Page 85 of A Return of the Wicked Earl (The Shadows 1)

“What are you saying?”

“I am saying that another two months, or two years, won’t change anything. The girl who was in love with you is gone. And the man she was in love with never existed.”

“You’ve made up your mind, then. Is that it? You don’t want to wait until the end of our bargain. You just want to leave.”

“Yes, Blake. You and I seem to want different things. You want adventure and courtship. And I… I wanted a family, someone to rely on… a babe.”

“A babe?” He scoffed. “So letting me into your bed wasn’t even about us, or passion. It was about a babe? Well, then I am glad you didn’t get it,” he spat.

Annalise’s mouth slacked open. Her eyes burned, and she was short of breath. Did he really say that?

“Are you?” She paused and took a deep breath. “Well, then, you’ll also be glad to know that Iwaswith child. Do you remember our wedding night? The night you came in foxed and took me without gentleness? Well, it resulted in a babe. Or rather it didn’t.” Annalise’s voice turned hoarse, and tears streamed down her face. Blake stood frozen in place, his face a grimace of horror. “So you can rejoice in that too.”

“Annalise.” Blake made a step closer, but Annalise shook her head, stepping away.

“Because the moment I was notified of your death, I lost the babe. I lost everything that night. You, my social position, my place in the world, and more importantly, our babe. So, yes, you took everything from me without giving anything back. And I don’t think I have anything left to give.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Blake’s voice was hoarse.

“You didn’t want to know. Didn’t you say no past?”

“I just meant my past, not yours.”

Annalise upturned her face. “And isn’t the loss of our babe your past too?” Annalise took a deep breath to regulate her heartbeat. Her face felt puffy under her fingers; her eyes were probably red.

“You should have told me.”

“And you should have asked. About anything. You knew that I spent over a year without you. Why did you never ask how that time was for me? Because it wasn’t pleasant. You thought I was in love with Kensington? Well, no. But he found out about the babe and offered me the protection of his name. When I lost the babe, he offered me his title. What did you ever offer me but misery?” She took off her necklace and placed it on the table. “These gifts, the flowers, and the courtship mean nothing if there’s no marriage beyond. Your words mean nothing if there’s no action to prove their worth.”

Blake took a step toward her, but she stood and walked to stand behind the desk, as far away from him as she could.

Blake raked his hand through his hair. “I shall not let you go this easily. If you want a child, then you’ll have one. Until you do, you’ll stay by my side.”

He stood motionless for what seemed like forever. Annalise didn’t dare look at him. She knew he wouldn’t let her leave easily; she knew he wouldn’t listen to her concerns. He hadn’t changed. Just as she thought. At least not where it mattered.

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