Beneath The Veil of Deception 6
Episode 6: The Understanding He Offers.
Jacinth sat in the morning room, her hands clasped around a cup of tea she barely tasted. She didn’t hear him enter, but his shadow fell across her.
Zander Von Edrington
Good morning.
Zander said, his voice steady. He set a small parcel on the table—her favorite pastry, she noticed with surprise. She looked up, startled. His gaze was unreadable, and she wondered if this was simply another formality.
She hasn't seen him for days. Neither he has.
Jacinth couldn't help but feel concerned, especially since she hadn't gone back. She noticed every little change in him. After a moment, she glanced away and gave a quick nod.
Primrose Ashbourne
𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦. 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢 𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘦.
Primrose came to a sudden stop when she spotted Zander, her face breaking into a smile. Excited to see him, she eagerly expressed her words in sign language.
Zander Von Edrington
Sister-in-law.
Zander Von Edrington
Yes, my Duchess...
He locks eyes with Jacinth, his voice descending into more subtle decibels that dance between intrigue.
Zander Von Edrington
She seems to have forgotten that she has a husband. I thought I should drop by and remind her.
A faint cough escapes her lips as she averts her gaze, from Prim's teasing grin.
Primrose Ashbourne
𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘵.
She notices Jacinth's favorite pastry on the table and signals Zander, while she isn't looking.
Zander Von Edrington
𝘊𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥.
Primrose Ashbourne
𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩.
Prim offered a warm smile. She nodded slightly at Zander, a silent acknowledgment of her politeness, before gracefully excusing herself.
Jacinth Ashbourne
You understand... Sign language, Your Grace?
Zander Von Edrington
I do. When I was studying in France, I had a patient—a little girl. She was... mute.
Jacinth was soundless, locked in a silent gaze with Zander as she waited for him to find the right words. He pauses, his expression gradually shifting as warmth crept into his eyes.
Zander Von Edrington
She had less than six months to live. I wanted to give her someone to speak to, even if only for a short while.
A smile appears for the first time in Jacinth's face.
Jacinth Ashbourne
She must have been very happy.
Zander Von Edrington
She was.
Both of them basked in the awkward silence. After a beat, he spoke.
Zander Von Edrington
The Prime Minister of Hestermere has extended an invitation—to both of us. A dinner.
Zander adjusted his gloves, a hint of reluctance in his demeanor. Jacinth hesitated. The idea of traveling with Zander after all that had transpired between them felt... daunting.
Jacinth Ashbourne
When are we expected?
She asked, her voice softer now. Zander glanced at her, his gaze steady.
Zander Von Edrington
Tomorrow evening.
Jacinth looked away, unsure of how to respond. She had assumed his visit was prompted by some sense of obligation—or perhaps guilt. But now, it seemed duty, once again, dictated their paths.
𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘶𝘱𝘴𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦.
Zander Von Edrington
I would not have asked you to leave your father’s home so soon, Duchess, were it not for necessity.
She looked at him intently, searching his expression. There was—only quiet resolve. And it only fuelled her frustration.
Her lips pressed into a thin line, frustration bubbling beneath her calm exterior. Why is he like this? Why does he have to say such things? She had prepared herself for disdain, for indifference, even for anger. But this? It was unbearable.
𝘐𝘧 𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘮𝘦, 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘩𝘦 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘪𝘵? 𝘐𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘧 𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘐 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥.
He wasn’t supposed to care. He wasn’t supposed to make her feel as though she mattered. Not after everything. Not when this marriage was never a choice for either of them.
Zander Von Edrington
Duchess?
His calmness felt like a mockery, like a deliberate effort to remind her that she didn’t know how to react to him.
Jacinth Ashbourne
You were aware of the tradition, weren't you?
Comments
Cara De Clare — Reverie! 🌈
You deserve it, lady. Stay silent more often aye. Don't even express yourself. He's supposed to read minds. 🌚
2025-03-19
1
Cara De Clare — Reverie! 🌈
Don't say that. Say with pride and authority — “You are my wife. Come home with me. We'll make babies.” 😳
2025-03-19
1
Cara De Clare — Reverie! 🌈
Good. Never cease to amaze your woman. Women likes surprises more than they like their husbands.
2025-03-19
1