“Aye, I do.”
For the first time in his life, he actually felt gallant as a swell of pride beat through him. “What do you need?”
“Why did you hit Niles?”
The tenderness fled as anger took root in his heart. So, she didn’t trust him after all. Instead, she had to have a reason for his actions. “That’s?—”
“Don’t’ be angry,” she said, interrupting him. “I am not fault finding here. My sister has told me things that make me doubt his character. From what I know of you, ‘tis not like you to strike for no cause.”
“Your father swears otherwise.”
She gave him a peeved glare the likes of which he’d not received since he lived with his own father.
“I am not my father,” she said coldly. “I have spent nigh on three months with you now and I think I can judge your mettle on my own. Now tell me why you struck him.”
Draven clenched his teeth. His first instinct was to remain silent, but somehow he found the truth coming out. “Montclef insulted your family.”
“My family? I find it hard to imagine you would defend my father.” She paused, then looked at him. “Niles insulted me, didn’t he?”
Draven didn’t answer.
Emily reached out and touched his right hand where he had a single bruise over his knuckles from their fight. A chill went up his spine at the contact. “You’re hurt.”
“Montclef has a hard head.”
She gave a short laugh. And then he made the mistake of looking at her. Gentleness, warmth and concern met his gaze. He felt as though someone had just struck him in the gullet.
What would it be like to see that look for the rest of his life?
“Can I ask you something that is awkward and embarrassing, but ‘tis something I really need to know?”
Alarms went off in his head. He felt like a rabbit trapped by a pack of wolves. “If you must...”
She nodded. “Before I ask, I want you to know that this is not part of my attempt to get you to marry me. This is simply one friend to another.”
Curious and wary, he cocked his head. That voice was back in his head telling him to run as fast as his legs could carry him.
But like a fool, he didn’t move.
“One friend to another. Very well, milady, ask away.”
“Does it hurt when....”
Draven waited, but she said nothing more. Instead, she looked as if she might be blushing and she refused to meet his gaze.
“Does it hurt when what?” he prompted.
“Does it hurt when you—” and then her words were lost behind the hand she rubbed over her lips.
“I didn’t understand that last bit.”
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “Does it hurt when a man enters a woman.”
He couldn’t have been more stunned had she reached out and slapped him. Worse was the image in his mind of her lying naked beneath him as he did what she so boldly said.
“I think I liked the hand gibberish better.”
“Draven, please,” she begged. “I am embarrassed enough. Please don’t make it any worse. I didn’t know who else to ask. ‘Tis not something one goes around with.”
