“Why?”
“I thought this was your night, and you would not want it ruined by your father coming in to criticize everything.”
Thalia closed her eyes. No doubt this was something else Maxwell had done that made him feel as though he was doing her a favor. Howfortunateshe was to have a husband like him who would do so much for her.
And she knew she ought to feel that way. But resentment choked her throat, and she felt tears start behind her eyes.
Even without her eyes open, she felt his gaze on her. “Thalia?” he asked after a moment. “Is something wrong?”
“I am grateful for everything you’ve done tonight,” she said.
“If that were the only issue at hand, you wouldn’t be looking like this.”
She snorted softly, not daring to open her eyes in case he would see the tears that gathered there. “And how do I look?”
“Devastated,” he said after a moment. “Did I err by making the ball about your sculptures? I thought it was the best way to show my support, and you seemed appreciative.”
“I am appreciative.”
“Then what is this about?”
“It’s about the fact that…” She drew in a deep breath. “You have no real need of me.”
Silence. She didn’t dare look at him. Her lip wanted to tremble, but with a force of will, she kept it in place.
“You want me to need you?” His voice was different now, colder, and more remote.
“You know, I spoke with the Duke and Duchess of Kirkford today.”
“Did they say something to upset you?”
“No. No, they were perfectly nice. They spoke to me because they wanted to show their support, and also because I suppose they were pleased we married.” She tried to laugh, but the sound came out scratchy. “And do you know the thing I noticed the most? They were so in tune with one another. Theylovedone another, Maxwell.”
He didn’t so much as move. If she hadn’t been able to feel his heat and sense his presence, she would have thought he had disappeared into thin air.
“You know what this is,” he said at last. “I told you what this marriage would look like.”
“You told me after we were married.”
“I said nothing of love before then.”
No, not with his words. But he had hinted at the prospect of it with his body, with his hands, with his eyes. She had not thought he loved her, but she had thought there was the suggestion of it.
“I will only ever have part of you,” she said, swallowing hard. “I thought… When you told me, I thought I might be content with that and that alone, but I can’t be. I won’t be. I am not some pretty wife to be tossed aside when her use is over. A life like that would turn me into a bitter harpy, and I won’t allow that to be my future. Joyce has shown me the reality of an unhappy marriage.”
“Joyce,” he said grimly.
“Yes, Joyce. She told me not to expect too much from you, that as a husband, you had already given me far more than most ladies can expect. As you said that—you were smiling at another lady, and I know what she was implying.”
His voice was low and dangerous. “I have no intention of betraying my vows, Thalia.”
“I know.” Finally, she sat up and met his gaze. The look in his eyes, all dark and deadly, made her stomach hurt. “I’m not afraid of that, precisely. I know you want me.”
“So what? You want more?”
“Yes,” she said simply. “I have trusted you with everything, but you can’t trust me.”
“What does our union have to do with trust?” he demanded.
