Rolfe’s spirits sank. She was angry. Her eyes shone like polished silver, her dark brows were slashed together, and her lips were set in a hard line. Once again, her anger caused his own to rise.
“Damn me, I thought that was settled!”
Leonie flinched, but she didn’t move. Virile strength exuded from the powerful body so close to her, but she held her ground.
“I merely questioned your motive in reminding me of the incident.”
Rolfe frowned. How cleverly she made him feel like a cloddish bore for attacking her. Dealing with this particular woman was not going to be easy.
He smoothed the tight line of her lips. “Do you realize the effect you have on me, dearling?” he asked gently. “I see you and my thoughts fly away. If I reminded you of something unpleasant, it was unintentional and I apologize.”
Leonie was stunned. Could she believe him? Was he toying with her, trying only to placate her? If so, he was succeeding, and her anger was quickly giving way to nervousness.
She lowered her eyes, utterly confused and helpless. “You—you sought me out, my lord. Was there something you wanted of me?”
He chuckled softly, wickedly, and she drew back.
“My lord—”
“Rolfe.”
“I—”
“Rolfe,” he insisted. “You are my wife and formality is uncalled for when we are alone.”
The reminder was uncalled for! As if she could forget she was his wife! And now he was waiting for her to say his name and, in saying it, acknowledge his ownership of her.
“Leonie?” His voice was husky. “Are you still so shy?”
She could use that excuse…but she decided not to hide her feelings just to keep him in a good mood.
“It is more than shyness, my lord,” she said frankly. “Perhaps in time…”
Rolfe sighed and Leonie felt a certain triumph over not giving in.
“Time I do not have,” he told her. “I leave here on the morrow. I do not know when I will return, but when I do, I shall expect you to be more at ease with me. We have been married more than a month.”
“But we have not been together that long,” she reminded him coldly.
“Even so, you have had time to adjust,” he declared.
“I beg to explain,” she said stiffly. “You sent me away from here and I thought I would not see you again.Thatis what I adjusted to, my lord.”
“So!” he said as if he had learned something important. Leonie grew uncomfortable when he said nothing further.
“My lord, you still have not said why you sought me out.”
“I had the ridiculous notion that spending the day with you would be pleasant. Where were you, my lady?”
She began to despair. Everything was getting worse. This quiet anger was worse than shouting.
“I—I walked to the village.”
“Who accompanied you?”
Sweet Mary, he was going to make an issue of even that!
“You must know I went alone.”
