Page 22 of Master of Games
He slowly pushed himself up. “Are we eating together?”
“If you’d like.”
“In that case, I’m famished.” Food would certainly help him build his strength.
She pulled the bell cord, a servant appearing a few moments later. She requested a tray, and then closed the door, moving to stoke the fire.
He knew when he was being ignored, but he let the silence settle around them. She’d just experienced something that was new and unexpected.
The tray arrived laden with food, and a bottle of wine sat open on the tray as well.
“Do you always have wine with dinner?” he asked with a chuckle.
“Sometimes,” she turned to him. “Is it a problem that they’ve added it to the tray? I know you’ve given it up. I can send it back.”
“No, not a problem at all.” Alcohol had ceased calling to him. “But you do have to promise that you’ll kiss me with wine on your lips. That would be an experience.”
Even in the darkening room, he saw color flame in her cheeks. “Caden.”
“You say my name with so much chastisement, but I have to confess, I quite enjoy it.”
Her jaw dropped. “What does that mean?”
“I didn’t have parents who loved me all that much. Perhaps exasperation is as close as I got to real affection.”
“I know what you told me about your father, but your mother…”
“She didn’t hate me like he did,” he answered, slowly pushing himself up from the bed. “But she was busy carrying on her affairs, and she had the real heir to raise when she wasn’t busy with a lover.”
“Wait. Heir? But you’re…” She stepped up to him, reaching for his hand, tension pulling at the corners of her eyes.
“My older brother was the one person I liked in this world who liked me back. He died when I was fifteen, he was racing his Phaeton when he crashed and died instantly.”
Her free hand flew to her mouth. He hadn’t talked about Christian in so long. “I wasn’t there to try and save him. And the disappointment my father felt that I’d take over the dukedom was known far and wide.”
She squeezed his hand. “I see.”
She didn’t. Not entirely. But his biggest weakness was a secret he’d share as they moved deeper into their relationship.
His deformities were held on the inside, but she might find them repulsive nonetheless.
Whether she ultimately rejected him, he couldn’t say. But he knew one thing for certain, after what she’d given him, a second chance at life, he’d help her heal.
CHAPTER EIGHT
They ate dinner silently, though a thousand questions danced on Tabbie’s tongue. What had Caden’s brother been like? How had his father made it known that he was disappointed in his bastard son?
And what about his mother? Had she finally given him her love and attention?
But she ate in silence, watching Caden out of the corner of her eye, waiting for him to signal he was ready to speak.
He finally lifted his head. “You haven’t touched your wine.”
She looked at the glass of deep red liquid, shimmering in the glass. “I find that I’m far too curious to drink.”
“Curious about what?”
“You.”
