“You scare me sometimes, wife.” Sitting on the edge of the bed, Seth removed his shoes, then his shirt. Placing his pocket watch on the bedside table, he froze. “Cassandra. What is this?”
From the table, he lifted a small booklet. No larger than his hand, no longer than ten pages. On its wooden cover was an engraved soldier on a horse. He stared at the pamphlet as if he could see through it. “Where did you get this?”
“Mr. Sanderson allowed me to borrow the set,” she said carefully, expecting this response.
“Why would you ask for them?”
“I’m trying to learn more about you.”
“If you want to know more about me, ask.” Without another glance at it, Seth placed the pamphlet back on the bedside table. “I’ll tell you everything you want to know. You don’t have to go searching for answers.”
“I don’t have to read them,” she said. “If it makes you angry, I’ll give them back.”
“I’m not angry with you, it just… caught me off guard. That’s all. It’s… uncomfortable to look at.” He ran his hand through his hair and sighed. “I don’t mind if you read them, they’re good stories, but I don’t want them in the bedchamber. This is our space.”
Darkness followed Seth as he extinguished the oil lamps in the room one by one. Silk bedclothes slid against her skin as he joined her on the bed. He gently rolled on top of her, supporting himself on hiselbows.
“I was thinking about General Martin’s ball…”
“And…?” Cassandra prompted.
“I say we stay home.” He kissed her and trailed his mouth from her lips to her neck. She tilted her head to his attentions with a low breath as his night-beard scratched deliciously over her sensitive skin. “I haven’t seen you all week.” He nibbled playfully at her shoulder and lifted her nightgown to grip her thighs in his hands. “You have wifely duties to attend to.”
“Lord Bolderwood requested our presence personally.”
“Ugh!” Seth rolled off of her and laid on his back. “I draw the line at talking about him in bed! Can’t you send him some scones and get us out of it? We always end up in the papers.”
“If you can keep your hands off of me, they’ll have no reason to gossip.”
“You know I can’t. Your dresses tease me with shoulders and skin, and you do it on purpose to drive me mad.” He climbed on top of her again. His hot breath tickled her ear, followed by a dart of his tongue. “Youlikeit when I misbehave in public, it gives you a reason to scold me, and I likethat. Scold me at home instead.”
“We need to make an appearance.” At his pout she added, “We can leave early. It’ll be different this time.”
“And why is that?”
“This time peoplewantus there.”
“Everyone wants to meet the bastard shot in Hyde Park and the woman he compromised. We’re a novelty.”
“Not for General Martin. I imagine you’re not the first man he’s met that’s been shot.”
“Must you talk about other men in bed?” He glided his hands over her hips and movedup.
“It’s the only time I see you.” She giggled as he pressed his thumbsinto her ribs.
He leaned over her, unconvinced.
Cassandra went in for the kill.
“I bought a dress,” she whispered. “It’sred.”
His eyes darkened. “Is it?”
“Mmhm.” She ran her fingertip over the curve of his ear. “Low bosom, tight at the waist,silk. Don’t you want to see it?”
“I’ll want to see it on the floor,” he growled.
“Afterthe ball.”
