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She didn’t exactly know it, even if she had hoped it would be the case. “I left you no choice,” she mumbled. Considering what had happened the night before, he had every right to feel trapped. She had tricked him into pleasuring her and then licked him into surrender.

The laugh he gave was somewhat shaky. He, too, was remembering what she had done. “You certainly made it impossible for me to think straight. But the blame is shared. I could have refused to take you and instead made use of your mouth to reach my release. It seems to me you wouldn’t have minded.”

Made use of your mouth.

The place between her legs started to throb at the crude statement. Christopher seemed as affected as she was. He had stiffened, and the light in his eyes had changed from teasing to stormy.

He cleared his throat, as if regretting putting such a lewd image in both their heads. “In any case, what I’m saying is, I did make love to you, I did take your maidenhead. You are the first virgin I’ve ever bedded, and I will do my duty by you.”

“Duty.” The word sat ill with Sian, who would marry him for love, but she did not let it worry her. The important thing was to secure his agreement. The rest would come in time.

“Shall we go speak to my father, then? When do you want to get married?”

Her heart skipped a beat. That was it. Finally.

After spending so long hoping, plotting, fearing a disaster, she and Christopher were about to become husband and wife.

Dare she ask him if they could get married on the morrow?

As far as she was concerned, the sooner they could have the ceremony that bound them one to the other, the better.

Before the end of the month, she fully intended to be Lady Ashton. Christopher would then belong to her.

As for her, she had always belonged to him.

“Not immediately, my impatient little lamb,” The smile he gave made it clear he had read her thoughts. “Before we wed, I need to go to Kent to see my uncle.”

Sian recoiled. That was the last thing she had expected him to say.

He wanted to go to the other end of the country to see an uncle he only ever talked about in scathing terms?

Why? It was not as if he needed the man’s permission to get married.

Why on earth did he have to go now, when his presence was needed at Sheridan Manor?

She couldn’t get married without her groom.

“Can’t it wait?” She hated herself for asking the question, but the idea of him walking away when she was so close to fulfilling her lifelong ambition was too dire to contemplate.

“I’m afraid not. I received a letter this morning informing me he is at death’s door.

This is most unexpected, as he is still a man in his prime and has not yet reached his fifth decade, but last month, he was struck down by a mysterious chill.

He now fears he will not see the end of the month.

As it is, I am not certain I will be in time to see him.

There isn’t a moment to lose. When you arrived, I was giving the order to saddle my horse.

I was about to ask Harry to ride to Sheridan Manor to inform you of my departure. ”

“Oh, Christopher.” Sian placed a hand over his forearm, her disappointment melting in view of his announcement.

Here she was, complaining about a little delay when he was about to lose the only family member he had left.

Even if he and the man were not close, it would be hard for him. “I’m so sorry.”

He shook his head slowly. “Don’t be. I cannot pretend to be sad. The man means nothing to me, and, in truth, I have no idea why he wants to see me. I would say we never got on, but we never met enough times for me to make that claim. He’s as good as a stranger.”

“That’s …”

That was even worse. She had known his childhood had been unhappy, but that was simply heartbreaking.

Having been raised in a loving family, Sian could not begin to imagine how he had felt, shunned by his father, ignored by his grandfather, without any siblings to turn to.

He’d always been alone in the world, never knowing she wanted to give him everything he needed.

She didn’t know what to say. So instead, she kissed him.

Making use of a block of stone at her feet, she put her face level with his and gave Christopher the kiss he had refused her the night before.

It was their first kiss— her first kiss as well—but because she had imagined it countless times in her mind and had even dreamed of it, it almost didn’t feel new.

What she hadn’t expected was that he would lift her into his arms or that the feel of his tongue inside her mouth would make her think of what other part of him she had welcomed between her lips.

They were kissing, but it felt as if they were making love.

She could feel his hardness poking at the place between her thighs, searching, demanding entry.

Sian wanted nothing more than to give her permission, but she could not.

Not here, not like that, in full view of everyone.

So she kissed him again and again, using her tongue, rubbing her body against his, bathing in his wonderful scent. Was it ginger perhaps?

Before she could decide, he drew away.

“God on the cross, but you drive me mad, woman,” he rasped, grinding his hips to illustrate the point. The message was clear. He wanted to be inside her as much as she wanted to welcome him in. “Why is that? Will you tell me?”

Because we are meant to be together. I’ve always known it. Nothing of what’s happening is a surprise to me. Because I love you .

Could she tell him as much? They had just agreed to get married, but he still had no idea of the depth of her feelings. He thought she wanted to marry to save her reputation; he had no idea her heart was engaged. Should she?—

One look at him made it clear the moment was ill chosen.

He was about to leave to go on a difficult mission.

He was not ready to hear such a momentous declaration.

Though he had agreed to marry her, Sian could not fool herself into thinking that he loved her.

Not yet, at least. He had called marriage to her his duty only a moment ago.

He felt desire for her, and affection. For now, she had to accept it was enough.

In time, he would fall in love with his wife; she was sure of it.

“Come back to me, Christopher,” she said, speaking against his lips. “With me as your wife, with the children I will give you, you’ll have the family you never had growing up.”

His eyes sparkled. It seemed to Sian that his hold tightened and he was about to say something, but she couldn’t be sure because the gleam disappeared as quickly as it had come. A moment later, she felt him lift her off the stone and place her gently on the ground.

“I need to go.”

His stallion was already saddled when they entered the bailey together. Christopher vaulted on top, turned to her, nodded once, and then left in a thunder of hooves.

“Lord Ashton? Really? Of all men, you had to choose him?”

The lack of warmth in her father’s voice was not promising, but Sian stood her ground. Unfortunately, she knew what he thought of Christopher, but she hoped he would change his mind in due time. No one could get to know the man she loved and hold on to their prejudice.

“Yes. We agreed last night to get married.”

“Last night ?” This time, his tone was distinctively icy.

“I m-mean yesterday, late in the afternoon,” she stammered, stealing a glance toward her mother, who had placed a hand over her husband’s arm in an appeasing gesture. “I can’t remember what time exactly.”

Of course she remembered the exact moment she had informed Christopher that they were going to be married. He had been braced over her on muscular arms, ready to plunge inside her, and she had been lying under him on her cloak, naked as the day she was born.

“You mean that, after all these years, you have finally found a man to whom you can imagine being married, cariad ?” Esyllt asked in an evident effort at conciliation.

Sian threw her a grateful smile. “Yes.”

She had found him a decade ago, which was precisely why she had refused to get married before now or even look at other men.

Her parents had been led to believe she had exacting standards and was waiting for the right man to come along.

It was not the case. She had simply been waiting for the right moment to ensnare Christopher.

“Then we’re going to have to trust your judgment.

” Her mother threw her husband a meaningful look, one that warned him not to pass any comment.

He did not. “Feminine intuition is a powerful thing, and I’m sure this Lord Ashton isn’t half as disreputable as some people make out.

He did save two of our daughters, after all. ”

“Yes, but he made a third one utterly miserable as a child!” Connor snapped, not so easily appeased.

So he knew. Sian did not let it defeat her. Her parents would soon see she was right to trust him. She raised her chin defiantly. “I love him, Father.”

The air in the solar stilled. Then her father’s shoulders sagged.

“If you love him, and he has agreed to marry you, then there is nothing else to say.”

There wasn’t.

And so the long wait started.