Page 22 of Wicked Is the Duke
"That's what I'm off to remedy. There's a small lean-to shed behind the cottage. I'll take them there and unsaddle them." He gazed at her for a second before rising from in front of the now blazing fire. "Go, change. Your brother would have my head if you got sick."
He gathered the horses and ran to the shed and unsaddled both. Tying them both, he threw them some hay which had been left exactly for times like this. He thought of Anna inside the cottage, of her taking her clothes off, leaving her with nothing but a blanket to cover her. His cock throbbed at the thought. Most men might take advantage of the situation. Anna was still an innocent, as far as he could tell, and he refused to be that man. There would be plenty of time for them to make love; it just wasn't soon enough in Henry's eyes.
He ran back to the cottage and found Anna, her hair hanging down over her shoulders. A blanket covered her, and her clothes were draped over the backs of chairs near the hearth. She turned to greet him, smiling.
"You need to get out of your clothes. There is a blanket on the bed for you."
He noted the food laid out on the table. His stomach growled at the sight. "Thank you. I'll be back in a moment."
"I hope you're hungry," she replied coyly.
"Yes, very." He entered the bedroom, silently cursing himself for his thoughts as he came out of his rain-soaked clothes. The sound of the rain beating against the glass panes made him acutely aware they were in the middle of a storm that might not let up for some time. He needed to keep his wits about him.
"Anna," he said as he returned to the main room of the cottage. He noted she had laid food out on a nearby table. "Before we go any further, there is something I must speak with you about."
"What is it?" she asked as he neared.
He took both her hands and held them, gently kissing the back of each one. "This isn't the way I planned to do this, but I thought with all that's going on, I should make exception."
"Exception to what?"
"I’ve fallen in love with you. Will you marry me, Anna?" There, he’d said it. He watched her as his statement sunk in.
"Yes!" she replied.
He pulled her closer and kissed her. "I thought we could be married in four days’ time. I'll apply for a special license."
"I can't marry without my brother. He would be devastated."
"I'll send word to him. I know he's not leaving for the continent for another week."
"Very well, as long as he's here then, yes, let's marry in four days."
"Thank you. You've made me the happiest man, Anna."
He kissed her again and gazed into her eyes.
"Where will we marry?"
"My estate. I have some ideas I'd like to talk with you about."
"All right," she replied. "Come let's eat. We can discuss it over our meal."
He nodded, taking her hand and placing it in his and led her to the small table she’d set up in front of the windows.
