Once Upon an Irritatingly Magical Kiss by Bree Wolf

Chapter Thirty-One

The Dynamics of a Family

Awkwardwas the best word to describe the situation they suddenly found themselves in.

In all honesty, Thorne had not expected this. Admittedly, he had never once thought this far ahead. He had always worried about what Christina might do if he told her about Samantha before the marriage could take place. Yet the fool he was, he had never once considered what it might do to his marriage for her to find out after. Did she feel trapped? Did she have regrets?

Judging from the tense look upon her face these days, it was clear that she did. Thorne knew that some women could not accept another’s child in their home. It had been the very reason why he had remained silent for so long.

Since Christina barely spoke a word to him or Samantha, her eyes downcast and distant, his own relationship with Sam stood in even starker contrast. As Samantha had never been one shy for words, she happily prattled on as she always did. The two of them conversed easily, and it made Christina seem almost like an outsider, as though she did not belong.

Did she feel it too?

Thorne did not know what to do about it. At first, he tried to include Christina in their conversations. His wife’s replies, however, were rather monosyllabic. She clearly did not wish to participate.

Fortunately, Samantha did not seem to notice or perhaps she did but was determined to make her new mother like her. Of course, Thorne had noticed the longing looks his daughter cast in his wife’s direction. He knew well how much Samantha longed for a mother. She had never been shy about sharing her hopes and dreams with him.

And so, he was not surprised to see Samantha take Christina by the hand one morning and pull her along to the stables. “Come. I want to show you the pony Father bought me. He is sweet and silly, and it tickles when he takes carrots from my hand.” She giggled, completely oblivious to the reluctance upon Christina’s face. “His name is King Arthur.”

Christina’s jaw dropped as she followed Samantha down the hall. “King Arthur? Honestly?”

Samantha blinked up at her. “Do you not like it? Father used to tell me stories, and I always wanted to be King Arthur and pull the sword from the stone.”

Laughter fell from Christina’s lips, and Thorne could not help but think that some of the tension suddenly vanished. “Yes, I’ve always loved the stories as well. However, I was surprised because Biscuit used to be called King Arthur as well. My sister gave him that name.”

Samantha laughed. “Is that true? And how did he come to be named Biscuit?”

Thorne exhaled a deep, hopeful sigh as the two of them stepped outside and the door closed, cutting off their voices. Perhaps all would be well after all, he thought.

Perhaps.

In the coming days, Thorne often saw the two of them together, either in the stables or walking through the gardens. Although Christina had not yet returned to her usual self, he could see small changes within her. He knew it was Samantha’s doing, and so he held himself back, giving them space and time, hoping that perhaps if he did not interfere, somehow everything would turn out all right.

A fortnight after they had arrived at Pinewood Manor, Thorne approached his wife’s chamber after supper. He needed to speak to her alone, and throughout the day, Samantha had constantly been by her side.

After his knock, there was a moment of pause, and he wondered if she would invite him inside. Finally, he heard footsteps approaching from the other side of the door before it opened. Her eyes were slightly narrowed, confusion upon her face as she regarded him. “What do you want?”

“I wish to speak to you about something. May I come in?” He cast a look over his shoulder down the hall. “I do not wish to be overheard.” Although Samantha was already in bed, one could never be entirely certain of the girl’s whereabouts.

Thorne had always liked that about her spirit, though.

Christina hesitated, but then stood aside and allowed him in. “Is it something else you ought to have told me earlier?”

Thorne clenched his jaw, knowing that he deserved her distrust. “It is not.” He closed the door behind him, then turned to face her. “I simply meant to inform you that I need to travel back to London for a few days. A few influential lords have agreed to meet me, and I need to take this chance to speak to them about the changes I would like to see.”

The expression upon her face remained almost blank; yet she nodded. “I see.”

Thorne hated this passivity in her. It was not who she was, and he would have liked to do nothing more than shake her awake, out of this trance. “Would you like to accompany me?”

Again, she did not answer right away, but looked at him as though the question he had put to her deserved careful consideration. “I believe it would be best for all of us if I remained here,” she said without further explanation.

Thorne nodded. “Very well.” This time, he hesitated, waiting, uncertain what for. Still, he did not wish to leave. It had been days since they had had a moment alone together, and he missed her. “Good night then,” he finally said, seeing that she did not wish for him to linger.

“Good night,” she replied and then closed the door behind him the moment he stepped out into the corridor.

Thorne hung his head, wishing he knew what to do, how to regain what they had once found. Had he only imagined the ease between them? Was it truly so impossible for her to overcome the lie he had told? It may not have been a lie in the strictest sense; but it had been an omission.

One he now regretted.

Deeply.