The Queen's New Year Secret. Maisey Yates

Yes, I knew. But you were bright, and you were certainly the best person for the job. You were motivated, in part because of your past. I thought, possibly more driven than any of the other candidates to succeed.”

      “Are these the same thoughts you had when you selected me to be your wife?”

      He could sense the layers hidden beneath the question, but couldn’t guess what they were. “I also knew you,” he said.

      She made a scoffing sound, uncrossed her legs, then recrossed them the opposite direction, annoyance emanating from her in a wave. “Oh. You knew me. As in, were acquainted with me. How very romantic.”

      “Did I ever promise you romance, Tabitha?” She said nothing, her glare glacial now. “No. I did not. I told you that I would stay faithful to you, and I have. I told you that I would be loyal to you, which I have also done. That I would do my duty to God, country and to you. I have done all of that, to a satisfactory degree, many would say. You were the one who decided it wasn’t enough.”

      Righteous anger burned through him. He had not lied to her. He had not told her he would give hearts, flowers or any frilly symbol of weak emotion. He had pledged commitment.

      She seemed to have no concept of that at all. He would never have taken her for being so faithless. He had thought she was like him. Had thought she was logical. Had thought that she understood sacrifice. That duty and honor superseded emotion.

      “A theoretical marriage is a lot different than actual marriage. I can hardly be held to assumptions I made before I had ever had a...a relationship.”

      “Certainly you can. Everyone makes vows before they marry. For the most part, they have never made such vows before.”

      “And sometimes marriages end. Because in spite of the best intentions of everyone involved, things don’t work out the way you thought they would.”

      “As I am also not a fortune-teller, I fail to see how I can be held accountable for not fulfilling needs you did not voice to me. In addition to not being able to see the future, I cannot read your mind.”

      “Even if you could, I can only imagine that you would find it unworthy of listening to.”

      “When exactly did you become such a pain?” he asked, not bothering to temper his anger. “You were not like this before we were married.”

      “That’s because before we were married, you paid me to be your assistant. An assistant is not a wife.”