Page 10 of Honeythorn
They made their way to the pens, where grunting and the occasional squeal rang out. Milan approached wearily. He was always squeamish at meeting animals that were meant for slaughter.
“You’re right. They look much happier,” Raphael said and, to Milan’s astonishment, bent down to scratch behind one of the pig’s ears, a soft smile on his face.
Maybe he liked to be kind to things that were due to die.
It didn’t take long for them to walk back to their mounts.
“Your daughter?” Raphael asked quietly as they reached their horses. Milan would not have heard him if he weren’t so intent on eavesdropping.
“Much better. My Lord, I cannot thank you enough for what you did for—”
“Do not mention it. You must know that you can come to me if such a concern arises again.”
“Thank you, Lord Ledford.”
This seemed to be a theme as he visited the other houses. Raphael wasn’t overly expressive, and he didn’t tend to give many emotional assurances, but he seemed to be someone these people had learnt they could trust.
The ride back to the manor was silent, Milan deep in thought. He believed in judging a person not by how they treated those above their station, but those below. If he simply used the information gathered today, Milan could only conclude one thing: Raphael was a good man.
Milan felt chastised by the discovery. Perhaps he had pushed too quickly. Perhaps Milan was the embodiment of a marriage Raphael had been strong-armed into, and he needed time to adjust.
They entered the manor side by side, and Milan gathered his courage as he stopped Raphael.
“My Lord. Thank you for letting me ride with you. It has been…it was very enjoyable,” Milan said quietly.
Raphael nodded, not quite meeting his eyes.
“I know I have usurped your day,” Milan went on, “but I wondered if you would still have dinner with me.”
There was a slight pause as Raphael finally raised his eyes. “I’m surprised you want more of my company.”
Milan’s lips tilted into a half smile. “We are to be bonded, Alpha. Why would I want anything else?”
Milan knew that it was bold to call Raphael ‘Alpha’ without further honorific. It was a possessive term that might as well be, ‘my Alpha’.
They looked at each other. For the first time, something heated stirred in Milan’s belly as he looked at Raphael.
“I’ll see you at dinner, then,” Raphael agreed.
Milan couldn’t keep himself from smiling.
**********
Milan took care with his appearance before dinner, almost embarrassed by it but not enough to stop. If he did not do it for his betrothed, then who would he do it for?
To his relief, Raphael was there when Milan stepped into the dining room. He even stood up as Milan entered, pulling out his seat. Milan didn’t comment on the sudden change.
As they started dinner, the surprises seemed not to end. Instead of Milan having to reach for a topic of conversation, it was Raphael who was first to speak.
“I hope you were not too bored today.”
“On the contrary, it was very interesting. The—sprayers, did you call them? Those, in particular, were fascinating.”
“You like mechanics?”
“Yes, greatly. We use more solar forces where I come from, but these steam-propelled machines you have here are so intricate. They intrigue me.”
“Well, much of the house works through such systems. I’m sure I could find someone with more knowledge than I to show you them.”
