest of their life with I do not know,” he muttered.
“I think it made John feel better about himself.” Her lips thinned. “He appeared confident, handsome, wealthy...” She gestured vaguely. “To everyone, he was perfection. But he was not the cleverest of men and at home, he was less than charming. Quite quickly he stopped even trying to pretend to be the perfect husband. I think it was too tiring for him. Then when I questioned his behavior, as to why the man who was meant to love me the most would behave so, he would laugh and call me ridiculous.” She huffed. “It does seem ridiculous to even think on it now.”
“You were married for some time, were you not?”
“Yes. Until he was killed in a fight not far from where we went the other night. Apparently, the other man had called him out on a lie and they fought.”
“A senseless death.”
“Utterly pointless,” she agreed, “but I could not help but feel free.” She grimaced. “That sounds awful, I know.”
