Page 75 of The Wager and the Wedding

“And after a day?” she asked, resting her forehead against his.

“I am at your disposal to give you unspeakable bliss as often as you’ll have me.”

She kissed him lazily, nipping at his lower lip.

“Temptress,” he chided, pulling away.

“Tease.”

“Tigress.”

“Troublemaker.”

“T—” He was interrupted by a knock at the door. “Who is it?”

“It’s Elsa,” answered a timid voice. “Adelaide’s healer.”

Fear gripped Isabella’s chest as she sat up. “What is it?” she called out. “Tell me now.”

“I wanted to let you know that Adelaide’s fever has broken. She’s through the worst of it and should recover quickly with proper care. I’m sorry if I interrupted anything, but I thought you would want to know.”

Relief flooded Isabella, and she wrapped her arms around Martin. “She’s safe,” she whispered, gripping him tight.

He stroked her hair and kissed her forehead. “I’m so glad.”

Wrapping a blanket around her, she got out of the bed and went to the door and opened it a crack. “Thank you so much for telling us. I’ll come by Adelaide’s room shortly to check in on her. Just give me a moment.”

“Yes, my lady.” The healer didn’t look at her as she gave a curtsy and hurried away.

She dressed swiftly, hardly daring to look at Martin for fear she would climb back into bed with him. When she was ready, she turned to him. He was beaming at her with a look of complete adoration. Unable to help herself, she stepped over and kissed him, and just like that heat flared up between them again. Pulling away reluctantly, she said, “I won’t be gone long. Don’t go anywhere.”

“I can’t. Not with this foot. Go see your sister. I’ll just be lying here, thinking of you,” he said, pushing her playfully toward the door. “Naked,” he added just as she was about to leave.

She rushed out the door and closed it rather forcefully behind her, leaning against it for a moment to compose herself.Coxcomb. He knew exactly how much his parting word would fluster her.

Taking a deep breath, she straightened her spine and thought of her mother’s icy bedchamber. That put an immediate damper on her ardor. She grinned at the thought that she never had to see that awful place again. It was hard to believe, but her fortunes had turned at last. For the first time since she was a child, she was filled with hope, and the future was full of promise. She could hardly wait to get to Winchelsea to start her new life.

Chapter Thirty-One

Martin’s heart overflowedwith pride as the outline of Saint Mary’s Abbey appeared on the horizon, marking the entrance to the harbor. He rested his knee on a strategically placed barrel and leaned on the railing for support, as his foot was still healing. Isabella stood beside him, holding his hand, his partner and equal in all things. The sun was shining, and a brisk breeze blew that was invigorating rather than icy. It was good to be back in the south.

“Are you ready to see your new home, love?”

She squeezed his hand. “With you, I have to be ready for anything.”

“I could say the same of you.”

“Me?” She placed her free hand on her chest. “What have I ever done?” As she batted her eyelashes, her teasing gaze belied her protestation of innocence.

“You’re lucky I love you so very much.” He kissed her on the cheek. “And it’s a good thing you made amends with the crew. After what you put them through on the way to Yarmouth, I wasn’t sure you could win them back.”

“Nonsense. No one can resist me when I’m determined to win them over.”

It was true. She was a force of nature. “Then it’s a good thing I wonyouover.”

Her smile made his heart swell with joy. “A very good thing indeed.” She squeezed his hand, and he reveled in the warmth and awareness that crackled between them whenever they touched.

Though they had spent the better part of their days on the journey from Yarmouth in bed, exploring each other at length, he still craved more. He quite looked forward to the delights of a featherbed and a bedchamber where she could make as much noise as she wished without being heard through the thick stone walls.

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