nt

nto the massive oak desk and leaned back in my leather chair, ru

a thick cigar. I rolled it between my fingers, the

came at the

me

ered, carrying a small tray. On i

laced the glass on the desk beside my hand. "After

my hand. I took a sip. It was a ritual from my childhood, one she res

the tension in my shoul

er posture as elegant and erect as ever. She

sapphire necklace tod

surprised. "Sh

tle test beautifully," Eleanor

about the exchange from my head of secu

nt, the only sound the ticking of

on her?" my mother final

of Beatrice at the altar, defiant and proud. I thought of her in our room, co

bold," I said finally.

know you. You wouldn't have agreed to this marriage, not

There was something about the girl... a co

also an arrangement. In the beginning, we were like you and s

spoken so openly about her own marr

can trust completely," she said, her eyes distant with memory.

l, Beatrice. She has a lot of pain inside her. Marrying you was an act o

er voice softening. "Don't let this h

rds were barely a whisper.

a pain I had never fully understood. I knew her marriage to m

hed across the desk and took her ha

id. And I meant it.

re solid than any vo

her look younger. She squeezed my hand and the

ind out what she likes to

, watchi

mother's words echoing in my head, mingling w

prote