Page 8 of The Enchanted Land

Seth lit the lamp, and Morgan could see that the room was very large. All the furniture was walnut: dark, rich, and heavy. The prominent feature of the room was an enormous four-poster bed. Morgan stood staring at it, thinking that it was just the sort of bed that a man like Seth should have.

Seth had come up behind her and stood quietly as Morgan was staring at the bed. “It’s just as comfortable as it looks,” he whispered.

Morgan jumped and turned toward him, their faces inches apart. He bent toward her. “Come,mi querida, and I’ll show you what it’s like to be a real bride.” His voice was low and soft and persuasive. But Morgan, unused to the presence of a man, was frightened by his large body and took a step backwards.

Her face betrayed her fear, and Seth laughed. “Don’t be afraid, little rabbit, I won’t hurt you. Where is that look of fire I saw you flash at Cynthia Ferguson? Anyone who can give such a look shouldn’t be afraid of a mere man.”

Morgan smiled.

“That’s better. You may take the bed and I’ll sleep on the couch. Does that ease your fears?”

Morgan hastily took her bag and went to the adjoining dressing room. She was nervous as she removed her dress and put on the plain, white nightgown. As she took the pins from her hair and brushed the mass into fat, shiny curls that reached her waist, she tried not to think about Seth.

When she returned to the room and self-consciously walked across to the bed, she saw that Seth had turned down the covers. He was already wrapped in a blanket on the couch, his head away from her. He appeared to be sleeping. Somehow she felt a tinge of anger that he could ignore her so completely.

As she blew out the lamp and snuggled under the covers, she heard Seth say sleepily, “Goodnight,mi querida.”

Morgan smiled and said, “Goodnight.”

The next morning, Morgan was awakened by a knock on the door. “Mr. Seth, are you up yet?”

Morgan sat up just in time to see Seth striding across the room towards her. Morgan’s eyes opened very wide in astonishment at the sight of him. He was completely naked. Morgan had not seen many men, even clothed, and had never seen a man without his shirt. She glimpsed a broad, heavy chest covered with thick, curling hair, large arms and shoulders, all tapering to a hard, flat stomach. He climbed into bed with her before she could complete her survey.

“Close your mouth, little one. You don’t want Bessie to think a newly wedded couple would spend their wedding night apart, do you?” He moved close to Morgan so that their thighs touched. Louder he said, “Come in, Bessie.”

A very large woman entered the room carrying a tray of coffee. As she saw Morgan in the enormous bed sitting beside Seth, she stopped and stared. Seth moved even closer to Morgan and put his arm around her shoulders. “Bessie, I’d like you to meet my wife, Morgan.”

It didn’t take Bessie long to recover her voice. “I declare, Mr. Seth, you didn’t give nobody word that you were bringing a bride. I bet even your mama don’t know.”

Seth grinned and hugged Morgan closer, idly taking a curl in one hand and rubbing it between his fingers. “No, Mother doesn’t know, but then it was a rather hurried marriage. Morgan and I just met the night before last.”

“An elopement! Your sisters are just going to love that.” Bessie had a twinkle in her eye. “Well, I must mind my manners. It’s nice to meet you,” she said to the still-silent bride.

Morgan managed to murmur, “Thank you.”

Bessie smiled broadly and said, “Well, Mr. Seth, I’ll just leave you two. You come down whenever you’re ready.” The twinkle deepened and she winked at Seth. He returned the wink. Morgan looked down at her hands and blushed.

Bessie put the tray on the bedside table and turned to leave. As she did so, she stopped for a second and looked at the couch with the rumpled quilt and pillow, still dented where Seth’s head had been. She frowned for a second, then left, closing the door behind her.

The room seemed too quiet, and Morgan was acutely aware that Seth was making no attempt to leave her side or even to take his arm from around her shoulders. She continued to study her hands.

Seth put his other hand beneath her chin and turned her head. Without a word, he tipped her head back and gently touched his lips to hers. Morgan felt she had never experienced anything so sweet and gentle as his lips.

Seth withdrew his lips and looked down at her. The sunlight filtered through the curtains, capturing the brilliance of her long, golden hair. He decided he’d like very much to find out what lay under that billowing nightgown. He smiled at the thought and Morgan opened her eyes to find him smiling.

“Do you always find me amusing?” she asked in a cold voice. Her body stiffened under his arm.

Seth removed the arm. “Quite often. But I also find it astonishing that you can hide all that hair away in such a tight little knot.” He lifted his hand to play with a fat curl.

Morgan’s voice was cold. “May I remind you, Mr. Colter, that our arrangement is a business one. The way I arrange my hair is of no concern to you.”

Morgan saw his jaw muscles flex as he ground his teeth together. “You are right, madam. Your looks, or lack of them, is of no concern to me.” Morgan winced. Why did peoplealwayshave to remind her of her plainness?

“Now if you do not want to be shocked, you had better look the other way.”

Morgan did not understand his meaning until he threw back the covers. She turned her head, but could not keep her eyes averted. She looked up to see a broad back with a deeply grooved backbone, leading to roundly curving buttocks and firm thighs. The thighs were covered with golden hair. At the sound of Seth’s laughter, she looked up to meet his eyes in the mirror over the dressing table.

“So! My shy little bride is not so shy when my back is turned.”

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