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It was the strangest feeling, and as the pleasurable remnants of her release faded away she was struck by the weight of his hard body, the heat of his breath as he panted against her skin, the texture of his tightly coiled hair under her fingers.

She relaxed against him, relief flooding her chest until tears sprung to her eyes.

She was his now, nothing could change that.

She closed her burning eyes and let out a sigh.

“Rajani?”

She felt him shift and when she opened her eyes he was watching her.

“Are you alright?” he asked, reaching up to brush his fingertips over her cheek.

She nodded, nuzzling into his palm. He leaned in and kissed her softly, pulling her into him, sliding one hand behind her neck.

After that explosion of passion this was exactly what she needed.

It was a simple thing, sweet and tender, full of promise and devotion.

When he pulled away her heart was beating strangely, full to bursting and overwhelmed.

He shifted them sliding from her body and setting her on the grass beside him.

He tucked himself back within his trousers and buttoned it shut before adjusting her nightgown, pulling the collar up over her shoulder and tugging on the ribbon to adjust it.

Then he sat down on the grass and pulled her against his side, cuddling her close, and stroking her hair.

“Thank you,” she sighed.

“My pleasure, devika. You’re certain I didn’t hurt you?” he asked, and she shook her head.

“It was wonderful.”

So, this was what it was to make love to a man. She wondered what would have been different if it were someone else. Would she have been as content to be pinned against a tree as she had been? Would she have found as much delight in the act?

One thing was for certain, she would never have tried to persuade them to ravish her in the garden. Or had she ravished him? What were the conditions that determined ravishment? She bit her lip against a giggle, and he lifted his head.

“I beg your pardon madame, but what exactly are you sniggering at?” he asked, humor waring with halfhearted offence in his bleary eyes.

“I was only wondering, when I relayed this who should I say ravished whom?”

“Who exactly would you be relaying this particular escapade to?”

“Well… no one in the immediate future.”

“I’ll thank you for that, although to answer your question, I suppose I could be the ravishee this time. It would be in keeping with your general approach of staging ambushes.”

“I beg your pardon.”

“It is given,” he replied.

“Why would you say I ambushed you? You make me sound like some kind of deviant.”

“You kissed me first.”

“Well, that was different.”

It was perfect, the cool night breeze, her warm strong hero, and the scent of jasmine in the air lulling her to sleep. “We can’t stay here,” he murmured.

She could have stayed there wrapped in his strong arms the rest of the night, the rest of her life. “A few more moments please,” she murmured. She felt him press a kiss to her forehead and then she didn’t know anything more.

*

The next morning Leo woke up uncommonly relaxed.

For a moment he’d imagined that the night he’d spent with Regina had been a torrid dream, but the ache in his loins and her scent on his clothes soon corrected that idea.

He’d been a baron for less than a fortnight but somehow he’d managed to deflower his bride no less than three weeks before their wedding.

It would have to be three weeks at this point, there was no way around that.

He wasn’t looking forward to that conversation either.

True it had been her idea, but he would have been lying if he had said he hadn’t wanted to.

He didn’t know how he was going to face her father as it was, let alone her mother.

He wasn’t sure he’d be able to meet Regina’s eye without giving away the reality of what they had done the night before.

He could imagine her using the fact that they had already made love as a reason to have the wedding as soon as possible.

Perhaps if he hurried down to breakfast he would be able to avoid being in a room with her until they had a chance to get on the same page.

With that goal in mind, he washed and dressed quickly before jogging down the stairs.

And concerns he’d had about finding the breakfast room were put to rest the moment he came down the stairs, but another soon took its place.

“Lord Starkley.”

Leo froze and peeked around the railing to see his host waiting for him in riding clothes. “Captain Mason, good morning.”

“I trust you slept well.”

“I did, yes.”

“Are you going out for a ride?” Leo asked hoping the answer was ‘yes’.

“No, I’m just back. I always begin the day with a ride when we’re here at Penwood.”

“Ah,” Damn.

“Will you join us for breakfast?”

He opened his mouth to say he didn’t typically take breakfast but in the end he decided it didn’t matter. “Of course.” He followed him down the corridor into a bright room with dark wood paneling and sunshine yellow walls where his mother and Mrs. Mason were already breaking their fast.

