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Chapter 19
Gabriel stared into his father’s icy gaze. His father, whom he hadn’t seen in a decade. His father, who cut him off with a single note, refusing to hear any of his explanations. The same father who now played a considerate host and a doting father-in-law to his new bride.
“I suppose I should be grateful you’re polite to my wife,” he said. “Although I must say it came as a surprise. But then again, you did want me to settle down, give you an heir and a spare for your darling estate.”
“You always were cynical.” Winchester shook his head.
“Is it me being cynical then? I thought it was very realistic of me. Considering you’ve never before wanted me to show my face around here.”
“That is not true, and you know it. I called upon you before—”
“Yes, to instruct me on my duty, to force upon me this chunk of land so I could die looking after it, forlorn and alone, just like—” He stopped mid-sentence, his gaze intense upon his father’s dark face.
“Just like me.” His father nodded, suddenly looking old and weary. “Son—” he started, but Gabriel interrupted him with a harsh scoff.
“You’ve never called me that before, either. I suppose this year is full of firsts.”
“You have every right to be angry with me.”
Gabriel laughed sharply. “Thank you for giving me permission. Very benevolent of you.”
“You don’t need my permission for anything anymore. You’ve grown into a fine young man—”
“Fine. Young. Man,” Gabriel said quietly, enunciating every word as if trying to decipher their meaning. “Do you know this is the first time you’ve ever called me that?”
“I’ve made a lot of mistakes.” Gabriel scoffed again, but the earl continued. “You are not so innocent yourself. But I am the parent, and I should have handled everything… better.” He said the last words slowly, as if unsure what he was about to say. “Why don’t we start anew?”
“Why?” Gabriel narrowed his eyes at his father. “Because suddenly I am married? Because you’re hoping I shall finally beget you a brood of heirs? Well, I am sorry to disappoint you,Father.” He spat the last in his father’s face. “But ours is a marriage in name only. There will be no heirs.”
The earl reared back as if he’d hit him. “It didn’t look like a marriage in name only to me. You’re taken by the girl, and she you. I could see that.”
Gabriel laughed harshly.I could see that. In what, all of five minutes they’d spent in his study? “Well, it seems to me it’s time for you to get spectacles, old man,” Gabriel spat, turned on his heel, and stalked away.
* * *
“He could see that,” Gabriel muttered under his breath as he stalked up the stairs, taking them two at a time. He sprinted down the corridor to his own chambers but stopped in his tracks as he was about to pass his wife’s sitting room. The door was slightly ajar, and he saw a flurry of movement, could hear the rustle of fabric. Gabriel paused for a moment before entering the room. One of the maids hurried inside after him, carrying a load of fabrics. She shut the door behind them as she entered.
Evie looked up at the sound. She was surrounded by maids, poking at her and pinching the fabrics to her body. She was wearing a shimmering golden gown, with a bodice lined with gemstones and a greenish-blue trail. She looked absolutely gorgeous.
Evie smiled shyly as she saw Gabriel and self-consciously pressed her bodice closer to her body. The gown was definitely too big for her, although Gabriel hadn’t noticed it up until that point. It was wide at the bodice—his little wife had tiny breasts, and she was lean and athletic, while his mother must have been a curvy woman. He didn’t remember his mother, and he didn’t think he’d ever seen her likeness in this gown either.
He looked over her body slowly, then raised his eyes to hers. Her gaze was full of vulnerability and uncertainty, and he hated seeing her like that. He didn’t think he’d ever seen that look on her before.
“You look—”
“I know, hideous—”
“—gorgeous,” they said at the same time.
“What?” Her eyes widened, and he stepped closer.
“The golden fabric,” he said as he came even closer, his hips almost touching her skirts. “It suits you. Who knew? I guess I’ll have to order you a complete wardrobe in that color.”
Evie let out a giggle. Gabriel noticed the maids scattering away, leaving them in privacy.
“It’s—you don’t think it’s too much? Too shiny?” she asked, biting on her lower lip.
He looked down at her gown as if considering her question. “No,” he answered, shaking his head. “Not as bright as you, love.”
