Page 24 of The Rogue’s Embrace

This wasn't how he had envisioned his night ending. Lisandro's plans had included a pleasant evening with Maria and Elena on the terrace, then a solid night's sleep in his own king-sized bed. He yearned to slip beneath the sheets and lay his head on the soft pillow. Sleep had almost become a stranger to him.

The moment Maria had flicked open the first of his buttons, he'd sensed she had other ideas. Ones which did not include him sleeping alone.

But Lisandro was not without his own surprises.

Taking Maria by the hand, he led her up to his private quarters and into his bedroom with its oversized bed.

"Oh! That's huge,"

she exclaimed.

Hopefully that's not the only time you'll appreciate the size of something this evening.

"Would you like to retire to your room?"

he offered.

Her grip on his fingers tightened. She had been all smiles and bravado up until this moment. Now, he sensed her sudden hesitation. Her apprehension.

It had been some years since Lisandro had been a virgin, but he could still remember the feelings of trepidation. Of worrying if he would be up to the task. He could just imagine that for Maria those emotions would be greater.

His first time had been an enjoyable tumble with an experienced older woman. There had been no repercussions for him when it became a whispered secret around the household servants that the future duke had lost his innocence. Even his father had privately congratulated him on becoming a man.

For Maria, the stakes were higher.

If he cared for her, he had to give her a way out. A chance to rethink things and wait. Much as he wanted Maria beneath him, if he had to bide his time until they were wed it wouldn't be too much of a sacrifice.

I am not a beast, unable to command my base desires. Besides, when the time comes that we are together, I want her to feel comfortable. To know she is protected by the vows of marriage.

She let go of his hand and wandered toward the bed. Her fingers brushed over the gold and silver silk coverlet. When she turned back to him, determination sat on her face. "I want this. I want you tonight, Lisandro. Make me yours."

He hesitated, offering her more time. "You said you wanted to talk. Perhaps we should do that now before anything else."

She sighed. "Alright let's talk. I was disappointed that you sent word to Diego without telling me what you were going to say. When we marry, you can't keep secrets from me. I need to be able to have some rights in my life, and one of those must be the right to be heard."

Lisandro was so accustomed to making decisions for himself that he'd simply forgotten to take what Maria wanted into account. He would have to overcome that habit. "Forgive my oversight. Maria, I want you to have a voice in our marriage. You were clearly not raised to be a silent partner or fully submissive to the will of your husband. It will take time for me to change long ingrained forms of behavior. All I ask is that you are patient with me,"

he replied.

From what he already knew of Maria, patience was not a virtue she held in great supply. Theirs would be a marriage frequently tested by two strong wills. He would be a fool going into this union if he thought it would be anything else.

Still, he wanted a wife who challenged him. A woman not prepared to be either meek or mild. Maria would push him to become the sort of man he could be, should be, and she would stand alongside him through thick and thin. Right where he wanted her.

"Thank you. I know I am not an easy person to live with; you can ask my brother when you next see him. What I am is a woman who loves you, Lisandro. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. To bear your children and see the dukedom of Tolosa continue."

After hearing Maria's declaration, Lisandro knew there was only one thing left for him to do. He crossed to the tall set of drawers which sat against the far wall and, after retrieving a small velvet pouch from a box, came back to her.

He knelt on the hard, wooden floor and took hold of her hand. "Maria Isabella de Elizondo Garza, will you do me the greatest honor and be my wife? My duchess?"

Tears brimmed in her eyes. "Yes. My father will probably never forgive me, but yes."

She bent, placing a soft, tender kiss on his lips. Lisandro reached up and brushed away a stray tear. "I am sure the Duke of Villabona will come around. He loves you; he will not forsake his only daughter."

From out of the pouch, he took a ring. A single, bright emerald sat in the center. It was a priceless jewel brought back to Spain from the royal mines in Columbia. Lisandro slipped the ring onto Maria's finger, then kissed her hand.

"Now all we need is a priest and the blessing of the church," she said.

He had promised to be honest with her, and with their betrothal, it was time for him to live up to that undertaking. He got to his feet. "I am going to travel to Villabona tomorrow and speak to your father. Amongst other things, I will be asking for your hand in marriage."

She frowned at him. "I notice you said ‘I,' not ‘we.'"

"You and I will travel together as far as the convent of Saint Casilda just outside of Irura. I don't want you to remain here just in case something happens to me. Since the convent is on the road to Villabona, if things do work out and I am able to unmask who is behind your kidnapping and have them arrested, then I can return quickly and bring you back to your family," he said.

His biggest concern at this point was the risk to Maria's safety if he suddenly arrived home with her. Whoever was behind her kidnapping might go quiet, deciding to bide their time and wait for another opportunity to strike at the Elizondo family.

He had to draw the enemy out from their hiding place, make them reveal themselves. And in order to do that, he had to put himself in danger.

"Are you sure this is the only way? I mean, I am not disagreeing with your plan. It's just the thought of something happening to you fills me with dread,"

she said. The betrothal ring had been on her finger for a matter of a minute and she was already gripping it tight.

"I am not going to do anything foolish. Besides they don't know where you are, so no one is likely to make an attempt to kill me before they get you back."

"I don't think my father would try to harm you, Lisandro. You might have an inkling of his politics, but I know him as a man. The two of you are not that distant in your ways,"

she replied.

Lisandro was going to have to place his trust in the honor and true character of Antonio Elizondo. His life depended on it.

"Well, after tomorrow many things will be settled. Hopefully the day will see us toasting our betrothal. If it doesn't, I will likely be sitting in chains."