Sophronia ripped the plain gold wedding band from housemaid Dulcie’s finger and placed it on the auction table.
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Chapter 11 / 17
Chapter 11
Dulcie stopped wearing the ring for a while.
That frightened me.
I said nothing.
Good decision.
One morning it sat beside her coffee.
I looked at it.
Then at her.
She said:
“I need to know I wear it because I choose you.”
Not because it proved anything.
Not because Sophronia tried to take it.
Not because Mother gave it.
Choice.
She kept it off for three months.
We remained married.
Important.
Marriage existed without jewelry.
Then one evening she slid it back on while reading.
No ceremony.
I noticed.
She noticed me noticing.
“Don’t make it a thing.”
I smiled.
May you like
“Wouldn’t dare.”
That might have been the first moment I felt we were actually recovering.
