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“Force of habit,” I muttered, taking a seat again.
He nodded, coming around the table to sit beside me. He adjusted his back against the wall, and he looked out at the dark forest before us.
“I—”
“The—”
We had both spoken at the same time and laughed.
“We are now awkward.”
“I do not wish us to be,” he replied.
“Neither do I.” I wanted us to be as we were. “I will not ask anymore. Anything you wish to tell me or not tell me, it is fine.”
He lifted my hand and kissed the back, much longer than necessary, but I did not mind his lips on me.
“Maybe I should open Pandora’s box and sort it out with you,” he muttered.
“What?” Damn, that was a question. “Whatever it is, you do not have to.”
“Thank you for saying so, but that is not what you truly want, is it?” he asked, our hands interlocked. “I have always told myself I would give you the world should you ask, should it mean you would be with me. Now you are, and you ask me about things I do not wish to speak of for so many reasons.”
“Then do not.”
“That is not what you want,” he said again.
“Marriage is not only about me.”
“Nor can it be only about me.”
I chuckled. “Have we switched roles? I am now seeking to stop you from sharing, and you have begun trying.”
“I believe we have.” He grinned. “I do not know where to begin because…because there is so much to say. So ask. Whatever it is you wish, ask, my love.”
I thought to start with something that might not be so heavy.
“Verity, is she all right?”
“Yes and no. She has had nightmares for many years, but come morning, she will act as though nothing has occurred and say she is fine.”
“Has she not seen a doctor?”
“It is mental.” He hung his head, looking at my hands. “They have given her tonics to relax her, but after some time, they lose effect. Her trauma returns.”
“Trauma?”
He inhaled deeply. “When I was sent away for school by my father, she was a little older then Emeline is now and left under the charge of Datura, as Father couldn’t have cared less for his daughter. Datura was cruel.”
“She hurt her?”
“She called it reflection time,” he sneered, shaking his head. “Whenever she believed Verity had misbehaved, she would lock her away in a wardrobe or cabinet. She would leave herfor hours in absolute darkness. No water. No food. This tight, dark hell would be her punishment should Verity even laugh out loud. And if Verity called for help, Datura would leave her in there longer. My father, the bastard, never did a thing to help his daughter. She did this to her over and over again. Verity stopped eating and speaking. Personally, I believed the girl did not even dare to grow taller. And if that were not enough, Datura taunted her and blamed her for being punished.”
“Dear God,” I whispered, sitting closer to him. “How long did this go on?”
“Years. And it would have continued with no one the wiser had it not been for your mother.”
“My mama?”
