Had he already fallen asleep? If so, she envied him.
Finally, he spoke. “Tell me what growing up at Chavensworth was like,” he said.
“Busy,” she said, so quickly that it startled her. Nor had she envisioned telling him the truth, so starkly and unadorned. “I was very busy,” she added quickly. “Between my lessons from my governess and my lessons about Chavensworth, I had very few free hours.”
He didn’t respond. No one had ever asked her about her childhood before now. No one had ever been interested.
“And your childhood?” she asked politely.
“I had few free hours as well,” he said.
There was a tone in his voice that she wanted to examine, but before she could say a word, his hand reached out and covered hers. She was so surprised by the gesture that she didn’t know what to say.
A few minutes later, she thought of a question. “Tellme about your adventures all over the world,” she said.
“Tales of a foolish young man?”
“Were you?”
“At first,” he admitted. “I had to learn quickly, else I doubt I would have survived. I was all for seeing the world, for learning as much as I could about as many things as I could. I’ve always had a healthy curiosity.”
She moved away, slid from beneath the sheets, and sat on the edge of the bed.
“What’s the matter, Sarah?” he asked, leaning up on his elbow and looking over at her.
“Nothing,” she said.
He placed his hand on the small of her back. It was the first time he’d ever done so, the first time he’d ever touched her while she was so flimsily dressed. Only one small layer of clothing separated his bare palm from her bare back. Her body knew instantly, sending a shiver up her spine, tightening her nipples.
“Tell me,” he said.
“You always want to know what I’m thinking,” she said, twisting to look at him. “What does it matter?”
“You’re my wife.”
“I am the Duke of Herridge’s daughter. The Duchess of Herridge’s daughter. Your wife. Can someone not once belong to me instead of me forever belonging to someone?”
“So you would have me be Lady Sarah’s husband?”
She knew only too well that she wasn’t being entirely rational. The moonlit night with its heady mix of warm, lavender-perfumed air seemed to call for strong emotion.
“Is that why you wanted to see my breasts?” she asked. “Because of your healthy curiosity?”
She spoke to the other side of the room, knowing that if she turned to face him, she probably wouldn’t have the courage to continue.
“Why?” He laughed, a sound she hadn’t expected. “Sarah, I want to see your breasts so I can at least dream of how it will be to touch you.”
“Oh.”
“We’re strangers to each other, and it’s too soon to take you as my wife.”
Were all bridegrooms as considerate?
“Besides, you’re a beautiful woman, and I’m a man who appreciates beauty. Especially beautiful breasts. But you needn’t worry, I’ve never yet ravaged a woman.”
Women probably threw themselves at his feet, like roses wishing to shed their petals.
Several moments passed.
