“Never?” he asked, startled. “Jean-Louis was even more of a fool than I realized.”
Her mouth twisted. “So I’m not unnatural for wanting to have you beside me all night?”
“Definitely not,” he said firmly. “Particularly not in February!”
She smiled a little at that. “Then join me under the covers for a bit. You must have become cold sleeping on top of them.”
“The room did cool down overnight. Give me a moment to build up the fire and I’ll join you.”
He swung from the bed, knowing he was mad to agree to sleeping together, and also knowing that he couldn’t possibly say no. Not when he wanted it so much. This would be a major test of willpower. He’d always thought his was good, but that was before he’d married an enchanting lady.
He added more coal to the fire, then returned to the bed and slid under the covers with her. “It’s still early, so lazing here is a good way to spend the time before breakfast.”
He was definitely warmer under the covers than on top of them, particularly after Suzanne rolled over and snuggled against him, one hand resting on his chest. She had a faint scent of rosemary, tangy and appealing. He brushed a light kiss on her silky dark hair, thinking he’d never been more content in his life.
This was a good time to raise the topic he’d thought of the night before. “I’ve wondered how you feel about being touched,ma chérie. You have reason to be wary of men. I like touching you, but I don’t want to upset you. Tell me what you don’t like so I can avoid doing it.”
Her brow furrowed. “I’ve not defined this,” she said slowly, “but it comes down to whether a man is touching me with carnal intent. Some men feel they have the right to grope any female they wish. The French émigrés who tried to corner me were like that. Horrible! If I’d had a knife and knew how to use it, I’d have unmanned them!”
“Bloodthirsty but understandable!” he said. “But not all men are like that.”
“Luckily not. You aren’t. Your rogues of the cellar all seem to be the sort to keep their hands to themselves. Having sailed the length of the Mediterranean with Gabriel Hawkins, I know that he treats women with respect.” Suzanne smiled. “He’s also mad for Rory and has no carnal interest in any other woman. That makes him safe.”
“You can sense carnal intent?” Simon asked, curious.
“Usually. The damnable part is that I like touching. In the harem, I loved having children to cuddle.” She sighed. “I’d assumed I’d have children someday, but it’s never happened and now it never will.”
“Dreams lost,” he said softly. “Though sometimes dreams can be reborn. You thought yourself unsuitable for marriage, yet here we are.”
She chuckled. “So we are. But that’s because you understood and felt much the same way as I.”
“In other words, I’m safe,” he said with a touch of dryness.
“Exactly, and I loved sleeping in your arms.”
He wondered if she would sense the change in him, because his thoughts were definitely carnal. And if she did sense that, what would she do about it?
But for the moment, they were well pleased with each other. He ran a slow, appreciative hand down the lovely curves of her back. “Tomorrow I’d like to get an early start to visit White Horse Manor, but today we can sort out some of the details of life.”
“Like my riding habit, boots, and I hope some other clothing as well.” Her eyes gleamed. “But the riding habit and boots in particular.”
“Before we leave town, I need to call on Lucas’s great-uncle and aunt. Lord and Lady Foxton had no children of their own, so they were fond of us young hellions. They were Lucas’s godparents, and since he and I were always together, they treated us like brothers.” Simon suppressed a swift memory of two boys being welcomed with open arms at Foxton House. “I know they’d like to meet you.”
“I’d love to meet them since they are like family to you,” she said promptly. “But as godparents, why didn’t they take in Lucas when he was orphaned?”
“They were in India at the time. By the time they returned to England, Lucas was settled in with my family and they didn’t want to disrupt him again. There were many visits, though.”
Suzanne’s brow furrowed. “Was Lucas in line to inherit the Foxton title?”
“If he’s alive, he would be Lord Foxton. His great-uncle was his grandfather’s younger brother. But Lucas had been missing for years and eventually he was declared dead, so his great uncle assumed the title. He would be happy to relinquish it if Lucas turns out to be alive.”
They were the ones who had written Simon to tell him of Lucas’s presumed death. Keeping in touch with them over the years was a way of keeping in touch with the memories of Lucas.
“So you are family for them,” Suzanne said quietly. “I imagine they’ll be happy to know you’ve married. Something positive after too many losses. Our marriage may be . . . unconventional, but it seems very real to me.”
“You understand well.” He was feeling a strong desire to kiss her in a very carnal way, so he swung from the bed. “I’m thinking of more and more things that need to be done today, so it’s time for me to start moving. Shall I see you at breakfast, or do you prefer to rest a little longer?”
She sat up in bed and stretched, as supple and graceful as a cat. “I would not deny you your breakfast fantasy,” she said with a smile. “I’ll see you downstairs.”
