She lifted a brow. “With plenty of trussing?”
His manhood responded by slowly—maddeningly—coming to attention.
He cleared his throat. “Let’s start with a healthful dose of cave exploration…” Inwardly he swore he’d keep her protected…especially from his basest desires. “And perhaps, if you tire of subterranean landscapes, we’ll explore other French phrases that may be of interest.”
She chuckled half-heartedly. “I did enjoy that bit of your French.”
Unconsciously, she tilted her hips—an infinitesimal change that engrossed his sensual awareness. Perhaps conversing without arguing would remain difficult, but in that type of congress, they’d be in perfect accord.
“So…now that you’ve successfully abducted an earl…” He lifted her hand and placed a lingering kiss on the spot between her first and second fingers. “Whatareyou going to do with him?”
Her breath caught. His stopped as well.
“Scotland is dismally cold this time of year.” She looked away. “But there’s this infamous little inn in Gretna I’d dearly like to visit…”
Ah.Bravehearted, fierce little kitten…he’d been cowardly to intimate she must do this alone.
He sunk to one knee, held her hand to his cheek, and then said, “Lady Julia Stanley, my dearest, ruinous minx, would you do me the honor of becoming Lady Rayne?”
Her tears returned. “I thought you’dneverask.”
…
Julia’s heart overflowed as Her Grace’s court gathered at the foot of the stairs to wave goodbye. Periwinkle Gate would always—always—hold a special place in her heart. The carriage rolled on down the drive, ending a three-day sojourn of indulgence beyond anything Julia could have imagined. Rayne had made, as promised, a banquet of her flesh. However, he’d denied her full copulation.
As soon as we wed, he’d promised. I’d like to see at least one thing properly done.
They’d intended to delay their departure until after the duchess, Theo, and Annette returned; however, by the third day, Julia had lost patience.
“I’m sorry we missed the Mother, Theo, and Annette.” She folded her hands into her lap as the carriage turned away. “We will be able to come back sometime, won’t we?”
Rayne glanced askance. “Are you asking me for my permission?”
She hesitated, still unsure she could trust the teasing affection behind his eyes.
“You’re right.” Julia nodded to herself. “Your permission is not required. I should have said I intend to return sometime in the future.”
He smirked. “Nowthatsounds more like you.”
His words suggested he’d made a study of her, the way she’d made a study of him. But was he finally surmising correctly? He’d gotten everything muddled so many times before.
Except in bed.
Attraction, on the other hand, had never been part of their difficulties.
Attraction had been instant. Incendiary from first glance.
Now that she was, quite literally, on her way to the summation of all her desires, she realized she’d given little thought to anything but that attraction.
She knew Rayne’s friends. She knew his sister, Clarissa. She knew bits and pieces of his past, and, thanks to Periwinkle Gate, she understood the depth of his loyalty. But she knew very little about his home.
Or, for that matter, about his expectations of marriage.
While he seemed content enough, she couldn’t dismiss the feeling that he had withheld—or she’d missed—something important.
Panic hovered like a fluttering moth in the valley at the bottom of her throat.
“Rayne,” she said warningly, “I don’t know how to be a wife.”
