His tone left her wondering why he was so dismissive of what he’d done in her absence. Why was he so casual about it? She thought exploring would be interesting, if nothing else; The hunting and trapping could have been something to get spirits lifted, couldn’t it? Why did he seem so blasé about it?<br/><br/>When he continued, her eyes softened, getting the answer she’d needed.<span style="font-style: italic">So that’s why…</span>her thoughts confirmed. He’d felt as she had been fearing he would before the wedding happened. He didn’t want to go anywhere, explore or wander, but he needed things to do. Drawing now took up some of that time, but that only did so much. Guilt started to fill her as her eyes turned back to the fire, trying to impart how sorry she felt through the touch, the light embrace of her body leaning into his, her hand resting atop his own.<br/><br/>“Do you think that you’ll have the drive to wander again?” Maria asked, hazarding a quick glance in his direction, a guilty curiosity in their violet depths. “Or has that chapter of your life ended?”