Selene gave up and allowed Xavier to sit to the right of her. It was strange for him to sit there. She could see it on the maids’ faces how they found it odd Xavier was not sitting at the head of the table. It might have been strange already for him to be sitting here instead of having dinner in his room.
In time, they all needed to get used to it. Even Selene had to get used to it.
"Did the others fit? They weren’t all of the same size," Xavier said, curious as to how the other shoes fitted Selene.
"Some did and the others I gave to Agnes so your money wouldn’t be wasted. Thank you for all of them. It must have been a hassle to go around looking for them or did you employ someone to do it?" Selene asked since she couldn’t imagine Xavier going to the shops.
"I did it myself. I figured that with a woman like you, you would like it more if I picked them out. I will leave it to you to find out what else you will need. The records for the estate will be passed on to you after our wedding so you will see what is there for you to spend. Why the surprised look? You did not expect money from me?" Xavier wondered.
"I still have money my father left behind for me. It is enough for me to use right now," Selene replied.
"And what about in the future? I have enough money for the two of us so spend it or save it. Do whatever you want with it but know it is yours. I intend to do all of this correctly so you cannot one day badmouth me. You would need your tongue to do it but still," Xavier said as he poured wine into Selene’s glass.
"I would never badmouth you. As long as you continue to be kind, I will think highly of you. If you ever wish for us to part on good terms, I won’t think much of it nor would I badmouth you then. You are a hero to me," Selene said, hoping he did not underestimate how much she was grateful for him. "I will try to tell you regularly how grateful I am."
"It isn’t necessary but who am I to stop you from complimenting me? You should do it almost every day before bed. What? That isn’t vulgar," Xavier said, puzzled by her reaction. "The maids aren’t all so innocent to be affected by what I say. If they are, I have the solution of cutting off ears for anyone. It will be free."
Selene panicked along with the maids. "That won’t be needed. I didn’t think you were vulgar since it is a simple request I can do. At some point, you will grow tired of me telling you that I am grateful."
Xavier smiled. "How confident are you that I will grow tired of it?"
Selene’s shoulders dropped. "I am not confident anymore. I shouldn’t have agreed to it but I can’t go back on it now."
Selene noticed a maid rushing to Harold’s side and whispering something about a guest. A name wasn’t said but Selene knew something was wrong based on the way Harold hurried off.
Selene looked to Xavier who drank his wine without any care. He heard what the maid said as well but he wasn’t concerned. "Is this the way they react to all your guests?"
"No," Xavier sipped his wine. "There are only two people to make them this nervous. Do you not like wine?"
Selene glanced at the wine Xavier poured into a glass for her. The taste of the wine was the least of her concerns. She wanted to know who came to see Xavier and with Harold’s quick return, she was about to.
"Lord Blackthorn, your parents request entry into your home," said Harold. He didn’t bother to speak softly since Selene would hear.
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