Page 82 of Her Baseborn Bridegroom

“Why are you so tired?” he asked. “It’s not like you.”

She didn’t bother to answer him. Just curled her fingers round his upper arm.

“Usually this is the point where you annoy the living shit out of me with your ceaseless chatter,” he observed.

Linnet raised her blurry gaze to his. “Well this time it’s you that’s the annoying one,” she grouched. “Let me sleep.”

He frowned. “We should talk, Linnet.”

“I’m so tired,” she yawned, gently thumping his chest. “You fell asleep on me last night.”

He seemed to ponder this a moment. “True enough,” he conceded. “You can sleep. For now.”

With a thankful sigh, she drifted off into a deep, dark slumber.

XXXIV

The door creaked and Linnet’s eyes flew open. Mason was coming through the door with a platter of fruit, a jug, and two goblets. The room was dark. She wasn’t sure how many hours had passed. There was a fire burning in the grate and he set the tray down, slipped out of his robe, and rejoined her in the bed.

For some reason, she lay still as he curled around her.

“Are you awake?” he asked in a quiet voice as his arm slid round her waist, drawing her back against him.

“Yes,” she whispered.

There was a moment’s silence before he said. “I’m sorry Linnet.”

She felt a moment’s panic. “For what?”

“I couldn’t do it,” he said, resting his chin on her shoulder. “Not even for you.”

“Couldn’t do what?” she asked faintly.

His jaw tensed. “The noble thing.”

Linnet tried to turn to look at him, but his grip on her tightened, holding her where she was. “The noble thing?” she repeated uncertainly.

“Give you up. Not now. Not ever.”

She absorbed this a moment, her heart thudding in her chest. He didn’t want to give her up.

“That would not have been noble,” she said. “And that’s not what I wanted you to do.”

She wasn’t sure he had even heard her. He certainly gave no indication that he had.

“Here’s how it is, Linnet.” He gave her a slight shake. “You’re still my wife and . . . I’m keeping you.”

Linnet decided to take a different approach. “Why?” she said. “Just tell me that.”

“I already told you,” he said stubbornly. “You’re mine.”

“But . . . I can’t uphold my part of the bargain anymore,” she said uncertainly.

He gave a short laugh at that. “Oh yes you can. You’re still giving me sons.”

“But . . . there’s no title anymore.”

He shrugged.