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To eternal fire with him.
29
Aphrodite
I had been waiting for his return, and when he did, tattered and bruised, I found myself in shock. Had he gone for a boxing match or had he gone to see a magistrate? He glanced at me, defeated, and said not a word as he walked up the stairs.
“Eleanor, have a maid fetch water, cloth, and brandy while you call for the doctor,” I said, grabbing my skirt as I went up the stairs behind him.
I did not rush him. I merely followed until we had reached the safety and privacy of our rooms. Still, he said nothing, but walked to the chair by the fireplace, sat down, and closed his eyes. I placed my hand gently on his face, and he winced.
“What on earth happened to you?”
“Fitzwilliam was there and…and we reacted as we often have when we are in the same room—in violence. There can be no other way. He is my enemy, and I am his.”
Knock. Knock.
“Enter,” I said. The maid had brought what I had asked. “Set it beside me.” I waited for her to leave before I handed him a glass of brandy.
“How do you know I seek brandy?”
“You and Damon are alike in that regard,” I replied.
“If only he were my blood instead of Fitzwilliam.”
“If that were the case, you would be my brother and not my husband, and that would be a great loss to me,” I said, gently cleaning off his face.
He laughed but then stopped, wincing and grabbing his side.
“What is it?”
“Nothing,” he lied.
“Fine, if you choose not to let me see, then you must be truthful with the doctor.”
“You called for a doctor?” he asked.
“You are injured!”
“Barely.”
“Evander, there is blood on your clothes. Your hand is now swollen, and you are wincing at a mere touch. That is not barely. That is serious.”
“My love, it is—”
“No.” I held my hand up to him. “When I was fifteen, I saw a man get beaten on the side of the road. Then later heard he had jested about how he was made of ‘strong stuff’ and would not seek treatment, that he was fine. The next day, he died.”
He laughed once more. “I truly do not believe it to be that severe, my love.”
“You are not a doctor, and I trust only the advice of medical professionals for health. The doctor will see you, and you will allow yourself to be seen. In fact, was it not refusing to get treatment before that led to you getting a fever? Why must you refuse to learn from your mistakes—”
“I yield!” He raised his hand and then winced.
“Good.”
“For a moment there, you sounded like your mama.”
I turned my eyes on him in horror, and he chuckled at me. “Do not tease me!”
