“Where is she?” Christopher’s body was shaking, but he did his best to remain in control of his temper.
“I believe Her Grace is upstairs…” Mr. Carter grimaced when he saw the state of Christopher. “The last I heard, she was in your office.”
“What?” Christopher exclaimed, caring not for the uproar. He felt that in this instance, it was warranted.
“Your office, Your Grace,” Mr. Carter said. “I spoke with her no more than thirty minutes ago.”
Be calm, Christopher. Do not let her get under your skin. Likely, this is a misunderstanding. Nothing to get all worked up over…
By the time Christopher reached his office, he was no less calm. And the chances of that changing became less likely when he saw that the door was closed.
He took a calming breath. And then another one. It was one thing for Mr. Carter to see his temper, not the first time by a long way, but Christopher could not do the same thing around his wife. When people asked of this marriage, which they would certainly do, the last thing he needed was her telling people that he had a vicious temper. That was how rumors got started. And that was when people started paying attention.
Calmness and control were what Christopher needed, and he focused on both, determined not to let his wife affect him. And more importantly, that she does not see that other side of him.
Only when he was ready did he open the door and walk in.
He saw Rose immediately. She was seated behindhisdesk, and she looked up when she saw him come in. Her face dropped and paled slightly, and Christopher noticed immediately how different she looked. Not because she was nervous. Not because she was afraid. Rather, she looked sick.
Her skin was pasty. Her limbs were skinnier. And her hair sat flat and lifeless on her scalp. Worse than all of that were her eyes, hollow and just plain tired-looking.
It was enough to make Christopher falter for a second, very nearly forgetting what he had been so angry about.
“Christopher, you’re home,” she said with a confident smile. “I had no idea.”
“Rose,” Christopher approached his own work desk. “You look… are you feeling well?”
Rose reared back, taken by surprise by the question. It didn’t last long, and her expression quickly became defiant as she sat up straighter and squared her shoulders. “You are probably wondering about some of the changes I have made around here.”
“Changes?” The word pulled Christopher back into the room, and suddenly Rose’s slightly disheveled state didn’t concern him nearly as much as it had. “The changes that you have made to my home, you mean?”
“Our home,” she corrected immediately. “And before you ask, the reason that I did it is that there were a few…” She considered the phrasing for a moment. “… inefficiencies. I corrected them.”
The side of Christopher’s lip twitched. “Is that right?”
“It is.”
“How foolish of me, assuming that the way I have been running my household now for years was perfectly efficient. How could I have thought such a thing?”
“It is fine,” she said simply. “I was happy to do it.”
“I am that sure you were.” His leg was trembling, and that she was playing it so cool and self-righteous wasn’t helping.
Rose frowned, no doubt surprised by how reasonable he was being.“If that is the case, I will be interested to see what you think of the rooms –”
“Rooms?” Christopher cut her off. “What rooms?” A coldness crept up his spine.
“I did a little redecorating,” she said carefully. “Nothing drastic, I promise, but there were a few choices of yours that needed updating. A little color and such were brought into the house. Believe me, you will end up thanking me for it.”
“Color.” His lip twitched, and that throbbing returned to the back of his head. “Updating.” He took a deep breath. “I was not aware that… if I had known…” He forced a smile that was anything but friendly. “Perhaps I should have told you before I left, and that is on me. But this house is more than a place where I sleep at night. It is my existence, my sanctuary, if you will. With that in mind,” His forced smile grew. “I rather like how things are.”
“Are you saying I am not free to treat this house as my own home?”
“No,” he said through gritted teeth. “Just that if you wish to make changes, next time, speak to me first.”
“I would have done so, but you had left.”
Another deep breath, and he looked right at his wife. She matched it with a stubborn scowl of her own. “I would not have left, but it was a matter of urgency. I am sorry if it upset you.”
