An Affair of Honor (Rebel Hearts 2)

This was not the future she’d expected to have. It wasn’t bad, but a life without love wasn’t at all unfamiliar. She’d never known a love beyond her father’s infrequent affection. Even the memory of Harry’s regard was a distant and fleeting memory. She didn’t know how to react to William and his occasional kindness.

It took a long time to fall asleep that night, and when she did wake at the usual hour the household came to life, she was still in bed and still alone.

Nine

Matilda was a deep sleeper. She slept curled on her side, her long dark lashes fanned over her olive cheeks, her slender arms stretched out but kept modestly covered by the bedding. She looked striking in his bed. So innocent and tranquil. The perfect relief for his darkness. He would love nothing more than to wake her from her slumber with his touch, to draw the bedding back and make love to her for the whole of the day.

He wanted to explore every curve of her body usually hidden by her gowns. Touch and be touched as if their marriage was real.

Instead, William remained seated on a straight-backed chair, his hands clenched tightly on his thighs.

Being married to the woman was proving difficult. It had only been a week since they’d spoken their vows, and the urge to control her, urges that plagued his every thought every day of this marriage, were becoming difficult to placate. He was grateful that society did not expect newlyweds to socialize very much in the early days of their marriage and their invitations so far had been few. Matilda had needed this time to accept her elevation from maid to lady. And for himself, he struggled to understand the intense relief and contentment he felt every time she drew near.

He was married. His bachelor days were behind him. He’d expected to eventually resent his grandfather’s interference.

But he did not.

Matilda sat up suddenly. “Oh,” she whispered as she spotted him sitting beside the bed.

William got to his feet slowly and approached her. “Matilda.”

She pulled the sheet up farther to cover her chest the closer he came. “Captain.”

How long might it take her to grow accustomed to him? He hoped sooner rather than later. “I answer to William when we are alone.”

She licked her lips nervously and glanced around as if seeking escape or her robe. He’d taken her robe away while she slept, tossing it back into the dressing room where all unworn clothing belonged.

“Yes, William.” Her grip on the sheet tightened.

“Time to get up,” he told her, casting a glance at the windows where the light of midmorning shone through the gaps.

Matilda usually wept in the mornings, he’d heard her several times and had allowed the behavior, but as he’d waited for her to wake that day he had decided enough was enough. He couldn’t bear her sadness over Harry Lloyd, a liar and scoundrel, for one more day. She deserved a better man to look after her.

He meant to be the man she turned to in future.

Lloyd could never spoil her as he was doing; even if their marriage was temporary, she was better off with him. Better for Matilda to believe the man dead than discover the truth of his character and be disappointed.

“Come.” He held out one hand to her, a test of her trust.

When she placed her fingers over his, he assisted her out of bed, receiving a lovely flash of slender leg for his viewing pleasure, and lured her into the dressing room while she wore nothing but her nightgown. The fire was burning, pleasantly warm, and tea, cheese and bread to toast, enough for two, had been brought up at his request.

He placed her in the center of the room and surveyed her. She had the makings of a perfect wife for him. Beautiful, clever but modest. However, modesty was only preferred outside their private rooms.

“I am going to take off your nightgown,” he warned her.

She sucked in a sharp breath, eyes widening. “That is indecent.”

“We are man and wife.” He met her gaze directly. “You must grow accustomed to obeying me. Turn and face the mirror.”

She swallowed, and then her chin lifted. “So you can spank me like last time?”

He admired her defiance, even if it was misplaced. “Perhaps if you are very lucky I will.”

He smiled at her shocked expression. He drew closer, reaching for her gown to lift it over her head. He did not intend to touch her intimately, but he would know her as much as his conscience allowed. A glimpse of her nakedness would go a long way to satisfying his hunger to understand

her better. He waited for her decision. “Well?”

She seemed torn but eventually nodded.