“Speak for yourself, Nathaniel,” Ashden said, and Anna received a glimpse of the humor he rarely allowed to surface. She had not seen him much in the past three days and was sure she would not see him more now that they were married. His requests had been clear, and she wanted to respect them, but she often found herself alone and anxious.
“Well, it was embarrassing forme,” Nathaniel continued with a laugh. “I was five and was stuck in a tree, you see. Colin was seven, and he was passing beneath it when he heard my cry for help. He climbed up and guided me down.”
“You are not telling her the whole story.” Ashden’s eyes smiled.
“Do not mind him, Your Grace. What I told you is the true and complete tale.”
“Please call me Anna,” she said. “I am not fond of formalities and seeing as you are a good friend of my husband’s, I think it is appropriate.” She was looking at Ashden as she spoke and his blue gaze flared when she saidhusband.
“Then I will insist you address me by my Christian name, as well,” Nathaniel said pleasantly, and she thought he was splendid company.
“So, what is the full story?” she asked.
Nathaniel blinked. “Oh, do not tell me you believe Colin’s words.”
“I think I am obligated to believe him.” Her head turned swiftly when she heard Ashden’s sly chuckle. She recalled his rule about not asking him any questions with the aim of knowing him. She could satisfy her curiosity with his friend. He must not know how much he had lowered his guard in Nathaniel’s presence.
“Tell her or I will,” he said, and Anna grinned, turning to Nathaniel.
“Well, I begged him to carry me down on his back because he was older and stronger but he refused. I had no choice but to imitate every movement he made until we were safely on the ground.”
“There,” Ashden murmured. “Was that so very hard?”
Nathaniel waved an annoyed hand and turned to Anna. Their conversation as they ate was very pleasant, and even though Ashden did not speak much, he was very much involved. They had said almost nothing to each other during the other times they had eaten. She wanted to change that, and this prompted her next action.
“Will you join us for dinner tomorrow, Nathaniel?” she invited.
Nathaniel glanced warily at Ashden. Then he shrugged and smiled. “I would be delighted, Anna.”
“I am glad.” She looked at her husband, but there was neither pleasure nor displeasure in his countenance.
After their meal, he rose, and Nathaniel joined him. He held out his open palm and she placed her hand in his. “I hope you have a pleasant day, Anna.” He brushed his lips against her knuckles and she held her breath as her senses were awakened.
“You too, Ashden,” she replied. His gaze remained on her for a skin-melting moment longer before he released her hand. Nathaniel bowed and bid her a good day before following him out.
Suddenly bereft, Anna looked around the room dolefully, then decided to seek Mrs. Willis to begin learning how to manage the household.
Anna sat in her bed, readingA Sicilian Romancewhen the door that joined her bedchamber to Ashden’s opened. She had been expecting him, because he had made it very clear that he wanted an heir.
Her heart began to pound and a delightful current rushed in her veins. Setting the book down on the nightstand, she pulled the duvet away from her body. She wore only her nightrail, and of course, the bandage around her ribs. She was feeling considerably better, and as Dr. Quentin had instructed, she had worn no stays beneath her dresses.
He still had his evening clothes on, and his eyes caressed her. Seemingly pleased with what he saw, his mouth curved very slightly at one corner. He came to sit on the edge of the bed. “How do you fare this evening, Anna?” he asked.
“I am quite well,” she replied, waiting for him to move closer. He did not move but his eyes touched her. When they landed on her bosom, her nipples perked beneath the sheer linen of her nightrail, and her sex moistened.
“I am glad.” A longing shimmer covered his eyes, but he still did not draw her close. Impatient, she crawled to him. He shook his head and stood, his demeanor somewhat pained. “Anna, we are not doing anything tonight.”
The rejection tightened her belly, and she closed her eyes.
Chapter 11
I thought my injury would not present a problem with regard to being intimate with my husband, but it did. Colin is insisting on only touching me when I have healed. Should I seduce him? Would he be forthcoming?
“Why not?” Anna asked. She wanted to know why he was rejecting her now after what he had told her in the carriage about wanting an heir as soon as possible.
“Until you have healed completely,” he replied, and her shoulders grew less rigid. He was not rejecting her but being careful.
“I am not in pain, Ashden,” she reassured him, rising from the bed and going to stand in front of him, appreciating her height for the first time in her life. She would have looked awfully small next to him.
