Page 15 of The Wildcat and the Rogue (The Shifter Season #8)

JANE

I pace back and forth in my room, trying to think about anything that is not the kiss I shared with Ewan. I should write to my mother and sisters to tell them of our change in fortune, if it can be referred to as that considering we are still caught up with the same family we were to begin with. But the longer I take to tell them, the worse it's going to be. They deserve to know that things have changed.

I sit down on the chair by the window and pick up the book I've been reading, trying to focus on the words. There are all kinds of things that I should be doing, including the letter. I should do so before my cousin thinks to mention it, though with the lack of a questioning letter from Mama, I have to assume he hasn't thought to do so.

The issue is that I don't precisely know how to tell her. It's a complicated situation, and I know she isn't going to be surprised that my heart has fallen to Ewan, but I'm sure she expected my good sense to last longer.

A knock sounds at my door, making me jump and abandon my thoughts.

"Yes?" I call out.

"May I enter?"

My heart races at the sound of Ewans's voice. "Yes."

The click of the door opening has me on my feet, with all kinds of thoughts racing through my head. There's still a part of me that wonders whether it is improper for him to be here, but I dismiss that. He is my husband, he has every right to be in my room.

And more than that, I want him to come inside.

Ewan strides into the room with confidence, a box in his hand that looks not dissimilar to the one we took to the jeweller's.

"Is that..."

"Yes. My jeweller is fast," he responds.

"I'm impressed, I thought it would take a few days."

"I gave him the drawing a few weeks ago and commissioned him to make the frame," Ewan admits. "I didn't know if it would be necessary, but I thought it would be better to have it on hand in case I needed it. He set the stones today. So, what do you think? You're the one who has seen the necklace in person." He sets the box on the table beside me and undoes the clasp, lifting it up so I can see the necklace inside.

My eyes widen. "This is a fake?"

"Mmhmm. A good one. The jewels are all glass."

"If I wore something like this to a ball, everyone would think that the barony was flourishing."

"And that's something we can think of in the future," he responds.

"It's perfect. I'm not sure if Lady Whitstripe will be as fooled as I am. She will know the necklace much better."

"That is true. But like you said, we should hope that she thinks her husband is the one responsible for switching out the necklace."

"It still feels a little cruel," I say as I look down at the necklace.

"I hate this part," Ewan says quietly. "Knowing that someone is likely going to be hurt by the choices I'm making. Even if the necklace doesn't rightfully belong to the Whitstripes, it still feels like it does."

I reach out and put a hand on his arm. I want to tell him that he doesn't have to do this, but I know he's not going to change his mind. I don't think I want him to either, especially knowing that Lord Whitstripe didn't come about the necklace by honest means in the first place.

"She will still get joy out of the necklace even if she thinks her husband switched it," I promise. "Because then at least he cares enough to have replaced it?" I'm not entirely certain it's true, but I can see how it might be and it's something to hold onto while we deal with this part of our plan.

"I know you're just trying to make me feel better." He turns to face me, and I realise how close together we now are. I meet his gaze and swallow hard.

"Is that so bad?" I ask softly.

"No." He brushes some hair out of my face. "About earlier..."

"The kiss?"

He nods.

"I would like to do that again," I say quickly, before he can say anything that changes the course of where our conversation is going.

He raises an eyebrow. "Is that so?"

"Yes." I step closer, aware that we're in my room and that no one will disturb us without knocking.

He doesn't argue. Instead, he leans closer and presses his lips against mine. The kiss is tender at first, but it builds and becomes something far more intense. I'm not entirely sure what to do with the feelings inside me, I just know that I want more than this kiss is giving me.

We break apart, both breathing heavily.

"Ewan?" My voice comes out low and inviting without me meaning it to.

"What do you want from me?" he asks.

"I don't know," I admit. "What will you give me?"

He groans. "That's not a question you should ask."

"Whyever not?"

"I don't believe my reply would be appropriate for your ears."

"I am your wife," I remind him. "Aren't my ears the perfect ones to hear it?"

He laughs and moves to scoop me off my feet. I let out a small shocked cry.

"What are you doing?" I feel surprisingly weightless as he carries me.

"I'm taking you to the bed," he responds.

"It's the middle of the day."

"I'm not intending to sleep," he says.

"Oh." A strange feeling passes through me. It's not that I've never heard whispers about this part of marriage. I just hadn't considered the fact that it might be something I would want to do or am curious about. But I'm a lot more intrigued than I was, and looking forward to discovering more.