Zosina, realising that the King had said nothing, looked at him nervously.
He rose and walked across the room to stand at the window looking out and there was an awkward silence until she said,
“Grandmama – always tries to make things as – easy as possible.”
“Easy!” the King replied, his voice rising on the word. “I see nothing easy about your being here or this damned marriage!”
Zosina started when he swore, because, although she knew it was a swear word, she had in fact, never heard a man use it in her presence.
“Do you – hate the idea so – much?” she faltered after a moment.
“Hate it? Of course I hate it!” the King snapped. “I have no wish to be married. All I want is to be free, free of being ordered about, free of being told what to do from morning until night.”
“I can understa
