Frankly, she would have felt a lot more secure staying with the Edens this first night of her marriage. But she had made enough demands for one day and so hadn’t protested when Anthony cut the celebrating short to leave. Granted, they’d had an early dinner, and the wedding ceremony had taken no time at all. It wasn’t that late in the evening, though it would probably be midnight before they arrived at Anthony’s town house.
She supposed she ought to take advantage of the ride and get some sleep while she could. She smiled again, for her first thoughts on seeing the blankets and pillows piled on the seats hadn’t been about sleep. She had been appalled to think they would be having their wedding night in the coach. After all, Nettie had been relegated to a smaller carriage to follow at a slower pace. They were alone, just the two of them, in a coach that was certainly roomy enough to accommodate them for anything they might have in mind. The yellow glow of the coach lamp gave off a soft, romantic light. But no, Anthony had only suggestedshe nap for the return ride to London. He hadn’t even taken advantage of their solitude to kiss her, just pulled her close and settled her against him.
She could blame the champagne for making her think her wedding night was going to start early. She wasn’t even sure she was going to have a wedding night. After the fuss Anthony had made over her conditions, even if he did agree to them, she wouldn’t be surprised if he just dropped her off and went on to visit one of his many women. And what could she say about it? In his own words, she had pushed him out the door.
Anthony heard his wife’s sigh and wondered what she was thinking. Probably devising more ways to keep herself detached from this marriage. It was laughable, it really was, but of course he hadn’t thought so earlier. Here he was taking a wife for the first time in his life, and she wanted to be no more than a mistress, and not even a possessive one. Did she feel nothing for him that she could blithely let him go from her arms to those of another woman? If he had wanted to continue to tomcat about town, he could have remained a bachelor.
It was perhaps a half hour later that the pistol shot shattered the quiet of the late hour and the coach came to a jostling halt. Roslynn jerked upright, blinking her eyes awake, in time to hear Anthony’s soft curse.
“Have we arrived?” she asked, confused, as she glanced out the window to see nothing but pitch black.
“Not quite, my dear.”
“Then—”
“I believe we’re about to be robbed.”
Her eyes swung to his. “Highwaymen? Then why are you just sitting there, mon? Are you no’ going to do something?”
“My dear girl, this is England, and robbery is such a common occurrence that you come to think of it as donations to the needy. No one in his right mind travels these roads at night with anything of real value. We empty our pockets and go on our way, with no real harm done. It will be over in a matter of moments.”
She stared at him, aghast. “Just like that? And what if I dinna want to be robbed?”
He sighed. “I assume this is your first time?”
“Of course it is! And I’m amazed that you can sit there calmly doing nothing.”
“And what would you suggest I do when I haven’t a weapon at my disposal?”
“Ihave one.”
He caught her wrist as she reached for her boot and the concealed dirk. “Don’t even think about it,” he warned.
“But—”
“No!”
She sat back in a huff, glaring at him. “A fine thing when a husband willna protect his wife from brigands.”
“Give over. Roslynn,” he replied impatiently. “It’s only a few pounds and trinkets.”
“And a fortune in jewels in my portmanteau.”
He gave her a level look, glanced at the bag on the seat opposite them, the same damn bag she had carelessly left in the hired hack last night, and snarled, “Bloody hell! Youwouldcart about a fortune, wouldn’t you? Very well.” A quick examination of the interior inspired no strategy. His eyes came back to settle on Roslynn speculatively. “Toss your cloak back over your shoulders…yes.” The deep scoop of her décolletage revealed the upper swell of herbreasts, but the neckline was rather demure actually, in comparison to some others in this day and age. “Now, lower your dress a little—”
“Anthony!”
“This is no time for offended modesty,” he explained wearily as he moved to the seat across from her. “You’re to be a distraction.”
“Och, well, in that case.”
“That’s quite low enough, my dear.” He frowned at her. “Youmight not care if any number of women view my body in the nude, but I’m not quite so generous when it comes to other men and your charms.”
“I was only trying to help,” Roslynn retorted, annoyed with the reminder of the bargain she had insisted on.
“Commendable, but we want the chap to ogle you, not bust his breeches.”
“Bust his breeches? Whatever are you talking about?”
