Page 26 of Honeythorn
“No. Quite the opposite.”
“But they divorced. To break a bond…”
“Yes, well…”
“Tell me. Please.” He had to know. He had assumed for a while that Raphael was still in love with his last husband, but he did notknow.He had to find outwhyRaphael acted the way he did. It would make everything easier.
“As I said, I don’t know much. It was a political arrangement, like yours, but they seemed very much in love. Jack Vipond—the husband—was very much the opposite of Raphael. Gregarious, social—he loved dancing and would always wear the most lavish clothes, throw the most lavish balls. He…I don’t want to hurt you.”
“Be frank, Katerina. I’m stronger than I look.”
Katerina gave him a speculative look before nodding. “Well, Jack just seemed to bring out the best in Lord Raphael. They were inseparable, to the point that Lord Raphael learnt to delegate work, for once.”
Milan thought of his husband—how he was all work and no play. To think that someone had been able to crack that, to show Raphael how to live…it was no wonder he used his duty as a shield, now. Even the work dinner on Milan’s first night was starting to make sense.
“But…” Milan frowned. “If they were so in love, what happened?”
“Well, I don’t know the details. From what I’ve learnt, Lord Raphael had to go away for quite some time due to business and couldn’t take Jack along. They had a big row about it—Jack didn’t want Lord Raphael to go, for some reason. Saw it as a betrayal…I do not know.”
“That was enough to end the marriage?”
“Not quite. Jack was…Lord Raphael loved him dearly, but Jack seemed to need that love—or simply love, in general, to function. When Raphael returned, I believe Jack had taken a lover.”
“No!” Milan gasped. “Why?”
“Who knows? Perhaps Lord Raphael was more in love than Jack. Maybe Jack felt so hurt that Lord Raphael would go despite Jack’s pleading that he thought Lord Raphael didn’t love him. Whatever the reason, it ended with Jack leaving and Lord Raphael going back to his solitary ways.”
Milan pressed a hand over his own heart. He could not even imagine having his heart broken so ruthlessly. Not only that, but to be forced into a second marriage after such an experience. Of course Raphael would be distrustful. Of course he wouldn’t want to sleep in the same bed as him. If only they could talk openly about the subject…
“Don’t despair, Lord Milan. The heart is more resilient than it seems.”
Milan nodded gratefully before waving a dismissive hand. “Don’t call me ‘Lord’. Please.”
“If you won’t call me ‘Miss’.”
“Deal. Now, I can’t help but notice that you are not married,” Milan said and was grateful when Katerina did not point out the unsubtle change of topic.
“Yes,” Katerina said, tilting her face up and brushing her hair back.
“And in such a festive season, too. Great for meeting potential partners.”
“Perhaps.”
“Is it that you have your eye on someone?”
To Milan’s great surprise, Katerina blushed slightly, hiding behind her teacup.
“Oh, my! Do tell!”
“All you need to know is that she is the most beautiful and interesting Omega of the whole land,” she said snootily.
Milan cackled. “Should I be offended?”
“You are a close second. But, enough about that—you have so much gossip to catch up on, I barely know where to start.”
Milan let the subject drop. He knew how delicate matters of the heart could be.
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