Considering the emotional weight of that island and house they sat in, Arabella believed there was more than lack of tact on his part whenever he'd voiced his concerns or ideas so clumsily.
"What do you mean voluntarily?" he insisted.
"I am sorry, I shouldn't have said that," she shook her head.
"We just had this conversation," he started, "I'd like you to be comfortable enough to speak your mind, especially around me,"
"Would that be wise?"
"And why wouldn't it be?" that entire time, he never let go of her.
"Perhaps our ranks in society would have mattered less if I was a vampire, but I am not,"
"That matters very little to me," he said.
