His hand tightened around hers. “Nothing would please me more, but are you sure?”
She gave a swift nod. “We are to be married, Marcus. No one here knows us. So really, what harm would there be?”
He was silent a moment before he confessed, “I have wanted you in my bed since Dorset, have dreamt of it every night since. But if we do this then there is truly no going back, so you need to be—”
“I’m sure. You have to stop second guessing me all the time. I’m not changing my mind.”
“All right.” His voice was gruffer than before. “We’ll have our baths, reconvene for supper, and then retire. You’ll go to your room and I’ll join you after about half an hour. Would that provide you with enough time to prepare?”
“It’s more than sufficient.”
“Good. Because I’m already wondering how the hell I’m going to be able to wait that long in order to have you.”
The warmth in her cheeks became a burn. “I hope I don’t disappoint.”
“You can’t. Louise, look at me, sweetness.” When she did as he asked she was met by raw desire and endless affection. “We’re in this together, and I have every confidence it will be perfect.”
“All right.”
“Trust me,” he said. “You’ve absolutely nothing to worry about when it comes to our being intimate with each other.”
In spite of his words of assurance, Louise couldn’t quite keep her doubts at bay. Uncertainty pricked her nerves. It followed her upstairs later and stayed with her while the maid who’d come to assist her with her bath undid the back of her gown so she could undress. It wasn’t that she wanted to change her mind. On the contrary, she looked forward to what was to come with an almost absurd degree of excitement. It was just that she knew Marcus had probably been with countless other women in the past. And she didn’t want to fall short by comparison.
With a sigh, she lowered herself into the tub. Marcus loved her. She trusted him more than she’d ever trusted anyone else. So if he told her not to worry, she ought to believe him.
With this in mind she relaxed into the warm water and allowed her concerns to float away.
“I’ve spoken with Redding about your idea of building a school for blind children,” Marcus told her later during supper.
“What?”
He smirked. “I think we need to get your mind away from our after-dinner plans so you can relax.”
“Sorry.”
“Having second thoughts?”
“No,” she blurted. When he raised his eyebrows, she told him more gently, “Not at all.”
“Because if you are, we can easily sleep in separate rooms and wait with this until later.” A smile warmed his eyes. “We have our entire lives ahead of us, Louise. We needn’t rush things. Especially not if it makes you uncomfortable.”
She grinned at this. “If you recall, I was the one to suggest it.”
“And I’m not the sort of man who won’t accept a change of mind.”
Lord, how she loved him. “The anticipation is making me nervous, but I’m not about to change my mind. Tell me about this conversation you had with Redding. What did he say?”
“He loves the idea. So does Mrs. Lowell. They both want to help with it if you’ll permit.”
“Truly?”
“And as your husband and an eye surgeon, I would naturally want to play a part too. If you don’t mind.”
“Of course I don’t. Marcus, nothing would please me more than for us to work together on this.”
“I’m glad you think so, because I really believe this school can make a tremendous difference to the lives of children suffering from limited sight and blindness.” He took a bite of his food, so she did the same. “Redding’s sister-in-law, the Duchess of Coventry, runs a school for children who can’t afford an education. The building is spacious and Redding claims she can make one room available to you until you expand and can manage to acquire your own location.
“Also, Windham will be donating the first sum of money, in the amount of one thousand pounds.”
