About anything.

As these thoughts drifted through my mind, I realized that True had entered my room some minutes ago, but he had not approached the bed.

But I did not care enough to lift my head to see where he was.

I just stared at nothing as the lamplight danced in the room.

And I continued to do so when it started to dim as True moved about the room, extinguishing it.

Though something stirred in me when I felt the bedcovers behind me move.

And something else stirred when I felt the sensation of a body hitting the mattress.

Last, I felt my own body grow taut when my intended fitted himself to my back and snaked an arm around my belly.

This was highly unlike True.

I knew he wished to comfort me.

However…

“True—”

“Quiet.”

I blinked into the dark at his word and the tone he’d used to utter it.

He pulled me tighter to his warmth. Warmth that was, first, very warm, and second, I could tell he did not have his usual clothing on. Shirt. Trousers. Waistcoat. Obviously no boots as he was under the silks with me.

I didn’t know what he wore for I had my nightgown on.

But I could feel skin against skin at my shoulders.

He was silent for a long time and I thought he was going to sleep.

I was surprised he intended to sleep with me.

But apparently, he did.

Though, I was wrong about him being asleep for he spoke again.

“Tomorrow, you will eat. You may lie in bed. You may keep others away, except me. But you will eat, is this understood, Farah?”

Now I was surprised he was being domineering.

He’d never been domineering.

His arm gave me a shake.

“Farah?”

“Tomorrow, I will eat,” I said simply to say what he wished to hear.

“Elpis is making arrangements for your mother’s death ceremony. If you wish to be involved in that, you’ll need to say so and I will make certain that your wishes are adhered to.”

“What is Elpis planning?” I asked.

“I’ve no idea. Do you wish to know?”

I felt a flare of anger at such an offensive question and snapped, “Of course I do.”

“Then I shall bring Elpis to you tomorrow, you will share how we’ll say our final goodbyes to Sofia, and I’ll see to it that your wishes are seen to.”

“Thank you.”

“After that,” he went on as if I didn’t speak, “after tomorrow, you must get up. You must take fresh air. You must have activity. You will, of course, continue to grieve. But it is not healthy hiding in the dark, lying abed.”

I had no reply to that.

“After your father’s actions, your mother carried on,” he remarked, and my anger flared again, hotter this time. “She continued to live. She looked after you.”