She nodded and turned to face him as he slid an arm around her shoulders. At least she wasn’t alone.
Other than the cat, who was now planted at the foot of the bad as though keeping watch over her. “That animal is not a gerbil.” Although it was unusual looking. “Why did you tell them it’s a gerbil?”
He froze beside her, almost as though holding his breath. “It’s our joke.”
Tabetha considered his explanation. It was sweet. And she loved the idea that she and her husband laughed with one another.
She tilted her head back so she could study his face.
Since the moment she woke up, she’d been searching her mind for anything familiar, for answers to questions no person should ever have to ask. The futility of that searching ignited more panic.
But what else was she supposed to do?
“I don’t think you can force it.” Her husband was staring at her, almost as though he was reading her mind.
He knew her. The thought slowed her racing heart. “I want to.”
He nodded.
“Dr. Finch said to rest.”
He was right. Of course. And she trusted Rock.
She closed her eyes. “In that case, I’m going to try to sleep so I can wake up and remember.” She needed to remember facts about her life but even more importantly, shewantedto remember how they’d fallen in love—how he had proposed.
“That’s a good girl.” The approval in his voice warmed her.
This man had kissed her. He knew her intimately. What had that felt like?
Mrs. Hettrick had mentioned they’d married the day before. Which meant that she and her husband would have had relations already.
Rather than a church wedding, with family in attendance, they had traveled to Gretna Green and eloped. Had they anticipated their vows? Without having to think about it, she realized that she would have had difficulty resisting any wooing this man might have directed her way. His sheer maleness, lying beside her, holding her, charged her with awareness.
His features were defined but not hard, and he was inordinately handsome, even with the slight crook to his nose. But she was truly caught by his eyes. Although filled with worry as they stared up at the ceiling, they were positively beautiful.
“I think that I must be very much in love with you.” She had no reason to hide her feelings. Touching him like this, feeling his hard edges against her softer ones…
Well, it was truly the most wonderful thing in the world.
He cocked one brow and flicked his gaze down at her, one side of his mouth tilting up in a teasing half-smile. “And why is that? You don’t remember me.”
“Because of how my heart feels when I look at you.” She tucked her head beneath his chin, a little embarrassed at her admission. “And since I can’t remember anything, I have to trust my heart.”
He sighed, and she felt him drop a kiss on her forehead. “I’m so sorry.”
“It wasn’t your fault. I’m the one who is sorry,” she murmured sleepily. “Mmm… This is nice.” Her lids heavy, she had no doubt that she was precisely where she belonged. His scent, his touch, even the rhythm of his breathing felt… right. She relaxed in his arms and as sleep crept in, one thought drifted in her mind.
As long as she had this man at her side, she’d needn’t worry about the past or the future. She could simply embrace the love that she felt today.
Tabetha groanedas the warm pillow beneath her head squirmed and slid out from beneath her. “Mmph!” she protested sleepily but then smiled at the ensuing masculine chuckle.
“Morning, duchess.”
She opened her eyes and relief flooded through her. He was flesh and blood—not a dream.
Her second thought, which a more prudent person might suggest ought to have been her first, was that she still couldn’t remember anything about her life. She couldn’t remember who she was, who her family was, or anything that implied she’d existed before she’d woken up in this cozy inn in Gretna Green.
But Rock Chester was here. He was real. He was her husband, and he was standing across the room, his chest gleaming in the morning sunlight, fastening his trousers, barefoot and looking incredibly adorable. When he turned and caught her watching him, her heart swelled.
