“Mm-hm,” Thom chuckled victoriously. Then he leaned forward to look at Ilain. “So what? Ethenn’s not responding to your advances?”
“No—well...” Ilain scrunched her nose in self-derision. “I haven’t exactly made advances, so much as asked him to kiss me while attempting to cuddle with him.”
“Attempting?”
“He can’t cuddle,” she said in exasperation. “Isn’t that bizarre?”
“Perhaps you’d like to cuddle with me?” Thom offered wryly.
“I’m a betrothed woman now, Thom. I have no further interest in your charms.”
“I never realized I had charms.”
“You don’t,” Evylin sniped and turned to the highlady. “I’m a little confused, Ilain. Are you saying you’d like to...consummate your betrothal?”
“No,” Ilain said instantly, then winced. “Maybe. Probably.”
Thom sniggered. “That progressed quickly.”
“Oh, shut it.” Ilain straightened in her saddle. “He’s the man I always dreamed of. Why wouldn’t I want to secure our future together?”
Thom eyed her dubiously. “You dreamed of a man twenty years your junior who’s kissed dozens of other women but won’t kiss you?”
Ilain glared at him.
“You’re not helping,” Evylin said.
“No,” Thom agreed, grinning. “But I am having fun.”
“This is pointless,” Ilain grumbled. “If you’re not going to help, then I’ll just deal with it myself.”
“Good,” he said. “Yes, deal with it yourself. I’m certainly not interested in helping you boff the boy.”
“Pardon me,” Ilain glowered at him, “but I do believe I remember you saying that you’d fix that rather egregious mistake you made when you falsely told the man I love I wanted nothing to do with him.”
Thom flinched. “The man youlove?”
Ilain blanched and averted her gaze. “Yes,” she whispered awkwardly. “I think so.”
Growing more uncomfortable with the conversation by the second, Thom snarled. “Fine. I’ll talk with him.”
“You will?”
Thom shrugged. “I screwed up. It’s my job to fix it.”
“And justhowdo you intend to fix it?” Evylin asked suspiciously.
“I’ll tell him that when a woman offers you her knickers, you take your shot.”
She rolled her eyes, and Ilain huffed.
“I’m joking,” Thom assured them. “I’ll approach him as a friend, ask how married life is going, and subtly suggest he take his wife up on her offers of intimacy. Satisfied?”
Though Ilain seemed to be appeased, Evylin shook her head. “Ethenn won’t respond to that,” she warned.
“How do you know?” Thom asked.
“Because I understand Ethenn, believe it or not.” She tipped her chin toward the others, who were several hundred feet ahead now that they’d unconsciously slowed their pace for their private conversation. “I guarantee you the reason he hasn’t made a move is because he isn’t ready to. He isn’t the trusting sort.Andhe doesn’t know of Ilain’s feelings for him.”
