I can’t resist going up on my toes to kiss him again before letting him pull out my chair and settling me in it. I turn my eyes to Flora and smile in understanding.
“I hope that when I dress casual this way it won’t offend you. I am completely covered after all and this style is very common where I’m from. Besides, I’d like to help you with any chores that need to be done and the dresses I have would not be appropriate for that kind of work.”
She pursues her lips and gives me a considering look but it shifts to a scowl when Luca snaps out, “You will not! There is no need for you to be doing such menial work.”
I glare at him. “Oh? Do you have a large staff of servants still that’s at your every beck and call, Your Grace? I’ve only seen Flora and Aiden so if that’s the only help to care and keep the four of you and now me as well then I WILL be helping them with what needs to be done. I’m not a pampered princess, Luca. You should know that!”
He glares back at me and then shoves his chair back and surges to his feet. “Do what you will for however long you manage to stay here then.”
The pain is a sharp dagger that instantly pierces my heart and just as quickly comes the anger that he would say such a shitty thing to me.
“Go to Hell, Luca!”
His glare morphs into a grim smile and he delivers a mocking half bow to me. “You already sent me there, Eden.”
I sink down into my chair as he strides from the room and feel all the happiness of earlier fall away. I close my eyes and pictures of Luca and me from before flash through my mind. The gentle loving man that I fell in love with is so far from the person he has become and I don’t know if I will ever get him back.
I open my eyes when I feel someone take my hand and see the concerned expression in Bas’s eyes.
“Is he gone? Have I lost him for good?”
He sighs deeply and looks away, telling me more than any words he could say.
“Luca…he…he broke when we thought you died, Eden. He was so lost for so long after and when I forced us to leave France he became what you see today. There is so much pain and bitterness in him and I do not know if any of us can reach the man he used to be but…if anyone can, it will be you.”
“HA! The lad don’t need to be reached, he needs a solid kick in the arse! If ya be the warrior they claim ya are then go pound his heid until sense takes hold.” Flora stomps her foot and then crosses her arms. “As for what ya wear or how ya speak, it makes no never mind ta me and if it means some help for me an me aching back I will say thanks for it. Now, break yer fast as I know ya hardly touched yer plate last evenin’.” With that, she stomps from the room leaving Cade and Finn grinning at her cranky tirade.
I try and push Luca from my mind for now and scan the table for anything that resembles a pot of coffee. Cade must read my mind because he winces and shakes his head.
“I’m sorry, lass. If you’re looking for your morning brew, we don’t have any but we will be sure ta get some for you next we are in the town for supplies.”
I send him a smile. “It’s fine. I brought a small amount with me. All I need is some hot water if possible.”
He jumps to his feet with a nod and leaves to get me some as Finn starts piling food onto my plate and nudging it closer to me trying to get me to eat. I manage a few bites before Cade comes back with my hot water and the men watch in interest as I make myself a cup of much-needed coffee. By the time it’s ready the glorious smell of it has me not bothering with cream or any sugar and just sipping it black. I finish all the food on my plate and sit back to savor what’s left in my cup. Sebastian eyes me cautiously before speaking.
“We know you are fully capable of doing whatever you set your mind to, Eden, but it isn’t necessary for you to do all the household chores. Flora has her grandson to help and she’s managed just fine so far.”
I sigh and shrug as I look around the table at all of them. “I plan on being here for the rest of my life. I don’t want to be a guest, I want this to be my home so I feel like I need to contribute my fair share. What else will I do with my time?” I catch the smug, leering look on Cade’s face and laugh. “Besides entertaining you!”
Bas chuckles at that. “We want you to feel like this is your home as well but I’m sure daily life in this time is much more strenuous than what you are accustomed too and we would hate to see you worn down by it. I would much rather retain more servants to handle such things. We certainly have the funds to do that.”
I chew on my lip trying to find the words to explain to them that I want to build a real life here with them and not just be their pampered pet. It’s not like I have many options to have a career so helping around the house is all that’s really left for me. That reminds me of the jewels I brought with me.
“I know you’re wealthy but I want to contribute to my upkeep, both with work that needs to be done and financially. I brought some jewels back with me that I want to give to you to go towards that.” When he starts to shake his head I forge on. “Please, let me do this! I want to be partners with you all, not feel like a kept woman.”
He reaches out and takes my hand lifting it to his mouth to kiss my knuckles softly. “You are an amazing woman, Eden and if it makes you happy, I will accept that.”
Luca
Ipull the reins of my heaving mount to bring it to a walk to cool down as the end of the treeline before our stable yard comes into view. The three-hour ride has done nothing to cool the hot anger simmering in my blood since she came back. Just looking at her slices through me with daggers of pain for all she made me feel and then took away. I can’t help but lash out at her to share some of it. The ease in how my brothers have just accepted her back into their arms and beds based on her cries of pleasure that rang through the house has me wanting to rage, fight and destroy everything around me. I desperately want to feel her in my arms as well but how can I allow her in again only to have it snatched away like last time? I groan through clenched teeth. Those big, green eyes of hers so filled with love and pain when they turn my way makes me want to steal her away and rage at her, fuck her, and hold her in my arms all at once. It’s infuriating that I can’t control the emotions I had locked down for so long.
My mount comes to the edge of the trees and right away I spot the gleaming red and golds of her hair as she works to hang blankets from a line to dry and my fingers tighten on the reins as another wash of fury crashes through me. She’s not meant for such work! Eden is no common scullery maid to roughen her hands and stoop her back from the weight of menial chores. Her life will be short and it should be filled with pleasure and joyous pursuits that will have her laughter ringing through our home. That I can’t bring myself to be the one to give her these things doesn’t change what I want for her. It’s madness.
My jaw tightens when she turns to reach for another item to hang from the heaping basket and she spots me. I see the way she stiffens and the deep breath she takes that has her breasts heaving against the fabric of the strange sleeveless shirt and then she starts walking my way with a nervous look on her face. I watch her every step and try hard to commit every inch of her to memory for the day she leaves once again. Her beauty staggers me and when I make no move to ride past her I see the hope bloom in her eyes. I harden my heart against the pain I know is coming as my horse comes to a stop when she reaches a hand out to it. Even the damn beast isn’t immune to her as it leans into her fingers as she rubs its head.
“Luca, we…we should talk. I…I know you’re angry with me but…”
I cut her off with a dismissive wave of my hand toward the washing on the line. “Your time would be better served completing the task you wanted to do so badly.”
