Chapter Seven
Aurora
Gabriel doesn’t talk to me for a few days. In fact, I barely see him except for in passing. I know why he’s doing this. Because I saw him in a vulnerable moment and he must hate that.
“Maria,” I say, after going into the kitchen. She and Alex are working on dinner while Charles sits at the table, reading the newspaper. “Do you know how Gabriel got his scar?”
She stops chopping the carrots and turns to me. “Mr. Romano is very secretive about that. None of us knows. And it’s better to not know. He hasn’t shared it so I suspect he doesn’t want you knowing.”
“I saw him have a panic attack.”
All three of them look at me with complete and utter shock.
“You saw… Mr. Romano having a panic attack?” Alek asks, setting the roast into the oven. “That doesn’t sound like him. That man has never shown any kind of emotion in all the years I’ve worked here.”
“Panic attacks are not real,” Charles says with a scoff. “You children just make up stuff to get attention.” He flips a page in his newspaper. “Mr. Romano is a man we do not gossip about.”
“He’s my husband. I’m allowed to know who he is.”
“So I suggest you try talking to him instead of entertaining rumors,” Charles snaps.
I flinch and Maria gives my arm a comforting squeeze. “Gabriel doesn’t open up to me. He forced me to marry him. I am not in the wrong here for wanting to know who he is.”
“I agree,” Maria says. “But we don’t have the answers you’re looking for. He hasn’t told us how he got his scar. And as for a panic attack… well, I’ve never seen him have one, so I can’t talk on that matter.”
“It was worth asking. Thank you.” I turn to leave the kitchen when Maria speaks.
“How are you settling in now that you’re married? You’ve been withdrawn these past few days. Mostly keeping to your bedroom.”
“I was forced to marry Gabriel and never see my father again. How would that make you feel?’
Maria’s eyes widen before she quickly nods. “Of course, child. But stay strong. That’s all I can offer you.”
I leave the kitchen with more questions than answers. Gabriel hasn’t shared the deeper parts of himself with his staff but there has to be someone he has shared things with. But who?
My mind flashes back to Ginevra at my wedding. How she told me Gabriel likes to leave women bloody. Either she was lying or speaking from experience. Does she know more about Gabriel?
It’s not like I can leave to ask her though. I’m stuck in this house forever.
Fate intervenes when Ginevra and George arrive at Gabriel’s house the following evening. I come down for dinner to find them at the dining table, talking to Gabriel. He didn’t invite me, I notice. I wasn’t told about anyone coming.
“She’s finally arrived,” George says, sipping his wine. “You’re wife doesn’t respect your guests, Gabriel.”
“You tried to put your hands on her. I wouldn’t speak out of turn right now.”
George flushes. “That was before you were married. I am sorry for that.”
I stop in the doorway, unable to get my body to move. “I didn’t know you had company.”
“I don’t share everything with you,” Gabriel says in a hard tone. He hates that I saw him have that panic attack.
“Do you want me to eat in my room?” I ask.
“Stay,” Ginevra says, giving me a smile that isn’t exactly comforting. “I want to get to know Gabriel’s wife better. See how he’s been treating you.”
I look to Gabriel. It’s his permission I need. After a long beat, he nods. I sit down at the other end of the table, as far away from those three I can get.
“So how has the honeymoon gone?” Ginevra asks. “I remember when I first got married. Me and George christened every room in the house.”
