He almost drank off another glass of wine but desisted. It would not beadvisable to be found fully dressed and flat out on the floor in themorning. He stripped off and climbed into bed with his wife, keeping wellaway from the soft, warm, perfumed body so close nearby.
When Beth awoke in the morning she slowly became aware of somethingdifferent. She was naked. She never slept naked. Some hazy memories of thenight before came to her.
She opened her eyes a crack and looked sideways.
She was alone in the bed.
She remembered the night before. She had beeninebriated.On the go. Jug-shot. She felt herself blush at thethought that it might have been obvious to all the guests.
And the marquess had undressed her. She remembered that. And he hadn’t.. .
Beth sat up abruptly, saw the marquess sitting in a chair watching her,and, with a gasp, slid back down under the covers. He was dressed in amarvelous blue damask banjan robe and his hair was engagingly unkempt.
“Good morning, my lady,” he said with a warm smile.
“Good morning,” Beth replied, watching him warily.
He frowned slightly. “Don’t look so scared, Beth,” he said. “I want myspirited radical back.”
Beth felt some of her courage return. “It’s hard to be bold when nakedunder the sheets, my lord.”
His blue eyes twinkled with mirth. “Is it? I hadn’t noticed thatbefore.”
Beth felt her face grow hot but couldn’t help smile back. “You are avery wicked man.”
“The only sort worth having.” He came over to the bed with her heavysatin wrap in his hand and let it slither slowly down onto the covers. “Isent your maid away.” He studied her a moment. Beth wondered if he weregoing to slide down on top of her as the wrap had slid, and cover her. . .. But he moved away. “I’m going to order breakfast for us in your boudoir.What would you like?”
“Eggs,” said Beth, realizing she was hungry.
He grinned. “I’m pleased to see we’re compatible in drink at least. Inever have hangovers either.” With that he left the room.
Beth lost no time in scrambling out of bed and into both her nightgownand wrap. It was, in fact, a more concealing ensemble than her weddinggown, tossed carelessly on the floor and quite ruined by the wine stain,but she still felt undressed. She slipped cautiously through into herdressing room but found it deserted. She sat to brush her tangled curlsand wished for a cap to give her courage.
What a wedding. She had got drunk, had hysterics, and been strippednaked by a man. She found herself wishing he’d done “it” while she was sodrunk. Now she must wait daily for him to consummate the marriage.
When, under the compulsion of a lifetime’s training, she went back totidy the bed she gasped with shock. There was a bloodstain on the sheet.But her body felt no different. Could he have done it without her havingthe slightest awareness?
He walked in. “Breakfast is here ? What is it?” Then he saw the sheets.“Don’t worry. That’s not your blood. I just didn’t want to start talk, ourmarriage being a trifle hasty. I gave myself a small cut with my razor anddecorated the sheets.”
“You think of everything, my lord,” said Beth, somehow offended that heshould have arranged matters so competently while she had gone topieces.
A certain restraint settled on him. “You would rather, I am sure, betied for life to an inefficient bungler of noble heart and great mind. Youare, however, compelled to make do with me.”
“Nobody is questioning your nobility,” said Beth smartly. And thenstopped, horrified.
He politely stood back so she could precede him through the door. “Wehad best ignore that comment, I think.”
Beth was pleased to do so. Quicksands again. Would it ever change?
They walked in silence through her dressing room and bedroom to theluxurious boudoir where a table had been laid with linen and china, Bethhelped herself to perfect eggs and also took some sausages and bacon fromanother platter. Her nerves had been so overwrought in recent days she hadeaten little. The present moment was not perhaps the most comfortable ofher life, but like most feared events, it was easier to handle whenarrived at.
Considering the traps to be found in the most innocent conversation shewas happy to follow his example and eat in silence. When her hunger wassatisfied, though, the silence began to weigh on her.
She fidgeted with the new, unaccustomed wedding ring. “For how long, mylord, do we live here in seclusion?”
He looked at her thoughtfully. “Until, I think, you call meLucien.”
Beth met his eyes. “You really must learn not to challenge me, LordArden. We are likely to become the hermits of Marlborough Square.”
