“Hmm,” was her reply.
Silence.
And then . . .
“May I ask ye a question?”
“Of course,” he replied.
“Yesterday, ye said that being unable tae find me in the waves made ye reconsider your desires for our marriage. But ye never expounded upon it.”
Tristan paused.
“That . . . that is not quite a question,” he said, unable to resist. “It is a statement of fact.”
“Tristan.” She leaned out from her chair, fixing him with an aggravated look.
“I would be happy to assist you in forming one—a question, that is.” He sipped his whisky. “I am a most excellent question asker—an inquisitive inquirer, if you will.”
She stared at him, jaw sagging. “Ye do not ask questions, Tristan Gilbert. Ye command and give orders.”
“Is that so?”
“Hah! I see what you did there. If I didn’t know better, I would think this a weak attempt at teasing . . . or possibly even flirtation.”
Ouch. That rather put him in his place.
“Am I that ridiculous at flirting?”
“Nae . . . but why would ye feel the need tae flirt? I’m your wife.”
“And a husband cannot flirt with his wife? I missed years of flirting with you before our marriage. Perhaps I am merely trying to right past wrongs.”
She leveled a finger at him. “Ye be distracting me from my question.”
“Truly, you have yet to ask one.”
Isolde huffed. “What would ye like from our marriage?” She shookher head, sitting back in her chair. “Is that sufficientlyquestion-ishfor yourself?”
Tristan sipped his whisky, stifling a laugh. “I never knew vexing my wife could be so enjoyable.”
“Tristan! Your answer, please.” She beckoned with her hand.
Mmm.
How to reply?
He wanted a true marriage—one of trust and love. Of respect and devotion.
“Ye be thinking far too long over there, Husband,” she continued.
“Merely attempting to put my answer into words.”
“The topic of our marriage requires such careful reflection?”
No, I simply don’t wish to overwhelm you with the force of my affections.
“Not at all,” he said aloud. “It’s merely that . . . fearing you had been . . . lost, I regretted not coming to know you more fully. For example, I do not know your favorite flower, your preferred food. Or even your favorite season. I wish to right those wrongs and, hopefully, create a truer marriage between us.”
