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Why Frederick was so insistent on putting himself in these situations, he had no idea. Or rather, he knew why, but he didn’t want to consider what that might mean.

There was just something undeniably alluring about Hannah, a hold she had on him that made him say and do things that he knew better than, but he could not stop himself. He wanted her, it really was that simple. And from the way she looked at him now, she wanted him too.

Only…

“I should go,” he said quickly, taking a step back and breaking the tension. “I should see Amelia and make sure she is alright.”

“Oh…” He could literally see the disappointment on her face. “Yes… yes, that is probably for the best.”

“Thank you again.” He cleared his throat, forcing himself not to look at her. “For today, I mean. For trying with Amelia.”

“Anytime,” she said simply, softly, as if resigning herself to her fate.

Frederick thought to say one more thing, to meet her eyes and thank her for what turned out to be a wonderful day with a woman who he was beginning to see there was more to than met the eye. But his mouth had turned dry, his pulse had quickened, and he needed to put some distance between them before anything else happened.

“I will see you later,” he barked and then scurried away.

“When…” she trailed off, for he was too far across the garden to answer.

That was dangerous, and Frederick chastised himself for it. He could not seduce Hannah. He could not allow himself to be seduced! His reasons for such a commitment were complex, far too much to explain to the poor woman. The simple fact was that he had made himself a promise years ago and would stick to said promise no matter what… no matter how hard it was.

And with the way his heart was pounding, his blood was pumping, and his mind was spinning, this promised to be a lot harder than he could have ever thought possible.

Chapter Eleven

Hannah ate her supper alone. It was her wedding night, and there she sat by herself at the dining table, wondering why she had even bothered to get dressed and come down, to begin with.

Oh, and she had gotten dressed, too. Having been covered in flowers and dirt earlier, she bathed and chose an appropriate dress to dine in. One that was not too scandalous—for she had expected to have supper with both Frederick and Amelia—but one that she hoped Frederick would appreciate, nonetheless.

And yet, when she arrived at supper, she was informed that Frederick was still with his daughter in her room and that she should start without him, for he was not certain when, or if, he would be able to join her.

At first, Hannah was angry. Even furious. After how hard she had tried with Amelia, the least Frederick could have done was return the favor by putting in some effort. She had made apromise, and she had kept it, proving that she could behave, so there was no reason for him not to join her. And even if Amelia was refusing to come down, surely he could have just left her in her room?

But then Hannah started to think, and when she did, she came to realize something, and when she realized this something, she could not help but smile.

She was starting to get to him.

Oh, she had felt their moment after Amelia had pushed her into the flowerbed. She had seen the look in Frederick’s eyes, the hunger in them, similar to the last time they were in the garden together. He had wanted her at that moment and, in an effort to deny himself, he had fled and then stayed away because even he was not so self-disciplined as that.

Hannah was starting to break through his walls, and thus she decided that tonight she would give it one final try. Her wedding night—a night that she and her husband should be spending together, a night that would not end until she proved to both of them that there was more to this marriage than the potential for mere friendship.

It was once she had finished her supper, and after having a few glasses of wine to steel her nerves, that Hannah made her way silently through the house and toward her private quarters. Shehad been assigned a separate chamber, but tonight that would not be needed.

On the way, she stopped outside Amelia’s room and listened at the door, hearing the little girl and her father speaking. At that moment, she came to a decision—she headed to Frederick’s room, not hers. He would not be expecting her. His guard would be down. And then, she would pounce.

His room was warm when she entered it, the fire roaring in the hearth, bathing the room in hues of orange and red. Her dress tonight was another strapless piece but with a high neckline, and she had chosen to wear gloves. Hannah took off her gloves and undid her hair, letting it fall down to her shoulders as she sat on the edge of his bed, faced the door, and waited.

And waited… and waited. Her heart pounded as the minutes ticked by. Her resolve was wavering. Was she really doing this? Was she really going to take this chance? The potential for embarrassment and mortification was extreme.

To keep herself calm, to remind herself that this was a good idea, she thought back to that moment in the garden earlier and the look in Frederick’s eyes. And before that, the kiss they had shared at the altar. And before that, the near kiss in the garden at Ramsbury Estate. So many near misses, so many indications of the fire that simmered between them whenever they were alone together.

This was a good idea. It was therightidea. And if Frederick was not going to take the chance and act, then it would fall onher shoulders. What did a wedding night truly entail? What was supposed to happen? Hannah had no idea, but she was excited to find out.

And finally, after close to an hour of waiting, the door popped open, and Frederick walked inside.

Not paying attention, he closed the door behind him, shaking his head to himself as if frustrated, and then began to unbutton his shirt. Hannah watched him do so, licking her lips, heart now racing as his shirt came undone and he moved his hands toward his pants…

Only to freeze, for finally he looked up and saw her sitting there, watching him.