“It would not be unreasonable,” Rachel continued, keeping her own tone neutral to not sound too eager. Though she suddenly found herself questioning if asking him had been the right thing to do.
“We are husband and wife,” Rachel continued, watching him carefully. “And it is rather normal for a husband and wife to spend the night together in the same chamber. So, why do you look as though I’ve just suggested something scandalous?” Her frustration nearly boiled over at the end, but she reeled herself back in again.
“Because,” Simon said, “I had assumed you would prefer to focus on your sleep.”
Why on earth would you assume that?Rachel blinked.
“I do not understand,” she replied slowly, unable to mask the disbelief in her tone. “You are suggesting that I would rather focus on my sleep than pay attention to my husband?”
Simon looked away from her, not meeting her gaze.
“Yes. Rest is important, after all.”
Rachel stared at him. Of all the absurd things that her husband had said to her, this one might make it to the top of her list.
“So, that is your response?” she asked, voice pitched in exasperation. “That is all you have to say to me? You truly believe I asked you to my chambers for—what, a lecture on the importance of sleep?”
“I cannot claim to know your reasoning,” Simon said, “But I would assume you have had quite an exhausting week, and thus, a peaceful night’s rest would do you well.”
“Is that what we’re doing now?” She pushed her chair back with more force than necessary. “Pretending as if the other night never happened?”
“Rachel—”
“No,” she cut him off, standing abruptly. “You do not get to do this.”
“You are being dramatic for no reason,” Simon sighed. “Sit back down.”
“No, I shall not,” Rachel shook her head. “Not when you choose to act likenothingchanged between us the other night. You are adept at twisting your words, but your actions did not lie that night.”
“Rachel, you are reading too much into this.”
“Reading too much into it?” she echoed, incredulous. “You kissed me like I was the air you breathed. You held me as if you couldn’t bear to let go. And now—” She gestured toward him. “Now, you sit there, sipping your tea as if none of it ever happened!”
“Why should I behave any differently?” Simon replied. “It does not change anything.”
“Itchangedsomething for me.” Rachel hated the vulnerability that seeped into her voice when he was being the opposite.
“What is there to acknowledge? Or change?” Simon leaned back in his chair, his expression impassive. “What we shared was… inevitable.”
It felt like a dirty word.
“You and I were bound to fulfill our obligations as husband and wife at some point,” Simon continued, his tone infuriatingly pragmatic. “It changes nothing between us.”
You are lying.She knew it in her heart. His words were detached, as though they were coming from something outside of himself.
“Tell me it meant nothing. Look me in the eye and tell me you felt nothing,” she challenged him.
Simon’s gaze flickered, but he quickly smoothed it into the same detachment as before.
“I will not entertain your fantasies.” Simon folded his arms in front of him. “And besides, I have an announcement to share with you.”
The shift in his tone was small, but it was enough. She felt it in her bones. Something was wrong.
“What is it?” she asked carefully.
“I will be leaving,” Simon exhaled.
“Leaving?” Her stomach lurched. The admission had come out of nowhere. “And where is it that you are headed off to?”
