Chapter 6
After a day in the forest,Rolfe could make only one conclusion: it was clear he had not loved Annelise with sufficientardor.
Perhaps his long run of celibacy had weakened his skills of seduction. Perhaps the lady had not been as pleased as he believed. Perhaps they had not adequately explored the range of lovemakingpossibilities.
Whatever the issue, it was clear to Rolfe that the only possible recourse was to return to the great bed and seduce his lady wifeagain.
As many times asnecessary.
The promise of that made him even more anxious than usual for the day toend.
He knew his anticipation could only be due to the prospect of breaking the curse. It had nothing to do with Annelise herself. As charming as she was, he was in no peril of forgetting the truth of theirmatch.
Their marriage was a bargain, no more and no less. On his side, there was a curse to be broken. On Annelise’s side, there was the prospect of comfort, security and a spouse who would treat herwell.
Their marriage was an example of duty, honor, and a measure of trust. The fickle emotion of love was of norelevance.
Rolfe was pacing outside the gates of the palace long before the sun finally dipped toward the horizon. He was determined to put every moment of the night to effectiveuse.
And let the one in whom heconfides,
lead a killer to hisside.
The curse had echoed in his thoughts all day, feeding hisresolve.
As soon as he became transformed, the gates opened to him. Rolfe strode nude into the courtyard and they closed behind him silently. He crossed the garden with long steps and discovered Annelise in the shadowed foyer. Mercifully, her back was to him, for she had lit a lantern. Even the darkness in the courtyard was notcomplete.
Rolfe crept up behind her silently. He wished that he had a silken handkerchief and immediately spied one upon the floor. He blinked, then realized he should put the palace’s inclination to serve his will to betteruse.
Annelise’s kirtle was new—and it could not be coincidence that it was of the same deep green he had envisioned upon her. She had possessed no baggage when she entered the palace gates, so this, too, was a manifestation of his desire. The kirtle clung to her curves in a way that made him all the more intent upon his nocturnalquest.
He snapped the handkerchief over her eyes, blindfolding her, and she gasped. “You!”
“Yes, it is me, myAnnelise.”
“Where are you? Where have you been today?” Annelise reached for the knot in the handkerchief, but Rolfe gently grabbed herwrists.
“You will not look uponme.”
“You promised to tell me the truth this morning, but you have been impossible tofind.”
“I changed mythinking.”
“Perhaps I will change my thinking and look, then.” It was a shame that he could not see her eyes, in a way, for he knew they would be flashing withfire.
“Perhaps you would be foolish to do so.” He dropped his voice low. “Trust me, Annelise. I will show you all as soon as Ican.”
“You deceivedme.”
“Not by any scheme of mine. You must believe me, Annelise. I was deceivedmyself.”
“How cruel,” she said, her tonewary.
“Indeed. I spent the day trying to make amends.” He stole a quick kiss. “Believe that I would never break my word to you willingly.” Her annoyance seemed to be melting and Rolfe wished to avoid more questions he could not answer. He spun Annelise around and around, easily evading her searching hands as he ensured that she kept herbalance.
To his delight, she began to smile, then to laugh. “You will make me dizzy!” she accused. Her laughter made Rolfe smile himself and he wished they did not have to play suchgames.
What if he did confide inher?
