Capítulo 17: Chapter XVI
Late that afternoon, Christian could not find either Eva or Robert so he went to look for them in the stables, thinking they were still there.
He entered the stables but there was complete silence.
"Eva?" His voice echoed . Just as he was about to turn and leave, he realized that a small pair of eyes was watching him.
"Gabriel?" He asked and the child slowly revealed himself. He was afraid, Christian realized.
"I wont harm you little one, come closer."
The boy tentatively put a step in front of the other and came closer to Christian.
"Do you want me to help you with the horse?" He asked, suddenly in desperate need to reach the child somehow.
Gabriel only nodded. Christian took his hand and led him towards the end of the stable to one of his foals.
"His name is Telemachus" he told the boy.
"Go on, stroke him" he said gently and the boy did just that.
He smiled when Telemachus demanded more of his attention.
"You don't speak much, do you?" he asked and the boy shook his head.
"Would you like to mount him?"
The boys eyes lit up like candles and Christian helped him on the horse.
Come on, he took the rope and led the foal down a steep path.
"Do you feel alright?" He asked Gabriel and he got the usual nod.
"What are you doing" he heard an angry voice behind him. He turned to see Eva running with her skirts gathered in her hands. Robert was behind her, looking confused.
She got to the boy and lifted him off the horse.
"Are you alright baby boy?" She asked Gabriel and checked him everywhere. The boy just nodded wide eyed.
Eva sighed in relief and directed her deadly glare toward Christian.
"How dare you?"
"What did I do?" Christian asked her.
"Why in God's name would you put him on the horse. His wounds are still fresh. Why do you think Robert showed him everything on himself? Have you no regard for his life at all?" She was beyond angry he realized and he had nothing to say to his defense. He had forgotten about the boy's injuries. He had been jealous of Robert and had wanted to get closer to Gabriel as well. He did not dare to meet her eyes.
Gabriel started crying out of nowhere and she took him in her arms and soothed him. Christian felt defeated. Not even a month into his marriage and he was placed second. He had to watch as Robert came and the boy went voluntarily to his arms. That's it! He told himself. I am getting out of here.
He left the happy image and went to his chambers to be alone and maybe dwell in his misery.
On the other hand, Eva, after having put Gabriel to sleep, invited Robert to ask him for advice.
"Robert." She said apprehensively.
"Yes?"
"I have something I wish to ask of you. I know it is unseemly to speak of such things with gentleman but.... I have no one with whom to consult."
"Eva, I think we've established already that we are friends. Friends can talk about anything."
"Well.... it's about the marriage bed."
Robert coughed and suddenly turned red.
"Yes, ask away" he croaked, clearly uncomfortable with the subject, but Eva was completely oblivious to that fact.
"Well, you see..." she pursed her lips, not knowing exactly how to phrase it.
"What do men like?" The general the better. She thought. Eva did not want Robert to have any visuals about her and her husband. She blushed profusely at the thought.
"Er...?"
"I mean.... what do men like in bed?"
"Err..."
"Surely you aren't embarrassed, Robert?"
"Err?"
"Or... is it that you haven't done it?"
"No, it's not that!" He said vehemently.
"But it's not something you discuss with your best friends wife"
"Please?"
"Well, I guess men like the same things as women."
"That is?" She asked, her curiosity piqued. She hadn't liked anything regarding the act so far....well, only the kissing part. Her husband was a delicious kisser.
"To be caressed, kissed..."
"I did kiss my husband." She added effusively.
"Not only on the mouth..." Robert tried to explain but he could not get the words out.
"Oh, I see. Thank you Robert! You've been a great help"
"Err... you are welcome!".
"I'll go now, but I shall see you at dinner."
The next couple of days Christian kept to his office and pretended to work. Well he was working, a plan to deal with his new family that was. He was indeed very happy to see Robert leave after having monopolized his wife's entire time. He was not jealous, he told himself when he went to say his goodbyes. He was not jealous, not even when he scowled and accidentally tightened his hold on Roberts's hand. No, he decided, he was not jealous.
"You are jealous, aren't you?" His friend was smiling at him.
Christian mumbled something under his breath but did not answer Robert's question.
"Your wife is wonderful you know, I wish I had someone like Eva."
"Well she's taken!" Christian said vehemently, more vehemently than he realized.
Robert just laughed harder and shook his head.
"I am happy for you my friend. She is perfect for you, that I can vouch."
"Don't you have a title to claim?"
"I shall be off, but take it easy. You will find that I was perfectly right about your wife."
They arranged to meet again in London to discuss some new business acquisition and Robert was off.
Christian turned to go towards his house when he saw Eva in the doorway.
"Would you like to talk?" She asked hesitantly and he just nodded. Christian led the way into the drawing room and ordered to have some tea and snacks brought.
"Where is Gabriel?"
"He's in the gardens, playing. He was quite upset to have Robert gone so suddenly."
"I wager you were as well."
"Of course, he is my friend as well." Christian scoffed at her reply. Her friend....
"Do you fuck all your friends?" He asked impulsively and he regretted the words the minute he uttered them. Her eyes widened and her face was scarlet.
"You did not just say that..." she was horrified and, honestly, so was he.
"I stepped out of the line. I apologize. "he told her and was preparing himself to leave. He could not believe how uncouth and uncalled for his accusation had been.
"No, you will not leave, my lord, until we have it out." She stood determinedly before him.
"There is nothing to discuss." He turned his back to her.
"That's where you are wrong. You assume a great deal about me and I would rather you didn't. "
"Well, I would rather I didn't marry a woman who would spread her legs for anyone but for husband."
The slap was expected so he did not do anything to stop hit. They stood in silence for a moment before looking into each other's eyes. There was regret in both gazes, but Christian preferred to leave instead of clarifying the matter.
Eva stared at the door and tears threatened to make their way down her face. She had done it herself, she knew that she had had some fault in creating his perception of her, but it still hurt to be called a whore. .. She decided to go search for Gabriel. A silent companion was everything she wanted right now.
She found him playing with a dog in the garden. He was such a sweet child. At the sight of him all her worries disappeared.
"Gabriel!" She called him and he gave her a tentative smile. He was still getting used to suddenly having a family, she realized.
She went to him and sat down on the grass.
"Do your wounds pain you?"
The boy shook his head. He did not talk much and Eva was getting more and more worried.
"Have you got used to your new home?"
She saw him think about for a moment before nodding. She had not pressed him for information, knowing he must have been traumatized for nearly being killed but she needed to know who had tried to kill him.
She stroked his hair and tried to get his undivided attention because the dog was running around them in circles.
"Do you remember who wanted to harm you?"
He nodded.
"Could you tell me?"
"Father." Gabriel said.
"That man was your father?"
He shook his head.
"Is your father trying to kill you?" She reformulated the question and the boy gave a simple nod. His eyes were fathomless. He looked haunted.
Eva hugged him tight and whispered sweet words to him.
"It's alright honey, no one is going to harm you here. You have my word."
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