room when she heard the familiar hum of

then the deep baritone of her husba

zab

thed down her silk gown bef

eatures tired from the day but still striking, still

o had buil

had built

her of

hing sight of the tab

a glass of wine. You work so hard; the

stepping close

t enough for the kiss to land near her temple instead of he

e fel

ng instead to take his seat. S

he cover off the dish. Steamed ric

that's how to w

n to eat. Every move he made, the way he avoided her eyes, t

fear, the quiet kind that hi

asked, her ton

s, investors, the usual madness. He

wine. Yes. I know how

thing in her tone, but her face wa

hile. Only the soft clinkin

tle as ever. Leo, do you rem

It was small, almost imper

. Of course. That was

that business confe

e supposed to come with me, remem

. I sent Joanna in my place.

idn't leav

forced a light laugh. Ah, yes. Your god

eth agreed. Too

was sharp, slicing throu

lowly. Why are we talki

aid softly, I

d. You sa

o see her mother. And

n his seat. O

th replied simply. Neit

, but her eyes... h

gaze not accusing, not ang

refully, what exactly

he murmured, folding her hands on the

ghtly. And wha

wine, and then said it calmly, like

nna is p

in his han

't breathe. His eyes flickered wit

ed, her tone even. And she

e table, spilling red wine across the white cloth. He gr

too, Elizabet

dering. You can't possibly belie

her head sl

question hun

a mistake, he blurted out before realizing what h

n't change.

ze. Yo

ld myself it was just business. But today, wh

e never

Elizabeth, listen to me. It wasn't planned. She came to my room that night she said

beth finished for him. That's

it meant nothing. You'remy

, but her voice stayed coo

in, broken only by the fain

he didn't tell me she's pregnant, I can fix this. I'll talk to her, make sure she

lizabeth rep

If she's lying, I'll make her stop this nonsense. If not... He hesitated, t

a long time studying the m

money fixes e

a smile.

her expression

et, Elizabeth too quiet. Please, don't let thi

alm and distant. Make it

meet her, confirm things, a

You should rest now.

ntly the kind of smile that made him believ

, he said, touching

inch. She did

ar down the hallway toward their bedroom, where he w

, Elizabeth turned her gaze tow

red liquid shimmered in the light, catchin

slowly, then se

No anger

sil

that birt