He kissed her lightly, and when she returned it, his mind conjured the vision of being able to kiss her for as long as he wanted to. And aye, he was nervous, too. His instincts had served him well before, but tonight would be very different.
Juliette let him help her inside the coach, then wondered aloud, “Where is the driver?”
“I sent him ahead to prepare our room at the inn. He borrowed a horse from the minister.” A trace of guilt caught him, that he still hadn’t revealed the truth to Juliette about his inheritance and title. But he wanted their first night together with nothing to come between them. She would learn the truth when they reached Edinburgh.
“And you’re going to drive us now?” she ventured. She rubbed at her arms, and he saw the slight rise of gooseflesh upon them. The wind had lifted from the grass and was bringing a chill with it.
“I will, aye. You can stay inside the coach and be warm for both of us.”
Instead, she stepped out and approached the driver’s seat. “Help me up, won’t you?”
Paul reached down and boosted her up. “You want to sit beside me?”
“I did just marry you,” she reminded him. “It seems like a more appropriate place to be.”
Paul drew her cloak around her shoulders and brought a blanket to cover both of their laps. “I waited for this day for five years,” he admitted. He’d known, from the first, that Juliette was the woman fated for him. “And I want to set your fears to rest about tonight and every night thereafter. I’ll never force you into anything you don’t want.”
Her shoulders relaxed slightly. “I know that, Paul.” She leaned her head against him, and he brought his arm around her.
Over the next hour, the afternoon drifted into evening. He drove north, bringing the coach to stop at the inn. His driver came out to greet them and took their belongings inside.
“Why do you want to live in Edinburgh?” Juliette asked. “Is it because of your uncle?”
Tell her now,his conscience urged. This was the perfect chance. And yet, he found himself not wanting to spoil the simplicity of this day. He wanted one night with her where they could simply be man and wife.
“In a manner of speaking,” he hedged. “My uncle left me his house when he died. I thought we’d live there for a while.” He said nothing else, letting her draw her own conclusions.
“I’m sorry to hear about his passing,” she said. “You never told me of it.”
“I only learned of it a short time ago.” He cleared his throat, adding, “But I hope you’ll be comfortable living there.”
She nodded, and the innkeeper led them upstairs to their room. Inside, there was a small bed and a table pushed against one wall. Two chairs awaited them, along with a wedding supper of cheese, bread, meat, and wine. A small covered silver dish contained the surprise he’d arranged for her.
“This is lovely.” She smiled at him, taking off her bonnet while he closed the door.
“And this is for you.” He gestured toward the silver container, hoping she would be pleased by it.
As soon as she uncovered the dish, Juliette’s eyes brightened. “Custard.” She eyed it with unabashed longing.
Paul found a spoon and dipped it into the dish, offering it to her. Juliette ate it, closing her eyes as she savored the taste. His mouth went dry at the sight of her, for she looked like a woman well-pleasured.
“More?” he offered.
“Oh, yes,” she said with a sigh. His skin tightened with the sudden image of Juliette naked while he licked custard from her bare skin. “Please.”
He gave her the spoon, and she indulged in another bite. Heat roared through him at the sight of her, and he couldn’t tear his eyes away.
“How did you ever get the money for all this?” Juliette asked, holding out a spoonful to him. “You went to a lot of trouble for me.”
“I wanted you to enjoy your wedding day,” he said, shrugging. “And as I said, my uncle left me an inheritance.”
Now, the voice reminded him again.Tell her everything.But still he held his silence.
“The custard is even better than a wedding cake. It was always my favorite.” She smiled, taking the spoon back. Paul leaned in to kiss her, and her lips tasted of sweet custard, with a hint of spices he could not name.
“You’re distracting me from my dessert,” she said against his lips. But there was a smile in her tone, as if she didn’t mind. “Are you as hungry as I am?”
He nodded, but it wasn’t food on his mind. He wanted his wife upon the bed. He wanted to remove the clothes from her body, kissing every inch of her.
