He turned his head slowly, his eyes fixing on my face with a flat cold stare.

“It was a closed chapter long before you arrived in this house, Clara.” I understand, I said.

“Do you?” He stepped closer, his voice dropping into that low soft register that always sounded like a warning.

“Because you have a habit of looking backward when you should be looking toward our wedding.

You are marrying me, not my family’s history.” I was only curious, I said, looking down at my coffee.

“Curiosity is an expensive trait.”