But Clarissa knew what the answer was.
She walked toward the waiting carriage and returned home. Mars waited for them. He was ready to travel. The coach had been packed and all was ready.
The hard part of leaving was Dora. It broke both their hearts to have her stay at Belvoir. She’d become a conduit between them. The decision to leave her behind with Mrs. Rucker and the staff was a sound one, except now, Clarissa and Mars were on their own.
To her surprise, Mars chose to ride in the coach with her. He wasn’t even taking his horse, saying they wouldn’t be in London that long. His words made her happy. She had only bad memories of her short time with the Emsdales in the city.
It was also nice to have a traveling companion. The coach was stocked with food, drink, and books. They also had cards for something different although she discovered they were both not that interested in games.
At first, his long legs and broad shoulders took up most of the room. However, as the ride progressed, she stopped worrying so muchabout carefully touching him. She even pushed him to move once when he started to nod off over his reading and leaned against her. He settled into the far corner of the coach.
A few minutes later, she found it more comfortable to nestle in next to him. Instead of reading, though, she found herself caught in studying him.He’s a good man.
Well, he may be a good man but Clarissa would be lying if she claimed she didn’t like the set of his features on his face—the strong nose, the jawline, thelips. She did like the lips. They were thin but sensual.
And she admired his hands. He wasn’t wearing gloves. It was too hard to turn book pages in them. She was tempted to trace the line of his fingers, starting at the knuckles and going to the tips.
Instead, she reached down and kissed the back of his hand—
Mars started, waking.
Clarissa quickly sat up, lifting the book in her lap.
“Did I fall asleep?” he asked somewhat sheepishly. “That was rude of me.”
“Not at all,” she answered. “I’ve been entertained.” She held up her book.
He nodded, straightened, and stretched. This was the way of married couples, she thought. They shared space. They watched over each other. She’d even used some of his mint pastilles that morning after she had polished her teeth.
And she liked being this close to him. Herdoubts were ebbing, and yet, the dowager was right, she and Marsden both had a good deal to learn about trust.
“We should be in St. Albans shortly,” he said. They were spending the night there and would continue their journey in the morning. “You will enjoy the innkeeper’s roast hen. It drips with butter.”
Clarissa smiled. He did like butter and his favorite color was blue. Those things she knew and hoped to learn much more.
The innkeeper, Mr. Lloyd, was pleased to see them. They dined in a private room. Their supper had been waiting for them. The hen was tasty.
Mr. Lloyd gave them the best room of his establishment. The bed was not as big as the one at Belvoir. She and Marsden would be very close. A pillow wall might not even be effective.
Nor was she certain she wanted that wall up. It had felt good to burrow against him in the coach.
Mars noticed the lack of wall immediately. He had stayed in the tap room, giving her privacy while she readied for bed. He’d sent Nelson on ahead to London with the majority of their luggage. They each had a small valise for this overnight sojourn. She was under the covers by the time he joined her.
He stared at the bed. Then said, “I can sleep in another room.”
Clarissa found it hard to meet his eye. She curled and uncurled her toes, making the sheetmove, before she said, “I would rather you slept here.”
It wasn’t an inviting offer. Still, it was all she could say because, well, what if he refused? She didn’t know what she would do if he teased her.
Instead, Mars blew out the candle. She listened to him undress in the dark. A sliver of moonlight came through the shutters and gave her a glimpse of a long thigh and a bare hip.
The mattress gave to his weight. He stretched out and she’d been right. He did take up most of the bed.
Clarissa turned on her side, giving him more room. She was comfortable but sleep was elusive. All she could think about were his hands, that glimpse of bare skin, and his kiss.
“Mars?”
He didn’t answer.
