Page 65 of My Darling Rogue
Gabriel took a sip of the ale. “For Tessa, perhaps. Not for me.”
Tessa returned just then with the glass of wine. Setting it down without so much as a glance spared for Celia, she focused her attention on Gabriel.
“Will you be needing two rooms then?” The girl’s tone was seductive while reeking of familiarity. And she moved so close that her upper waist brushed against Gabriel’s shoulder. She then made a great show of bending over to check his mug of ale, her breasts on display in the low-cut gown.
“Just one,” Gabriel replied. “It’s already arranged.”
Celia’s temper was rising. The look she gave the barmaid was nothing short of murderous. Gabriel could not help the thrill of pleasure coursing through him at the thought of Celia’s possible jealousy.
“Oh. A room for the lady, of course. We’re terribly busy, as you can see.” Tessa’s tone was smug. “But you’ve no need to sleep in the stables, Gabriel. I’m sure accommodations may be found, same as last time.” Her giggle left no doubt as to her invitation. “You were quite satisfied with them, as I recall.”
“Why should my husband be required to spend the night in the stables?” Celia asked, ice dripping from her voice. “Or anywhere other than with myself?”
Gabriel bit back another grin. He would not allow this to go too far, but he was wildly curious about this side of his new wife.
Tessa’s attention turned to Celia, her jaw slackened with confusion. “Husband? Gabriel married you, did he?”
Celia stood slowly, staring the other woman down as though she might leap across the table and begin a brawl. The interaction between the two women was drawing attention. Other patrons nudged each other, nodding in Celia’s direction with hungry, curious stares.
“Tessa!” The innkeeper shouted from the other side of the room. “You’ve other tables, girl. Get these ales and leave Lord and Lady Rosenthorne be.”
Tessa’s eyes widened. Her gaze bounced between Gabriel and Celia. “Lord Rosenthorne?”
“The new Marquess, if you must know,” Celia nearly growled at the dumbstruck woman. “And my new husband.”
“Sit down, Celia,” Gabriel said in a low voice. “The men in this room are enjoying your display of temper entirely too much for my liking.”
Celia’s eyes flashed with rebellion, but she sank back into her chair as he commanded. Her eyebrow arched high as she stared at Gabriel. “Dearest husband, Tessa did not realize you are the new Marquess of Rosenthorne?”
Gabriel shrugged his massive shoulders. “Word has gotten around, but obviously she did not.”
“Tessa!” Mister Jonsey yelled again over the joviality of the room. “The ales, for damnation’s sake!”
Tessa seemed shellshocked. An expression of disappointment crossed her features. Grimacing, she dropped a quick curtsey directed at both Gabriel and Celia. “Beg your pardon, milady. Milord. I must see to the other tables now.”
While she hurried away, Celia leveled a glare at Gabriel. “How long would you have allowed that to go on?”
“I’m not sure. I’m still unaccustomed to being Lord Rosenthorne. It’s easy to forget sometimes I have a new identity,” he replied casually. “What I was then and what I am now will surely clash on occasion.”
Celia’s eyes flared with helpless anger. “I meant that woman’s shameless flirtation. You were doing nothing to stop it.”
“Are you jealous, sugarplum?” Reaching for Celia’s hand, Gabriel rubbed a thumb over the blue stone of her wedding ring.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” she snapped. “I merely despise being made to look foolish.”
She was angry, but she did not pull her hand away. Gabriel realized she was searching for a means of steadying herself. He was her balance in this world now, and their connection was paramount to this marriage being a successful one.
“It is perfectly all right to be jealous, Celia. I know I am. For example, should any man in this room think twice about taking you from me, I’d have his head on a platter. Perhaps I would even serve it to his friends. Just so everyone would know how deadly serious I am when it comes to protecting what is mine.” Another sip of his ale, and he said, “Your reaction to a rather forward barmaid is an encouraging development. I think I rather like that fierce side of you.”
Celia’s stiffened. “I would like to retire to our room now.”
Gabriel frowned. “Without your dinner? I won’t allow that. You must eat. There’s another long day ahead of us tomorrow, and I’ll not have you weakened from lack of sustenance.”
“I’m not hungry.”
Her stubbornness was going to get her in trouble if she wasn’t careful.
Gabriel smiled with a little tsk of disappointment. “I did not ask if you are hungry, Celia. I said you must eat. And you will.” His manner remained calm as he spoke, but a thread of determination wove through his words.
