Betrayed By The Hero, Loved By The Lord-Chapter 208: Guests (3)

"Your mother has decided to spend some time away from your father and during some of that time, she wants to be here with us. She promises to give us some space and then she will move to her other home. I think it is right for us to let her stay," said Selene.

"It sounds like the two of you had a wonderful talk while I was not present. Why did this need to be brought up when I wasn’t around? What did you do today?" Xavier questioned, curious about their time together.

"It is not like she had it on her mind from the moment she showed up. She was trying to fix my problems with the ladies not inviting me to their social gatherings and after I told her that I am happy, she realised she wasn’t. It is only right you welcome her during this time," Selene said, hoping Xavier would go along with it.

"Why would either one of you think I wouldn’t allow her to stay here? I have already made the offer and I wouldn’t have done it if I wasn’t serious. I do like my mother, Selene. That should never be questioned," said Xavier.

Why they thought they needed to be careful with telling him was a mystery.

"Oh. Josephine thought you would be against her now that she was finally accepting the offer. I told her that she was worrying all for nothing. And here I thought I needed to convince you. I will show her to her room," Selene said, eager to help Josephine settle in.

"Wait," Xavier held Selene’s hand. "I am still in need of some convincing."

"I am not falling for that, Xavier. I would say you should have waited for my offer but then I wouldn’t like you needing to be convinced to have your mother stay here. Perhaps another time you might learn of how I planned to convince you. I must go," Selene said, smiling while Xavier frowned.

Just as Selene started to walk away from him, she remembered what she told Josephine.

Selene turned around to face Xavier. "About last night. I am quite late with my response to your confession. I do love you as well. I am not saying this only because you said it to me. I mean it."

Xavier knew it came from her heart. The woman who came here with her heart almost closed off to love wouldn’t say it for fun or to make him feel better. "I know you would not have said it without meaning it. I would like to hear you say it."

"I love you, Xavier Blackthorn. Now I must go," Selene said, getting a sense that this room was no longer safe. They shouldn’t get carried away when Josephine was nearby.

Xavier’s arms around her waist were proof of this. "Why are you trying to run off?" He asked, pulling her back for a hug. "The estate has plenty of servants to help my mother and Gertrude will stick to her side until she is settled in. You and I have something to finish here. I want to hear you say it again."

Selene didn’t think it was a good idea for this to continue. "It is not because I don’t want to but like you said, they can hear us. I cannot easily ignore that they can hear us. Or does this room have stones like our bedroom?"

"It does not," Xavier reluctantly let go of Selene. "You are doing a good job at having me reconsider sending them away. Both my mother and Isaac. Isaac has a large room so he could take her."

Noise from outside the room which sounded like someone disagreeing with Xavier was all the proof Selene needed to know the others were listening to them.

"Your mother cannot go with Isaac. That would be rude to both Isaac and Josephine. The estate is big enough for her room to be where we cannot hear her and she cannot hear us," Selene said, feeling awkward from having to say this.

"Before you go, you must promise me this won’t change our plans for tonight," said Xavier.

Selene could only smile since she did not remember what plans they made. Luckily, she had plenty of time before then to remember so she replied, "I have not."

"You are an awful liar, Selene. I will remind you when we do not have someone pressing their ear to the door. Come inside instead of trying to be secretive," Xavier said to the eavesdropper. "That is beneath you, Isaac," he added after the door opened.

"I don’t have any interest in this. Your mother pulled me to the door," Isaac defended his actions.

"Well," Josephine cleared her throat. "I just wanted to be near in case Selene needed my help with you. I cannot believe you suggested that I stay with a man I do not know. Do not be offended," she looked at Isaac.

"Oh, I am not offended. You should know that I don’t want you at my home. One Blackthorn showing up unannounced is already too much for me to handle so please, stay here," Isaac said, hoping he would not be taking her home.

Along with his peace, Xavier wasn’t the issue with Josephine going home with Isaac. Isaac was more concerned with Nathaniel finding out about it. He already imagined Nathaniel storming over to his home and accusing Josephine of having an affair.

"I didn’t mean it but it sounds like a good idea now that I see how far my mother will go to disturb u. Selene will be wary of everything you hear or witness and then I won’t enjoy our time together. I was enjoying our time quite well," Xavier said, annoyed.

Josephine folded her arms. "Are you asking that I leave?"

"No, I am asking that you at least pretend you cannot hear us and end all talk about me making you leave. The more you wonder if I will ask you to go, the more I start to consider it. I will give you a room on the left side of the estate. Do not come to the right to find us ever. Send Harold or Agnes," Xavier suggested.

Selene wanted to mention she didn’t want Harold or Agnes to overhear them as well but knew now wasn’t the best moment to bring it up.

"Very well. I won’t ask about or be concerned about it anymore. Today is special since I finally get to lay my head here again. You," Josephine looked at Isaac. "Whoever you are. Drink with me while these two talk."

"No," Xavier stopped the two. "You cannot drink here. No one wants to hear you yelling or dodging whatever you throw. If you break something here, you must pay for it."

"I know how to be a good guest, Xavier. I raised you, remember? Come," Josephine grabbed Isaac’s hand. "We must give them more time to speak."

Isaac had a feeling something bad was going to happen if he ended up drinking with Josephine. "My name is Isaac. This isn’t the first time we met since I was here at the wedding. I’ve also spoken to you when you entered the palace and Xavier not long ago said my name. Even Selene did."

"I will do my best to remember now that I know how close you are to my son," Josephine promised.

"Close?" Isaac repeated. "We are not close. He will now also tell you that."

Josephine looked at Isaac like he had grown a second head. "What is wrong with my son that you wouldn’t want to be his friend?"