“Yes.” She backed up a step as he approached. “You’ve sent them away, haven’t you? Packed them off to some institution where you won’t have to deal with them cluttering up your perfect estate.”
Hugo’s jaw tightened. “Is that what you think of me?”
“I think you’re a man who says whatever is necessary to get what he wants.” Another step backward. “I think you made promises you never intended to keep just to secure my cooperation in this marriage.”
“Cooperation.” The word tasted bitter on his tongue. “How very romantic of you.”
“Don’t twist this around.” Her back was nearly against the wall now, though she seemed unaware of it. “You lied to me. You tricked me into marrying you with false promises about caring for those children.”
False promises.The accusation hit hard.
“I see.” Hugo continued his advance, his voice dropping to that dangerously quiet tone his daughters knew to fear. “So, in your estimation, I’m not only a liar but a manipulator as well.”
“I—” She stumbled backward as he came up against her so suddenly until her shoulders hit the paneled wall. “I didn’t say that exactly.”
“Didn’t you?” He stopped just close enough that she had to tilt her head back to meet his gaze, close enough that she couldn’t help but be aware of his height, his breadth, the way his presence seemed to fill the space around her. “Because it sounded very much like you were accusing me of deliberate deception.”
Sybil’s breathing had gone shallow, her eyes wide as she realized her position. Trapped between Hugo’s imposing form and the unyielding wall with nowhere to retreat.
“I-I just want to know where they are,” she said though her voice had lost some of its earlier fire.
“Do you?” He braced one hand against the wall beside her head, leaning closer. “Or do you want to believe the worst of me? Does it make it easier to maintain distance in our marriage if you can convince yourself I’m untrustworthy?”
“That’s not… I don’t…” She swallowed hard, her gaze flickering to his mouth before jerking back to his eyes.
“You don’t what?” His voice was silk over steel. “You don’t want to maintain distance? You don’t find it convenient to think poorly of me? That I would break my word to you so callously?”
Say yes. Give me a reason to be angry instead of whatever this is.
But she didn’t say yes. Instead, she stared up at him with those impossibly blue eyes, her chest rising and falling rapidly beneath her bodice.
“I don’t break my promises.” His voice was deathly calm now, each word precisely enunciated. “Ever. Nor do I need to resort to manipulation to achieve my ends.”
She blinked up at him, confusion replacing some of the fear in her expression.
“The girls are housed in the Assembly room in town,” he continued, his amber eyes never leaving her face. “The building has been completely renovated and refurbished to serve as their permanent residence. They have proper dormitories, adedicated schoolroom, private quarters for Beverly and Marge, and a kitchen staff to ensure they’re well-fed.”
He watched the words sink in and saw the moment understanding dawned.
“You… you bought them a building?”
“I bought them a home.” His hand slid down to rest against her throat, feeling the rapid flutter of her pulse. “Where they can live with dignity and independence and where they can continue their education without being treated as charity cases or unwanted burdens.”
Sybil’s lips parted in shock. “But why there? Why not here?”
“Because here they would be guests in my household, subject to the whims and schedules of my staff. There they have privacy, space to grow, room to become the remarkable women I suspect they’re destined to be.” He leaned closer, his breath warm against her ear. “And it’s easier for my guards to ensure their protection when they’re not scattered throughout a castle designed for a much smaller household.”
Protection. From what?But she didn’t ask, couldn’t form the words when he was so close she could feel the heat radiating from his body.
“I thought…” She stopped, shook her head. “I thought you’d sent them away. I thought you’d gotten what you wanted from our marriage and decided they were no longer your concern.”
“Did you?” His mouth curved in something that wasn’t quite a smile. “And what exactly did you think I wanted from our marriage?”
The question hung between them, heavy with implications neither seemed ready to voice.
A convenient mother for your daughters. A respectable wife to enhance your reputation. Someone to manage your household while you focus on more important matters.
But looking into his amber eyes, seeing the intensity burning there, she wasn’t sure those answers were correct anymore.