“Oh, good morning mother I see you are here as well.” He crossed over to her and kissed her head.

She smiled. “Oh yes, Mrs. Mason was kind enough to show me the gardens this morning.”

“Oh, very good.”

“I’m surprised you were down so late my lord, being a military man, yourself.” Mrs. Mason commented.

Leo cleared his throat and poured himself a cup of coffee. “I haven’t slept that well in a long time.”

“You were a little restless last night, son.”

“Was I?” He choked back the bitter liquid and scalded his tongue.

“I heard you return to your room late.”

“Was it not to your liking?” Mrs. Mason asked.

“Not at all Mrs. Mason, it was very comfortable. I have difficulty sleeping in unfamiliar places under the best circumstances and I was restless. Too much energy.” Was he sweating?

“Well, with all the excitement of the past week, it is understandable,”

“Yes, but once I managed to drift off I was dead to the world until around half an hour ago.”

“Speaking of the excitement, what say you to a September wedding?” she asked.

He could see his plan for a quick breakfast drifting out the door. “I think your daughter will not like that one bit.”

“She is an impatient girl,” she grumbled shaking her head.

“There is something to be said for a degree of restraint.” Not that he had any room to talk about such things.

“Are we discussing the wedding?” Regina asked, entering the room in a pale blue muslin gown.

“Yes, your fiancé was about to agree with me,” Mrs. Mason replied with a smug expression.

Regina frowned and looked at him. “Leo?”

The look of confused betrayal was enough to bring him to his knees.

There was no way he could deny her anything when she could use her face to such devastating effect.

He held out his hand to her and she came to him without another word, taking it in hers.

“Well, I see two approaches to achieve the same end. You are concerned about whether a wedding after a three- week engagement would be too rushed, but this engagement has been going on for years. And while a grand wedding may be expected by some, a simple, wedding could be appreciated as well considering how convoluted the engagement has been.”

“Simple meaning secretive,” Mrs. Mason said, and he shook his head.

“Private. A small ceremony with friends and family instead of a hundred strangers who are only there to gawk and judge.”

“It is an idea Madhavi.” Captain Mason mused, watching his wife with an amused expression. It was clear she was struggling with the idea.

“It would be simpler to plan aai,” Regina suggested.

“And give them a chance to reintroduce themselves to society before the season ends,” Naomi added.

“Please aai.”

Mrs. Mason let out a heavy sigh. “I will consider it.”

Regina squealed in delight and clapped her hands. “I’ll take it.” She turned to him with a dazzling smile “How handy you are, I believe I’ll keep you.”

“Well thank the lord for that,” he replied. “Shall I fix your plate for you?”

“Oh,” she looked away with a bashful smile, “thank you.”

He set his coffee cup down. “What would you like, devika?”

“Eggs and ham please.” She replied.

“Nothing else?”

“No.”

He set about gathering her food selections then set her plate before her.

“Are you not eating?” she asked.

“I don’t take breakfast.”

“Lord Starkley,” Captain Mason’s voice came from the other end of the room and Leo looked up to see the older gentleman watching him with a strange expression.

“Yes sir?”

“When you are finished with breakfast I should like a word with you.”

“Oh, Leo never eats breakfast.” Naomi and Regina replied at the same time. They looked at each other then laughed. It would have been adorable, if not for the queasy feeling in his stomach.

“Even better. I would speak with you alone.” He turned and left the room. Leo blinked at the empty doorway. What on earth was that about? He glanced at Mrs. Mason who was also observing him closely as she was wont to do. Did they know? Was that man going to shoot him?

“What is that about?” Regina asked softly.

“Not a clue,” he replied before following her father out the door. He saw the captain waiting at the back door leading out to the garden and a sinking feeling took up residence in his stomach.

Clasping his unsteady hands behind his back he walked up to him.

“You wanted to see me sir?”

He turned to him and smiled. “Yes, do you hunt?”

“I…um,” Fucking hell. “Generally speaking yes.” Leo followed him out onto the veranda and down the stairs.

He nodded. “No taste for it or no opportunity?”

“Either or both to be honest,” Leo replied, wondering where the man was going with this.

“Mmmmm.” He fell silent until they reached a bank of roses before turning to him with a stone face. “Soldier to soldier I have a question for you, and I require honesty.”

“Understood.”