Page 29

She needed to relax and not worry.

Well, it was easier said than done. Isabel could not lie still. Her stomach churned, and her skin felt as if she were lying on needles.

Let yourself enjoy his kisses and touches… No matter how indecent.

Isabel took a deep breath. If he kissed her the way he did in the park, then there would be nothing to worry about. And regarding his touches? Well, she’d just have to allow him all the liberties he craved, and if what Evie said was true, she would come to enjoy the act.

Isabel didn’t doubt Evie’s wisdom… mostly. But she doubted very much that Vane’s touches would be as pleasant as St. Clare’s touch was for Evie. After all, Evie was hopelessly in love, and Isabel… well, Isabel could barely stand the man.

His kisses might have been pleasant, but surely that was just because Isabel was overexcited from chasing the dog and then arguing with the man. She was in shock and did not expect to be accosted. If she were in a rational frame of mind, she would not let him kiss her at all.

Well, this train of thought did not help her at all. She needed to concentrate on enjoying Vane’s ministrations and not convince herself of the contrary!

Just at that moment, there was a knock on her door.

“Mis—My lady, it’s me. Vane.”

Isabel swallowed, sat up, and drew the sheets over her chin. “Enter.”

The door to her room opened, and Vane appeared on the threshold.

He was standing in the doorway, as tall as a tree and wide as the doorframe. His face was shadowed, but she could see his mussed hair outlined by the light behind him. He had not changed for bed, Isabel noticed. In fact, he still wore his coat and boots.

Vane walked farther into the room, and once he stepped closer to the candle by her bedside, she saw that he was sporting a menacing frown. Was that man ever not frowning?

Isabel propped herself against the pillows and regarded him curiously.

“I just wanted to let you know that we’ll be continuing our journey shortly after dawn on the morrow,” he said.

“That is acceptable. I shall be ready.”

“Good.” With a nod, Vane turned away.

“Vane?” Isabel started after him but quickly realized she was in her night rail and sat back down. Vane looked at her over his shoulder. “Are you… Are you leaving?”

His scowl deepened. “That was the idea. Yes.”

Isabel was tempted to just count her blessings and let it go, but her stubbornness won out. “We are sleeping in separate bedchambers, yes?”

“Yes.” Vane seemed rather confused.

Oh, God. He wouldn’t make her beg for it, would he? “But… Aren’t you—It’s our wedding night.”

“I am aware,” he said in the driest of tones.

The dratted man didn’t even blink.

“Are you not going to spend the night with me? Are you not…?”

“I was not aware you were eager to start.” Vane finally turned fully toward her.

Isabel gritted her teeth. “The sooner we start, the sooner the heir could be conceived.”

He scanned her with an unflattering gaze, then crossed his arms over his chest. “You do seem in an awful haste.” He furrowed his brows, utterly perplexed by the idea.

Of course, I am in haste! I am over thirty years old. “And you seem utterly bewildered by the idea. I am your wife.”

Vane scratched his chin in thought. He then stepped closer and studied her from head to toe again, making her shiver under the thin bedsheet. “You are not by any chance already with child, are you?”