Page 5 of The Wager and the Wedding

“You wouldn’t want to marry me. I would make your life miserable.”

“Is that so?” he asked, thoughtfully. “And here I’d heard such wonderful things about you. Why, your father was just telling me how delightful you are.”

Her grip on her eating dagger tightened until her knuckles were white. “Then you are hard of hearing, my lord.”

Martin would have been rubbing his hands together in glee if it wouldn’t have given away his game. The first arrows had been unleashed.Let the battle begin.

“Not in the least. He praised your virtue, your beauty, and your intelligence. How could I not wish to wed you?” Her cheeks grew redder with each word of praise. By God, she was lovely when she was riled up.

“If you believed that, then you have as much wit as this chair I sit on.”

Some demon possessed him to say, “If I am a chair, then come sit on my lap.”

She gave him a scornful look. “Don’t get your hopes up.”

“Too late, my lady. My hopes grow with every word from your sweet lips.”And every lash of your sharp tongue.

“Then you are a fool. I am not for you, Little Baron.”

He grinned. “Little Baron? Is that the best you can come up with?”

“You wish for worse? I assure you, my lord, I can sting you where it hurts. Don’t tempt me.”

He sat back and crossed his arms. “Do your worst, honeybee. Let’s hear it.”

“You asked for it, you walnut-sized nitwit,” she said, shaking her head.

“Do you insult my height or my length, my lady? You must be more specific.”

Her ears flamed red as she took his meaning. “Ugh. Cease talking. More of your conversation would infect my brain.”

“What can I say? I am infectious.” He was enjoying this far too much.

“Truly, you are a disease, my lord. You make me sick.”

“Lovesick already? I had no idea I was so potent.”

“I told you to cease talking, you toad. Your croaking offends my ears.”

“In faith, my lady, I am disappointed. Surely you can find some more interesting way to insult me.” With Lance as his brother, he’d already had a lifetime of unflattering comparisons to thicken his hide. Her barbs couldn’t pierce his good humor.

“You are too far beneath my notice, and I can’t be bothered,” she said, turning her attention to her bread and cheese and taking a large bite.

Martin considered her in silence for a long moment. “Do you know,” he said at last, “I think you’re putting on an act. Yourheart doesn’t seem to be in this. Are you pretending to be a shrew to put me off marriage?”

She choked on her bread and had to wash it down with a generous swallow of ale. Clearly, he’d hit close to the mark. Time to retreat and lure her in.

“I see,” he said, softening. Poor thing. He’d had several months to get used to the idea of matrimony, whereas she only just learned of the match. “What can I do to put your mind at ease? I promise to take things slowly. I insisted on forgoing the bedding ceremony when I arranged things with your father for the wedding. I know it will take time for you to get used to the idea of being my bride, and I swear to you I will do everything in my power to be a patient and good husband to you.”

His bride sighed and closed her eyes. “You aren’t the right man, and this isn’t the right time.”

Words of truth at last. “If that’s the case, what do you propose we do?”

She must see how impossible it would be to defy Lady Eleanor in this matter.

“I don’t know,” she said softly, her shoulders sagging. “Did you know it’s my birthday today? What a way to celebrate turning eighteen.”

“I’m sorry. This must all be something of a shock to you.” He reached out and put a hand over hers, squeezing gently, then withdrawing quickly at her venomous look. Her skin was so soft and warm beneath his. The brief contact made him long for more, but clearly, she wouldn’t welcome it. Yet.

---