“I will destroy anyone who touches you. I vanquished my father’s enemies. Every hypocrite on the Court of Chancery including Lord Prahmn has been broken. You think I won’t do the same to anyone who hurt you?”
“I’m the enemy, too. And you said I hurt you worse than anyone.”
Unable to deny her words, I stand and even take a step backward to the safety of my room. But I stop. I must hear her out. “You have a way to solve this?”
Katherine remains silent for a moment. “I think I’ll let Mr. Thom’s sons manage the routes for the rest of the week. They’re back. Thom trained them before the boys went to be soldiers. There’s enough bookkeeping to keep me busy. That was the duty my father intended for me.”
In her rambling, I realize she told me the truth about what happened. I guess that’s progress, but it does nothing to rid me ofmy fury. “I will have Steele … Katia, do you need for me to keep pretending that you have everything under control, or can I be honest about how I will find those responsible and destroy them?”
She stares at me. Those eyes, perfect dark miracles.
“I take your silence, Katherine, as a no. You get rest. I need to leave. I can’t pretend that I don’t care about your struggles.”
Her palm reaches out and waves me forward. “Don’t go.”
I lean my cane against her bed table and take her hand and kiss it. “Give me a command. Tell me to exact revenge the way that you wish.”
“Just hold me … Jasha.”
Everything happens quickly. She’s off the bed and into my arms. I fit her close to me, like a missing rib. I ease us back to the bed and draw us against the headboard, then I coax her to rest on me. Then, as gently as I can, I ask, “So who … why were you targeted?”
“Rotten eggs were thrown. Taunts hurled. The gossip over our situation has given rise to Wilcox Coal infamy. People don’t want to do business with a bigamist or a Black Jezebel. That’s what they yelled. I can handle this, Jahleel. It’s not like the Wilcoxes haven’t been hated before.”
My hand fists, but I force it to flatten. Then I try to rid my soul of the anger building as she looks at me. Then fury turns to heat. “Someone threatened you. They hurt you. No one is going to do that to my wife.”
Her frown vanishes. “Former wife.”
I stare at her bruised lip, the bit of shoulder that my palm wishes to claim. “You know what I mean.”
“Listen, Tsar,” she says, her tone spirited. “This is not your fight. Let me handle this.”
I don’t respond but glance at my cane, not her feet which are indeed bare. “I’ll let you rest. We can return … return to our deal tomorrow.”
“What’s wrong? Jahleel?”
“I’m not to be neutered. But you, Katia, want me to act as if I am.”
“I believe I remember you being far from neutered or circumcised.”
Orthodox and Anglicans hold similar stances on this. I lean more against the headboard, but I sit her securely in my lap. Her cheek leans against my shoulder, keeping those enticing eyes away. “Your safety shall not be compromised, Katherine. I insist.”
Her fingers again find my lapel. “Maybe the taunts are punishment. Why shouldn’t I be pelted with eggs?”
“Didn’t I tell you you’re forgiven?”
“You said that because you thought you were dying.”
Can’t she see I’m dying now, dying to be restrained, trying not to kiss her? “Well, I’m good today. I’ll say it again: I forgive you. No more grudges between us.”
Her face turns to me. “Then tell me, how do I forgive myself?”
“Time. Us being nice to each other.”
“There’s not enough time. There will never be.” She bites her lip. “Sorry.”
Death still stands between us, like a smothering mourning shroud.
In her ear, I whisper, “I missed saying goodbye to Anya. I was fighting the courts in London instead of being at her side. I thought I had time. If I had left when notice came, I might’ve seen her one last time. The oldest must encourage the younger. I regret not helping her rally.”
