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“Damon!” Silva exclaimed from the other side of the door.
“What?” I heard him reply in the same tone.
Shaking my head, I walked down the hall, proud I had managed to escort Silva on my own without Eleanor or Emeline. Slowly, day by day, I was finding my path. Such would be the case with Evander. I was ordinarily patient—well, that was a lie. I was not a very patient person. As the second child and first daughter of the Du Bell family, I was not accustomed to waiting. The age distance between my sisters and me gave me priority in most things in our house. When I asked things of my sisters, they heard me. Even my brothers listened to a degree. So I was not used to Evander’s hesitation. When it came to Evander, I wished him to tell me everything about everything. I wished for a detailed chronicle of his life, how he felt, what he saw, what he thought at that moment—everything. And for whatever reason, I truly believed that upon marrying him, it would occur instantly.
Which was foolish.
“Please…no…”
As I passed Verity’s room, I paused, hearing the sound of sobbing. I stepped to the door and was preparing to knock when a hand caught my wrist. And there was Evander looking down at me, his expression strained and heavy.
“Waking her will make her feel worse,” he whispered gently. “It’s best to pretend you do not hear. No matter how hard that may be.”
“But is she all right?” The sound of her crying clearly said no.
“It is a nightmare. She shall feel better with the sunlight.”
“The sunlight? What do you…” I stopped as I felt the question forming once more. “All right.”
He stared into my eyes but said nothing.
“Evander, my wrist.”
“Forgive me,” he muttered and released me.
We both stood there until the sound of Verity’s whimpers was too much for him, and he turned to the door. “On second thought, I shall sit with her for a moment.”
“Very well, good night.”
“Aphrodite,” he called before I could leave, and so I turned to him again. “Are you going to Emeline’s room?”
“Yes.” I nodded and then added, “Just for one more night.”
“Should you not be tired, can you wait up for me? It will take only a few moments for Verity to request I leave her be.” The corner of his lip turned up, but that smile did not reach his eyes at all.
“I shall wait at my nook.”
“Will you be able to find it?” He now smiled.
“Do not underestimate me.”
“Never! I shall see you soon.”
I nodded. “You shall.”
He offered me his lamp. I had been so entranced by his eyes that I had not even realized he had one in his hands.
Taking it, I waited for him to go in before I made my way. I was unsure what he wished to say, and I was now even more concerned about Verity.
“No,” I muttered to myself. No more questioning. If he did not tell me, then I would not ask. Could I really do that? Knowing myself, the answer was a resounding no, but I would at least make some effort.
When I stepped into our bedroom again, it occurred to me how long it had been since I had been here. While three days was a relatively short time in the grand scheme, entering my own space felt…pleasant. Setting the lamp upon the side table, I took my seat at the window, where a blanket now rested. I glanced at the bed to see it was made. However, the pillow on his side was gone and was now also in my nook.
He could not have possibly slept in this space, could he?
That question, along with several others, spun in my mind until I heard the door open, and he entered.
“You do not need to stand.”
