For long moments, they held each other in a tangle on the cold floor, until her sobs quieted to hiccuping breaths. Gooseflesh rose on her exposed calves, and she shivered.
“Could we get back in the bed?” she asked.
“If that’s what you wish.” Matthew stood, offered his hand, then helped her to her feet. He lifted the bedcovers, and she climbed back into the bed.
“Can we do what married couples do?” she asked.
“Always.” Sitting with his back against the headboard, he opened his arms. “Come here.”
She shuffled to settle between his legs with her head resting on hischest. He eased her into the cradle of his body.
“Is this all right?” he asked.
“Yes, this is perfect.”
Soothed by the steady rhythm of his heartbeat under her ear, she snuggled in closer. Jasmine traced Matthew’s chest with her fingertips and tried not to focus on the sound of a ticking clock somewhere in the room.
She imagined she was somewhere outside of time. Where it was only her and Matthew. Where they couldn’t be torn from each other again. Morning would come all too soon, and she would return home.
Why wasn’t she there now?
Certainly, her father wouldn’t allow this.
“Do my parents know where I am?”
“They were here earlier. My family too. Cassandra and Caroline dressed you. Everyone went home to rest. I talked them out of moving you until you woke.”
She was afraid of the answer, but she had to know. “What happened to me?”
“What do you remember?”
“It’s hazy,” she admitted. “After we argued, Duke Kendall met me in the hall. He mocked me, gave me punch, and then… nothing. Shadows. Voices.”
Matthew spoke slowly.
“Duke Kendall gave you laudanum. He admitted it,” he said. “He brought you to a room, put you on abed”—his hold tightened—“and I attacked him. I almost strangled him. Then I carried you out of the manor and brought you here.”
“I was on a bed,” she repeated hollowly. “Did he…?Didwe…?”
“I only touched you to carry you,” Matthew swore. “You were fully clothed when I found you. Duke Kendall said he didn’t…” His hands shook. “A physician examined you. He said there’s no indication of a violation. I don’t know how invasive he was.” His voice became small. “I hate to ask, but are you inanypain?”
She was in a lot of pain.
Her head throbbed, and her muscles ached. But the way Matthew was insinuating…
“No,” she said. “I don’t think so.”
“ThankGod,” he breathed.
She searched her mind for a memory to hold on to. Matthew had carried her here, helpless and unconscious. Someone had examined her, changed her clothing, and multiple people had touched her.
“I don’t rememberanyof it,” she cried.
“It was chaos,” he said. “I caused a scene. Thetonwill be saying I abducted you after you drank yourself into a stupor. Duke Kendall orchestrated the entire thing, and we played right into his hands.”
“Why? Because I insulted him?” She scoffed. “Or to humiliateyou?”
“I’ve been asking myself the same question. Maybe because he thought it was fun.” He gritted his teeth. “Or that I would go through with it, and he wanted to watch. He knew I wanted you. I was desperate, so he took matters into his own hands.”
