In his old life, those three small words would have been enough of a death sentence. Anger bloomed in his icy eyes, but it was not aimed at her. His wife should never have cause to fear. It was a mark against him that he'd allowed this to happen. When she said she'd limit her time out of the manor, he stiffened. He didn't want a songbird in a gilded cage.
Looking down at his Christine, a part of him knew that wasn't true. A part of him reveled in the idea of her under his thrall completely, longing for him and only him. When she touched the chain on which her wedding ring hung, his chest tightened.
"Yes," he answered, gently brushing aside her hand. "But it is time now." With careful fingers, he lifted that chain and unclasped it, slipping the rings from where they'd been secreted away. Without another word, he fastened the chain again and fit her rings over the finger where they belonged.