“By green, I mean the color of forests. Of nature.”
“Well, it is rather convenient then that it also happens to be the color of your wife’s eyes,” Rachel continued.
“Has anyone ever told you that it is impolite to ask too many questions at mealtimes?” he shot back and then glanced down at her plate of food, which lay untouched. “You have not eaten anything.”
“I-oh.”
Could he blame her? It was only because she had been so busy in her observations and questioning him that she had forgotten that she was meant to eat alongside him.
“I suppose I got distracted. I was not expecting you to show up to breakfast, you know. Or at least, I had willed myself into believing that you would not.”
Simon scoffed loudly and looked at her with narrowed eyes.
“Why would you think that? I told you I would the other night.”
He made it sound so easy and simple, when she knew that the reality was far from it. She let out a small sigh and composed herself.
“It would be prudent to manage my expectations. After all, I do not wish to force anyone to be in my company.”
“Force?” Simon raised his eyebrow at her. He was observing her intently now, and she fought hard against herself not to blush under his gaze.
“Yes, well, I feel… I feel as though I’m forcing you to be here. To eat with me. And I don’t want to…”
Simon’s chuckle interrupted her.
“Do you really believe that anyone canforceme to do anything? I would not be here if it had not been of my own free will. Dispel these ridiculous notions of yours.”
She blinked rapidly. The surprise on her face was evident.
“But… I was just…”
“No,” Simon interrupted, pushing back his chair and rising to his feet. “Enough of that. Come here.”
Rachel felt herself blushing again. He was not asking her; instead, he was commanding her. And in normal circumstances, such a thing would be upsetting for her. She did not like to be commanded.
But somehow, when it came from it, it made her excited. Her heart was beating loudly inside her chest now, and she hesitated for a moment.
“Duchess, have I not made myself clear?” Simon said again, though his voice was softer now. “Come here.”
She felt as though she was going to melt on the spot. How could she deny him when he spoke to her in such a tone? It was as though he had discovered a weakness of hers that she did not know she had.
“I… yes,” she said.
He waited for her to move, watching her closely.
She rose from her seat, feeling the weight of his gaze at every moment. And then crossed over to close the distance between them.
Never once did he take his gaze away from her. And when she finally reached him, she greeted him with a nod of approval.
“Are you just going to stand there?” he smirked. “Take a seat.”
She nodded and went to sit down on the chair beside him.
“No,” he stopped her. His voice startled her.
“But you just said…”
“Here,” he pointed towards his lap.
