Page 120 of Bound Bride
Nothing I can say or do will ease the news that her father was shot and killed, and left to rot in some building.
I told Rose we couldn't determine a time of death to keep the truth muddied.
Telling her that Maxim was murdered in response to Daniil being killed didn't seem like it would help, and Rose was hurting enough.
"Is it… terrible of me," says a small voice from my elbow. "That I don't grieve for him as much as my daughters do?"
Rose's mother, Anastasia, stands at my side with her hand looped around my forearm.
Her gentle voice draws me from my thoughts and I glance down with a small smile.
"I do not think it is terrible," I reply. "The things he put you through? I can only imagine the stress you felt in your years with him before you had your girls."
"He always told me he would change. After Rose was born, I believed him. By the time Beatie was born, I knew he was full of shit."
My eyes widen ever so slightly at such crass language from such a gentle woman and my smile grows. "It must have been extremely difficult for you."
"I regret many things." She shakes her head slightly, and the black hat nestled on top of her gray curls shimmies back and forth. "If I had left him, my girls would not have suffered. But he was a persuasive man and time and time again, I felt sorry for him. If I had been stronger, my girls wouldn't be what they are now."
I turn to face her and place my hand over hers. "I do not think you should blame yourself. After all, Rose and Beatie got their strength from somewhere and in my opinion, it was not from him. I do not know how things might have changed had you left. That future is impossible to know. But I do know that the people he ended up in debt with would not have cared that he was estranged from his family. I fear they would have come for you all regardless."
Anastasia squints up and smiles at me. "You have a way with words."
"So I've been told."
"When Maxim told me what was being asked of Rose, I was terrified. All I could imagine was her marrying some brute and I feared it would be the end of my daughter." Anastasia draws in a shuddering breath. "I see now that you are in fact, an angel sent to help my daughter. I can't thank you enough for taking care of her."
"I do not think I deserve that kind of credit. Rose is very capable of taking care of herself."
"Nonsense." Anastasia waves me off with her other hand. "I know my daughter. With you she has grown and changed into the woman I see now, and I know I could never have brought that strength out of her. She could only become what she is with you at her side. Had it been anyone else, we would not all be standing here. You, Konstantin, are a good man. Unlike my husband." Her gaze drifts back to her daughters. "Just promise me one thing."
"Anything."
"Don't make her feel sorry for you."
I follow her gaze to Rose who now has her arms wrapped tightly around her sister. "I will do everything in my power to ensure that Rose never feels sorry ever again."
"Thank you." She leans into me with a soft sigh. "I'm old, Konstantin. I don't have much more in me, but I think I can rest easy knowing my daughter is in good hands. You will take care of them both, won't you?"
"I will," I assure her. "Are you certain you want to leave both your daughters with someone like me?"
Anastasia looks back at me. "They called you the devil, didn't they? When you first appeared here and swept through the markets like wildfire."
"The devil's stallion. I think it was meant as an insult. That I would burn hot and fast and then die out, leaving nothing left."
"Ego makes men fools in this life. I, for one, am proud that you are my son-in-law. Devil or not, you saved my daughter's life. For that, I will be forever grateful."
Anastasia's words stay with me for the rest of the visit.
Eventually, Rose and Beatie lay down some flowers and pull themselves away from their father's grave, remaining arm in arm all the way back to the estate.
I keep my distance as much as it pains me, not wanting to overstep.
Back at the manor, Rose takes her mom and sister upstairs while I retreat to the kitchen, where Ethan and Calvin are deep in animated conversation.
"You've got to be kidding me," Ethan snorts, leaning back in his seat. "Look, there's no way on earth you can think he even has a chance at winning! Look at his scores last year. He's beingdraggedby the team. He's a liability."
"Where you see liability," Calvin remarks, "I see an underdog. Listen, if I'm wrong, which I know for sure I'm not, then at most you stand to lose like five stacks. That's nothing."
