| |
Nathan frowned as twisted the black onyx ring on his left hand. He could tell Elizabeth was upset with him through it. Her feelings, if not her thoughts, were loud and clear. Tangible, almost as if they were his own. How long would she be angry with him?
He knew that Elizabeth hadn’t always hated him, so he had hope she wouldn’t always feel that way towards him. When she had learned what the rings did, she had felt betrayed. If she hadn’t cared for him on her own at least a little, would she have felt thusly?
For the first time he wondered if he had been wrong to kick the goblin boy for bumping and knocking over Elizabeth. His father had ruled over the town with an iron fist. No one would have dared bump into one of the elite huli jings. Although Elizabeth was not one of them, she was his. It fell to him to make sure the lowly goblins and other nine tailed foxes treated her with the respect her station gave her. Was it not so different than the nobility back in England?
Having the boy beaten was the right thing to do. It wasn’t done by his hand, so Elizabeth could not fault him for the law. He showed compassion by not having him killed. That was what his father would have done.
His father he was not. He would never be that cruel.
“That display in the market was an embarrassment,” Adelaide said, coming into his room and interrupting his solitude.
“Hardly, Adelaide. Elizabeth simply revealed her kind nature.”
“She must be taught there is no room for kindness between us and the townsfolk. They are not one of us.”
“The boy was dealt with,” Nathan said.
“What about Elizabeth? Do you want me to handle it?” Adelaide’s smile brought a cold pit to Nathan’s stomach.
Nathan glared at Adelaide. “No. I will deal with my wife.”
Adelaide sighed. “If you will not allow me to teach Elizabeth, at least get her a governess.”
“I’ll think about it.”
“Nathan, you are not doing her any favors failing to teach her about our ways here. I understand you wish to introduce her gently. But if she errs in front of the wrong people, you know what will happen. Wife of a high ranking huli jing or not, she will be punished severely. Even you could be killed.”
“I will protect her,” Nathan insisted.
“You can’t always be there.”
“Don’t you think I know that?” Nathan said, slamming a hand on his table.
“I want to help you, Nathan. Just think about what I said. It would be better she learned swiftly.”
***
"Elizabeth, I have some business coming up in Draginth in a few days," Nathan said as he pinched the bridge of his nose.
I had been giving him a wide berth, avoiding him as best I could.
"How long will you be gone?" I replied serenely.
"About a week."
Good, I thought to myself.
"You've decided to listen to me then?" Adelaide asked him.
"I have," Nathan nodded. "Her training will begin as soon as I get back."
"I think it best we start now," Adelaide pressed. “It would be better if you are not here.”
"Of course, you do," Nathan snapped. He was trying hard not to shout. "I'm getting a headache. Elizabeth darling, stop that."
I wasn't doing anything except thinking how much I despised him.
"We are not starting now, and that is my final world."
"What was that about?" I asked, despite how tense the room was.
"The easiest way to explain this to you is that Nathan is hiring a sort of governess for you. She'll school you in our customs. That rather public display in the market was very distressing for Nathan, and he's cutting you a lot of slack." Adelaide scowled. "You are the first human in quite a few years to come to Dragos," Adelaide continued. "Goblins and foxes have certain expectations here. You're the wife of a ranking gentleman and it's our duty to set the example."
"There is much you don't realize," Nathan replied.
"Yes, you really are a stupid girl," Adelaide added, which earned her a dark scowl from Nathan.