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Relief swells in my chest, but it’s short-lived because I suspect it doesn’t matter where Salomé is. She isn’t going to give up this idea easily. Regardless, I know this is the best possible solution right now, short of forcing Salomé into an asylum.
“Thank you,” I murmur, squeezing Azrael’s hand. “I know this isn’t easy for you.”
“You’re my wife.” He casts me a look that says everything I need to know. “And it’s time to put an end to this insanity. I regret that I ever considered it. That I ever thought…”
He doesn’t finish, and I’m glad for it. Neither of us needs a reminder of what his intentions were in the beginning.
“We have bigger things to worry about now,” I tell him. “I just need to know that our baby will be safe.”
“On my life, she will be,” he tells me. “You both will.”
We pull up to the entrance of the house, and I know Azrael is thinking about what I said earlier as the gates open for us. He’s considering how I could have escaped that night. The wheels are turning in his mind, and I want to ask him if he’s given any more thought to what I said about Bec’s illness, but we are both too exhausted to address that subject tonight.
We pull through, and Azrael stops in front of the house, handing the keys off to a guard as another retrieves our shopping bags from the car.
He helps me up to the room and into my nightgown before he settles me in bed.
“I’ll have the housekeeper bring you some soup and a cup of your Nan’s tea,” he says.
“Where are you going?”
“I have to meet Emmanuel.” His eyes darken. “They’ll be returning soon. I’ll help Salomé get settled into the cottage, and a guard will be at your door until I return.”
I nod, wishing he could stay but understanding that he has to do this.
“I’ll send someone to pick up Fiona tomorrow,” he adds. “In the meantime, do you want me to send Bec up for a visit?”
“I’d like that,” I agree, for both our sakes. I’m sure he doesn’t want Bec to see what’s about to go down with Salomé.
He brushes my hair back with his fingers, his face softening as he gazes at me. “I had big plans for you tonight, but they’ll have to wait.”
“I’ll take a rain check.” I offer him a tentative smile.
“Tomorrow, we’ll move your things in here,” he says. “Then we can start preparing the nursery in the adjacent room.”
His suggestion spreads warmth through my chest, and I nod my agreement. “I’d like that very much.”
“Get some rest.” He kisses me gently, lingering for a long moment as if he, too, is having trouble leaving. It makes me feel better knowing I’m not the only one affected by this madness.
“I’ll be here when you get back.”
19
WILLOW
Bec appears not too long after Azrael’s departure, joining me for a late dinner in the room. The housekeeper brings a light meal for me to settle my stomach and a plate that looks better suited for a nursing home for Bec. Another one of Salomé’s directives, I’m sure.
She picks at the food while we sit in companionable silence, but I can’t help noticing the worry in her eyes. She doesn’t know what’s going on yet, and I’m not sure how she’ll feel about it once she finds out Salomé has been exiled to a cottage.
“Here.” I set my spoon down, leaning over to the nightstand drawer. “If there’s one thing you should know about me, Bec, it’s that I always have chocolate in case of an emergency.”
She laughs as I retrieve the box of fine European chocolates my sisters gifted me during their last visit. I’ve been slowly working my way through them, but there are still plenty of options left.
Bec’s eyes widen when I remove the lid, offering it to her.
“Are you sure?” she asks.
“Please.” I nod. “Otherwise, I’ll eat them all myself.”
She takes the box and carefully makes her first selection, hesitating before she eats it like she knows she’s breaking a rule. But the moment she begins to chew, I can see all fear has been abandoned.
“Good, right?”
She nods emphatically. “Oh, my goddess. So good.”
I can’t help smiling at the phrase she undoubtedly picked up from one of my sisters. She’s been spending a lot of time with them, and I’m glad. I don’t think she has many friends since she doesn’t attend school or activities outside the house. That’s something I’m hoping we can change once things settle down here.
“How have you been feeling?” I ask tentatively.
She shrugs, her gaze dipping to the chocolates. “Okay, I think. Today was a good day. And I feel better when I get to visit your family. I really like it there.”
“Then we’ll have to do it more often,” I suggest.
