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“You have no reason to apologize and you don’t need to start now.”
“I don’t know what just happened,” she said.
“I’m guessing Paul was being his charming self, and seeing as he is a fucking disgusting bastard, that is his standard.”
She nodded her head.
“It’s okay. You can relax now. No one is going to take you from me, and after a short dance, I will return you to your husband.”
Tamsin danced with him and it wasn’t as bad as she thought it might be. It was rather nice, and Jacob was a good dancer. She wondered if Louisa had helped him in that department, or if it was a skill he always had. She couldn’t believe how little she truly knew about her brothers.
They had lived in a different world from her. She had brothers and knew of them, but everything else was a blur. She’d been the only daughter and in a weird way, sheltered from the ramifications of what it meant to be a Denton.
Landon had been the only one to tell her anything, much to their mother’s annoyance. She didn’t want her daughter to be anything but perfect and ladylike. Landon helped her be a little rebellious over the years.
“Thank you,” Tamsin said. “For cutting in and saving me.”
“I know right now you hate me and you have every right to be angry, but I promise, I will take care of you.” Jacob sighed. “I have made a great many mistakes in trying to rectify Dad’s … situation. One day, I hope I can offer you everything you were once promised.”
She heard the sincerity in his voice and she didn’t want to argue with him.
After a few more minutes, Jacob kissed her hand and then led her back to her husband. Mason was there at the edge of the dance floor, and she watched as both men nodded their heads.
****
“What did my dad say?” Mason asked the moment they were alone in their bedroom. He’d already gotten Tamsin to move into his room. They were no longer sleeping in separate bedrooms, but sharing. This was how it was supposed to be between a man and a wife.
Tamsin sat down on the edge of the bed and he saw her a little shaken. She removed the gloves from her hand. To do this, she had to remove the engagement band and wedding ring he slid on her finger two years ago. Once the glove was gone, she slid the rings back into place, where they belonged.
“What makes you think your dad said anything?”
To Mason it was like going back two years to when they were first married. Tamsin wouldn’t talk to him. She kept her fears and concerns to herself, and he found it difficult to reach her, no matter what he did or said.
“Damn it, Tamsin, don’t do this to me, or to us.”
“Do what?” she asked. Her eyes were wide as if she couldn’t comprehend what he was talking about, but he knew exactly what was happening. His father was coming between them, and he wasn’t going to allow that to happen. He couldn’t.
Tamsin meant way too much to him. He went to her, closing the distance between them, and kneeling on the floor. Putting his hands on her knees, he was thankful when she didn’t pull away from him. At least there was that. Two years ago, Tamsin struggled to accept his touch and did everything in her power to get away from him.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“Look at me. If you don’t tell me, then you’re letting him win.”
Tamsin smiled at him and then she sighed after a few seconds. “You’re right, but you’re not going to like it.”
“Tell me.”
“He said that if you were not capable of making me pregnant, he was going to have to come and finish the job. He didn’t get a chance to say anything else, Jacob came to my rescue.” There was a soft smile on her lips, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes, which he hated.
“I’m so sorry,” he said.
The moment Tamsin led him onto the dance floor, he knew it was a risk, and one he’d been more than willing to take for her, but at the same time, he’d known. His father always lurked and knew the right opportunity to strike.
“It’s not your fault.”
“He is my father.”
Tamsin chuckled. “And we don’t get to choose our parents.” She cupped his cheek. “Stop worrying.”
