Her heart gave a sharpthumpat his implication. He cared for her. Forher. Not simply as a baby maker, but as a person. As his wife. But she needed to be sure. To hear him say it. “What did you feel that made you afraid?”
“Love. I love you, Anne, and it terrified me because how would I cope if I ever lost you?”
“Oh.” Breathy and faint as fairy wings, the word was all she could manage. Her. Anne. Woman of a thousand utterances.
“Now, if you don’t mind, I would love to take off this God-awful helmet and kiss you.”
Tears blurred her vision, and she nodded. “Please.”
Sweat matted his hair, but to Anne, he never looked so handsome. He stood silently before her as she waited for the kiss.
“Well?”
“First, I want to give you goo-goo eyes. I practiced on Fitz, which made the man quite uncomfortable. You’ll have to tell me if I’m doing it correctly.”
As much as she disliked pain, she welcomed the sweet tug on her heart as Colin gazed at her as if his whole world revolved around her. “Perfect. And Colin?”
“Yes, my love?”
“I love you, too. Now, that kiss, please.”
“My pleasure.”
Rather than theshame of appearing as a fool, Colin had never felt so free. She loved him! He didn’t deserve it, but she did. Despite the heavy armor, lightness buoyed his heart as he held Anne in his arms and gave himself to her, flaws and all.
When they finally broke apart, which was much too soon for his liking, he leaned his forehead against hers. “I’m not perfect. But with you, I can face my failures. Don’t ever leave me.”
She stared up at him and made the same goo-goo eyes. “Never.But this armor is hard and cold and in my way. Would you please remove it? I want to get closer.”
Ten times faster than Fitz had managed to get the armor on him, with Anne’s help, Colin stripped it off, allowing it toclank—piece-by-piece—to the floor.
“Better. But there is still this.” Anne tugged at his linen shirt.
Free from the restraining weight of the armor, Colin raced to the door and locked it. “Anything for my beautiful wife.”
Some time later and fully sated, they lay in each other’s arms on the sofa, and Anne ran her fingers through the hair on his chest. “You mentioned slaying dragons.”
He chuckled, his breath ruffling her hair under his chin. “A metaphor, my love.”
Her clear-blue eyes peered up at him, all innocence. “Actually, we have two. Greene and Mrs. Campbell. When I was in the passage, I heard them conspiring against me in the library. They said as soon as I gave you a son, they planned to torment me and get me to leave.”
He jerked back. Although he knew Greene and Mrs. Campbell didn’t approve of Anne, he didn’t expect them to be so devious and hateful. Pulling aside the blanket covering them, he gently removed Anne from his arms and strode to the door. “I will dismiss them at once.”
Anne’s giggle stopped him, and he turned back to her in question.
“You might want to get dressed first.”
Colin stared down at his naked body and couldn’t resist the laugh. “Of course.” So much for dignity and appearances. Anne had completely discombobulated him. “On second thought, I have a better idea.”
Once they both had dressed, Colin took Anne’s hand and led her to his study. After seating her at his desk, he rang the bell pull. As expected, Greene appeared.
“Find Mrs. Campbell and return here with her immediately.”
Positioned behind Anne, Colin waited for his soon-to-be-formerservants to return.
Upon their arrival, he crossed his arms over his chest and adopted his most fearsome glare, no doubt similar to the one he’d given Anne when they’d first met. “Greene, Mrs. Campbell, my wife has something to tell you.” He nodded toward Anne. “Go on, my love, deliver the news.”
Before him, Anne squared her shoulders. Pride swelled in his chest as his always-sunny wife adopted a commanding air. Her voice, clear and strong, had a trace of power he didn’t realize she possessed. She was an excellent viscountess and, when the time came, would be an exceptional marchioness.
