“You are such a comedian, Evelyne.”
She laughed in spite of herself at the disgusted note to his tone, but then she was distracted by her surroundings. She came to a stop in the hall, stood there for a moment, absorbing all the details that remained the same despite her father’s absence in the light of day.
“Is everything all right?”
She looked up at Gabriel. “Yes. Better than. I was just thinking how it’s all the same even without Father here, and yet…itfeelsdifferent. Lighter. Like I can breathe.”
“Strange how a lack of threats of beatings might allow a person to breathe.”
Before she could decide how to respond to that, she heard her name being called. She turned and saw Ines bustling toward them.
Ines smiled brightly at her and greeted her with a light kiss on Evelyne’s cheek. “It is so good to have you back. My world has beenverymasculine since you left.” She held Evelyne at arm’s length. “And look how pretty you are. Glowing.”
“I don’t know about all that. The wardrobe certainly leaves something to be desired.”
“Excuse me, ladies. I have a quick call to make. I’ll meet you in the dining room.”
They nodded as Gabriel took his exit and the women tucked their arms into each other’s as they walked down the hall to the dining room.
“I told Alexandre already, but I did want to apologize. It never occurred to me that… Well, I wasn’t thinking about heirs and such. Especially all the way over in America. It was not my intention to take this from you and Alex.”
“Of course not,” Ines soothed.
“I’m sure Alexandre could change the law!” She grabbed on to Ines’s arm, because the truth of that occurred to her. “Oh, that’s it! It’s so hard to believe he’s king now, but since he is, he can change anything he wishes. He can certainly make your future baby the heir instead.”
Ines smiled tightly and said nothing, which made Evelyne realize she was being…horribly insensitive. Alexandre and Ines had been married for nine months now, and there was no discussion of a pregnancy.
“I’m sorry. I…” She shook her head, squeezed Ines’s arm. “I’ve read so many different women’s accounts, it should have dawned on me that it might not be… That this may be a delicate subject for you. I’m so sorry, Ines. Tell me to shut up.”
Ines shook her head. “You have nothing to apologize for. According to the doctors, everything is fine. No fertility issues, for either of us. It simply hasn’t happened yet. They’ve encouraged us to be patient. Alexandre and I have not discussed it yet, but for me, I do not care if our child…should we have one, is heir or not. I know it is why Alexandre married me. To have an heir.” Ines swallowed, but though she was friendly toward her sister-in-law there was a careful wall between them. They were not real friends.
Evelyne hoped someday they could be.
“Everything will be just fine.” Ines patted her arm and led her into the dining room. “Alexandre will handle it as always. You don’t need to worry at all. Now, let’s eat.”
Alexandre was already there, and they exchanged pleasantries, sitting down. Gabriel came in as the food was being put out. The conversation was superficial, friendly andweird.
Evelyne kept expecting her father to come storming in. Any time the door opened—whether it be someone to bring in more food, take away dishes, or bring Alex a message—she flinched.
She hoped it wasn’t noticeable, but knew it was when Gabriel put a hand on her leg. He would not offer comfort unless she was very obviously doing a bad job.
“I suppose we must have some formal ceremony for Father,” Alexandre said as the meal wound down.
“Must we?” Evelyne muttered, earning a bit of a chuckle from Ines. When Alex gave them both a cool, kingly glare, they sobered.
“Why not tell the truth?” Evelyne suggested. “He was an awful man, and we do not mourn him, and they shouldn’t either. They’ve lived under his reign. I’m not sure anyone would be surprised to find their war-mongering king a violent and vicious man everyone is glad is dead.”
“What does the truth get us, Evelyne? I am afraid all it does is make us look complicit. Which isn’t wrong, but I’d rather not advertise it.”
“Itiswrong. What were we supposed to do? Foment a bloody coup?”
“Instead, we did not rock the boat and people suffered. It is not so simple.”
There was that word again.Simple. No, nothing was simple. People had suffered.Sheand Alex had suffered. Suffering seemed to be the theme.
She glanced at Ines and Alexandre. They did not look at each other, regard each other, or seem to connect in any way. Did they suffer too, in this marriage they had not wanted?
The thought depressed her.
