Aaron's wordspricked at Izzy. It felt as if she'd just stepped into a field of thistle with no clear way out of the forest without getting jabbed. She lifted her head and gazed at him with bewilderment.
"And what makesyou think I'm going to stay here? We could get married and live completely separate lives. Men and women do it all the time."
"If ye think I'm goin'to let me wife gallivantin' about unaccompanied to do what she pleases and smear me good name, ye're sorely mistaken there. The decree was clear on what it is we're to do. I think it's important that we stick to the plan."
"The contract hasme with child within two years. There's no way anyone could promise such a thing. And what if I do produce an heir for you?"
"Are we negotiatin'?"he asked as he kicked opened Izzy's chamber door. How they had gotten there so fast bothered her. She wasn't ready to have him leave her or call an end to the night.
"No,"she answered as he placed her on the bed and knelt beside it. His eyes trailed over her. "And what are you doing?"
"Tryin'to figure out if I should call for the healer to have a look ye over once. Just to be on the safe side."
Izzy shookher head as she moved to the edge of the bed. Aaron didn't move as she weaseled her way off the bed and dusted her hands on her skirts. Every nerve in her body tingled, and she wondered how she was going to get him to stay without admitting her fear. The last thing she wanted to do was appear to be weak, but the terror of being alone and the thought of the bandits coming through a window had her rattled.
"That's not necessary,"she answered as she forced the words out. It seemed as if each word scraped against the back of her throat as she tried to ask him to stay.
Aaron rose.Had he always been so tall? It seemed as if he filled her entire bedroom chambers with his presence.
"I should probably seeto a few things then," he said as he made a move for the door. The panic settling in her caused a spark of action. She jumped into his path and batted her long lashes as the words she wanted to say clung to the roof of her mouth.
"Aye? Is there somethin'ye need?" Aaron asked; his tone had a slight pinch of disappointment.
"I don't wantyou to go." The confession was raw. Izzy looked at Aaron as her heart thundered wildly in her ears. The corners of Aaron's lips twitched as she noticed the spark of enjoyment flashing through his gaze.
"What's this now?It's got to be a new record for me," he said with a dark chuckle. "I think ye're the fastest I've gotten a lass to change her mind about spendin' the night with me."
Aaron's smilestretched as he shrugged out of his jacket and placed it on the back of the chair. Air whistled through Izzy's chapped lips as she watched Aaron unfasten the cuffs to his sleeves and roll them back.
"Now,don't get the wrong idea," Izzy said, holding up a hand as she moved away from him. Her heart trembled with both excitement and anxiety.
"And what sortof idea would ye have me have?" he asked as he arched an eyebrow. "Whatever happened to only havin' a priest, a doctor, or yer husband stayin' in yer chambers alone?"
Izzy shiftedas she started fiddling with the tips of her fingernails. "I'm hoping that you'll be a gentleman and not… well, an unsavory fellow."
"Unsavory fellow?Ha, that's what the English are callin' the thieves and monsters these days? How eloquent," he teased.
"Please,"she asked, her voice bending with trepidation. The thought of being alone sent a shock wave of uncertainty through her. Instinctively, she reached for him as her imagination took off like a star streaking through the night sky. The patter of his heartbeat against her palm excited her. She looked up at him, batting her long lashes. "I just don't want to be alone right now."
