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Did she sound jealous? He nodded. “Yes, exactly.”

“And will you be gone long?”

William smiled. “Are you missing me already?”

She scoffed. “I just wish not to be disturbed during the night.”

He nodded sharply. “Not to worry. I shall be as slick as a thief. Oh, wait…” He winked and turned to leave once more when she called him back.

“William.”

“Yes?” He turned back and raised a brow.

She shifted from foot to foot. “I just wanted to remind you that the next week we have the Kensington ball to attend. Our first ball together and your official introduction into society as my husband.”

He nodded. “I remember.”

“I would like to arrive there early and take full advantage of Caroline’s maids since I have none and I need to look presentable.”

He nodded once more. “As you wish.”

There was a brief pause before William bowed his head, ready to leave, but then Victoria spoke again. “Can we have visitors? Can I invite people here?”

William turned slowly to fully face her with a frown. “You want to entertain guests in our little tower?”

She shrugged. “I’d like to be able to receive guests.”

He thought for a short brief moment, before shaking his head. “No. I am afraid this is completely out of the question.”

“Why not?”

“You might not have noticed, my darling wife, but people don’t really like me.”

Victoria blinked innocently. “I don’t think that’s as big a surprise as you thought it’d be.”

He stifled a chuckle. “And those people who don’t like me, they wish me ill will. When you go out, you have my men to protect you. They take secret paths and different routes daily so you cannot be followed. But you can’t be giving out our directions to anyone you please. That way leads to disaster.”

“I am not asking to host a ball here,” she protested. “I just want to be able to have tea with my friends.”

“Out. Of. The. Question.”

She huffed, pushing a lock of hair away from her face. “Let me get this straight: you’re allowed to walk out of this blasted tower at any time of the night and do God only knows what, while I need written permission from you and a host of gaolers to accompany me outside, and I am not allowed to have my friends visit me to boot?”

“It’s for your own good,” he insisted.

“Then I am a prisoner here. You might as well have abducted me!”

“Do not be dramatic. You are free to leave.”

“Under your guard!”

He ran his fingers through his hair. “Fine. Give me a list of people you’d like to visit to curate. I shall see what I can do.”

“To curate? You will control who I can and cannot see in my own home?”

He smiled at that. “I am glad you’re finally seeing this place as your home. But yes, you can’t just share our location with anybody.”

“I don’t even know where we are!” she cried.