Page 22 of Façade

“Normally no, but…”

“But you suspect an ulterior motive for my kindness?” At my tentative nod, he wearily leaned his head back, a rare moment of vulnerability before he hastily tucked it away and straightened. “I’m sincere in my wish to do something to help calm you, but I can’t deny I have some questions.”

I braced myself for the interrogation. He eyed my tense posture with a thoughtful tilt of his head.

“While I believe you sincere that the ball wasn’t to your liking, I have reason to suspect you didn’t leave early due to an aversion to crowds or even your supposed headache.”

The headache was no longer just a convenient excuse—one had been slowly forming against my temples ever since my encounter with the intruder.

I bit my lip. How much should I confide? While his comfort had planted a tentative seed, I didn’t trust him enough to tell him about the man I’d encountered. Doing so would only invite questions that might force me to confess what I’d been up to, which would not only expose my intentions to investigate him and his kingdom but ruin this moment between us that I was enjoying far more than I ought.

He appeared unbothered by my lack of response. “The lingering candle smoke informed me you entered my study. The question that remains iswhy. Were you looking for something?”

I considered lying, but doing so would only make me appear guiltier. It was clear he already knew of my crime, at least to some extent. If I hoped to salvage our tumultuous relationship, then some semblance of honesty would prove the best course.

My shoulders slumped in defeat. “I was…looking for something.”

“Are you going to tell me what it is?”

Keeping my eyes lowered, I shook my head. A long, tense pause followed. “I see.”

He sounded not so much angry but disappointed. Gone was the sweet man who’d comforted his wife and dried her tears, replaced by one who surveyed me with deep distrust. But if he’d suspected me before, why had he still held me while I cried and made me warm milk?

He leaned forward, expression grave. “The issue of your snooping aside, something more appears to have happened; you seemed far too frightened when you first encountered me for me to think otherwise.”

My heart pounded at the memory of my encounter with the intruder—the glisten of his dagger, the fear suffocating the darkness. “I was frightened because I’d been caught.” But my voice wavered, betraying my lie.

“If that were true, I doubt you would have sought comfort from me, and I doubt you did so as a cover; your fear was too acute to be feigned.”

The man was frustratingly perceptive. I had no answer for that, afraid if I said any more, my schemes would unravel around me, a failure that would render me useless to the kingdom that had abandoned me.

“You comforted me despite your suspicions?” The memory of his gentle touch and soft tone returned to muddle my confusion.

“I’m not a man who would stand idly by when anyone is in distress. As such, I’m determined to discover the source of your anxiety, whatever it might be.” The intensity of his determination seeped inside me, setting my heart pounding wildly.

“Why would you go to such lengths?”

His brows furrowed, as if the question genuinely confused him. “Because you’re my wife. Need I any other reason?”

While that was technically true, it seemed strange he’d marry me solely for my magic and yet seek my well-being. His desires blurred the careful lines defining our relationship, causing what I’d thought was simply black and white to blend together in confusing shades of distorted grey.

When I remained silent he cleared his throat. “I see you’re determined to keep your secrets, and it’s not for me to press you on this matter. I’ll take my leave.” He stood and headed for the door, pausing on the threshold to glance back, his eyes alit with curiosity. “How did you manage to breach the study door?”

It took considerable effort to maintain an air of innocence. “You left it unlocked.”

By his twitching lips, he clearly saw through my lie, but if anything he only looked more amused. “What an unusual skill set you possess. Fascinating.”

He seemed far more intrigued by the thought I’d picked the lock than he had about any of the other interests I’d shared during our previous conversations to get to know one another.

He stepped forward. “Would you like me to escort you?”

I shook my head. “I’ll stay here a while longer and go back on my own.”

“Understood.” A hint of mischief pierced his otherwise stoic expression. “It’s only fair to warn you that I’ll be spending the remainder of the evening in my study, so if you want to come by and visit…”

I scowled at his knowing wink. He undoubtedly wanted not only to prevent me from resuming my snooping but to check to see if anything had been disturbed in hopes of gleaning what I was up to.

“Understood.”

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