Page 38 of The Make-Believe Marriage
Did she not understand yet the depth of his feelings for her? She would ruin his life as well as hers if she married someone else.
How could he ever be happy without her?
Gad, why did she force him to think about this?
CHAPTER 8
OCTAVIAN BREATHED Asigh of relief the moment he drew aside the curtain and was hit in the face by brightest sunlight. Syd was still fast asleep, for this ordeal and their impending wedding had left her exhausted.
He turned back to her, his heart warming as he studied her vibrant form while she slept.
With the curtain drawn aside, the sun’s rays spilled into the room and shone across their bed. The light seemed to wrap around her, illuminating her mass of golden-red curls so that the gloriously flowing tumble shimmered like sunlight upon a golden meadow.
She had the sweetest body, too.
He saw much of it since she had tossed off the covers as the room began to warm and now slept atop them. Her slender legs were exposed to his view as her shift tangled about her thighs. He liked that he knew her body so well, even though he had yet to touch her intimately. But he had seen plenty because of her stubborn determination to keep nothing between them, whether allegorically, metaphorically, or actually.
A knock sounded at their door.
Syd made not the slightest stir.
Octavian knew it was likely a maid bringing in their breakfast tray, but he grabbed his pistol and went to the door. “Who is it?”
“Yer breakfast, m’lord,” a youngish sounding voice replied.
He kept his pistol hidden as he unlatched the door and cautiously opened it.
“Good morning, m’lord,” the maid, who could not have been more than nineteen, said as she entered the chamber and set thetray on the table. She had an ample figure that she displayed to greatest advantage and a less than innocent look in her eyes. “Oh, yer wife’s still sleepin’.”
“Yes.” He remained at the door to encourage the girl to take her leave. “Our travels have tired her out.”
She regarded him with a surprisingly sexual frankness, slowly raking her gaze over his chest since he had hastily tossed on his shirt but not bothered to button it up. “I doubt it is the travel that is tiring her out,” the girl remarked, her gaze drifting lower as she eyed him quite avidly. “I’m available if she’s too done in to accommodate ye.”
He dismissed her.
Was he the only fool who took wedding vows seriously? He was glad Syd had not been awake to hear the exchange because she was already worried about his remaining faithful to her over the next nine months. They had stopped at reputable inns along the way, but even in these establishments there were maids who were not shy about propositioning him.
He had given little thought to these sort of offers during his bachelor days, sometimes acting on them and sometimes not. But he no longer considered himself free to do as he pleased. They were not married yet, but he intended to remain faithful to Syd throughout his life.
It would not be a hardship for him since Syd was everything he needed in a wife.
But one had to take small steps with her and slowly get her used to the idea that their marriage would not be temporary. After latching the door, he crossed to the table and peeked under the salvers that covered their food.
Steam poured out as he lifted the lids, and the aroma wafting toward him made his mouth water. Kippers, eggs, and baked scones still hot from the oven were all to be washed down with a freshly brewed pot of tea.
He approached Syd and woke her with a kiss to her brow. “Time to get up, love.”
She yawned and stretched, then sat up with a light grumble. “I could sleep the entire day away. What time is it?”
“Already past seven, I’ll wager. You’ll have plenty of time to rest once we are in the carriage.”
She smiled at him when he sat on the bed beside her and gave her cheek a light caress. “Octavian, you woke me with a kiss.”
He nodded. “It felt right.”
“And you called me by an endearment.”
“You are to be my wife. Should I not?”
