Part 12 (2/2)
He immediately rose and crossed to the fireplace, reached over the mantel, and tugged twice on a long
gold cord tucked beside the picture frame. ”Sothat's where the bellpull was.” Jack looked surprised. ”Didn't you use it when you called for the servants?” ”No,” she said tightly. ”When I wished for the servants to do something, I walked down the stairs and told them.”
He looked at the breakfast tray, the bath, and the robe laid upon the bed, a flicker of regret crossing his
face. ”Fiona, I'm sorry.” ”Yes, you are.” She bit her lip.Control. Grace. Composure. ”I think we-” A soft knock sounded on the door, followed by Devonsgate's entry. ”My lord?” ”We need ice,” Jack said in a terse tone. ”Her ladys.h.i.+p's head came into contact with my own, and you know how hard that is.”
”Yes, my lord.” The butler turned to go, then hesitated. ”My lady?”
Fiona forced herself to look away from Jack. ”Yes?”
”I apologize if my previous demeanor lacked the respect due your position as mistress of this
establishment. I did not know-”
”Please,” Fiona said, throwing up a hand. ”The circ.u.mstances were awkward for us all. Shall we begin again?”
Devonsgate looked relieved. ”Yes, please, my lady. I will fetch some ice for your forehead.” With another respectful bow, he disappeared, the door closing softly.
Fiona got up and walked to the window, her hands clasped before her. How did one begin a conversation like this?Could she demand that he alter his actions? She'd abducted him and forced him into this marriage. Could she now demand that he be more...devoted?
But that wasn't what she really wanted. She deserved respect, if nothing else, and- An odd ticking sound came from the window. Frowning, she pushed open the thick velvet curtains. Hail clacked against the gla.s.s, standing in small mounds upon the sill. She sent an amazed gaze toward Jack.
”My brothers arrived?”
Jack nodded.
”Where are they? In the sitting room? Why didn't you tell me-”
”They left. But they will return.” He gave a humorless smile. ”They promised.”
”Where did they go?”
”I don't know, though I believe two of them plan an extended stay in town.”
”Oh, dear. Which two?”
”Dougal and Hugh.” Jack frowned. ”Or perhaps it was Hugh and Gregor. I don't remember. You will find out soon enough, as they have promised to be quite visible.”
She raised her brows. ”What does that mean?”
”You may ask them when they come to visit. I don't feel qualified to speak for them.” Jack quirked a brow. ”I don't suppose you know which one of them can cause hail?”
”Gregor. He has a cold temper. The rest of us just make rain.”
”Like the cloud that's been hanging over my carriage since last night.”
Once again, her blasted temper had gotten her into trouble. Her gaze fell on the breakfast table, and she moved toward it with obvious relief. ”We should eat.”
He crossed his arms over his chest and rocked back in his chair. ”By all means.”
She spread jam on two pieces of toast and placed them on plates, along with thin slices of ham and a poached egg.
Another knock sounded on the door, and Devonsgate appeared with a small chunk of ice wrapped in a square of linen. He handed the ice to Fiona, filled Fiona's teacup, and poured some ale into a cup for Jack, then left. Fiona pressed the ice to her forehead, watching Jack. When he took a deep drink of his ale, his coat pulled tight over his muscled arm. Fiona's stomach tightened at the sight. He was so handsome, so attractive. ”Where were you this morning?” Blast it! I wasn't going to ask that! What happened to my prepared speech? He replaced his ale on the table, his expression shuttered. ”If you must know, I was at a gaming h.e.l.l.” In for a penny, in for a pound. She cleared her throat. ”Jack, I did not like being left alone last night. The next time you go out, I would like to go with you.” That didn't sound unreasonable. It sounded calm, well reasoned, and- ”No.” ”What?” ”You heard me. A gaming h.e.l.l is not a proper place for a gently bred lady.” ”Nor for a gently bred man,” she returned stiffly. Jack's mouth hardened. ”Are you asking that I give up my amus.e.m.e.nts?” ”No. I mean, yes. I mean-oh, blast it, I don't know what I mean-except that you should not be carousing.” ”I was not 'carousing.' If I had been, I do not see what business it would be of yours.” She clenched her hands into fists. ”Everything you do is my business. We aremarried. ” ”In name only.” He leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed over his chest. ”I agreed to get you with a child, but I will not give up my freedom in the process. If I wish to go to a gaming h.e.l.l, I will do so. You cannot stop me.” A flicker of irritation rose. Fine, then. If he thought she would sit tamely home while he flitted about town, ogling women and doing G.o.d knew what else, he had another think coming. ”Fine. But anything you can do, I can do also.”
”Fiona, this is not a race.”
She shrugged. ”If you wish your freedom, take it. As I will take mine.”
”d.a.m.n it, Fiona, you cannot-”
A soft knock sounded on the door, and Devonsgate entered the room, followed by a line of footmen
carrying buckets of steaming water. They poured it into the large tub one by one, and then left. Devonsgate folded a towel neatly over the lip of the tub and poured bathing salts into the steaming water. The room filled with the rich scent of sandalwood.
Devonsgate gathered their dishes, then turned to Fiona. ”Will there be anything else, my lady?”
She looked at her wrinkled gown. ”This will need cleaning and pressing.”
”Fiona's clothing was lost in a storm,” Jack drawled. ”We will be buying new gowns for her this afternoon.”
”Yes, my lord. I shall order the carriage.” The butler bowed and left.
Silence reigned. Fiona fidgeted, her gaze flickering to the tub and then back.
”Aren't you going to take your bath?” Jack asked.
She looked at the tub, her color high. ”I was hoping for a little privacy.”
He gave an unexpected chuckle, the sound warming the room. ”Fiona, I have seen you naked and writhing. Why would you mind disrobing before me now?” Somehow, last night seemed a long time ago. ”I was just...” What? Going to refuse to be close to him because he hadn't agreed to all of her requests? They had to continue their intimate contact if they were to have a child.
Besides, she had never felt anything as powerful as their lovemaking, and she refused to give it up.
She flicked a glance toward Jack and almost smiled. He lounged in his chair, looking relaxed, except for the hand that clutched one arm of the chair so tightly his knuckles were white.
The truth dawned on her. He had been as affected by last night as she had been! Her heart skipped a beat, triumph was.h.i.+ng through her.
Fiona stood and walked to the tub, bending over to trail her fingers through the water. Hot swirls of steam arose, tickling her nose with the fragrance of sandalwood.
Jack's body was suddenly taut with tension. Fiona smiled. There was more than one way to skin a cat. She faced him and slowly undid the neck of her gown.
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