“The new Marquess, if you must know,” Celia nearly growled at the dumbstruck woman. “And my new husband.”

“Sit down, Celia,” Gabriel said in a low voice. “The men in this room are enjoying your display of temper entirely too much for my liking.”

Celia’s eyes flashed with rebellion, but she sank back into her chair as he commanded. Her eyebrow arched high as she stared at Gabriel. “Dearest husband, Tessa did not realize you are the new Marquess of Rosenthorne?”

Gabriel shrugged his massive shoulders. “Word has gotten around, but obviously she did not.”

“Tessa!” Mister Jonsey yelled again over the joviality of the room. “The ales, for damnation’s sake!”

Tessa seemed shellshocked. An expression of disappointment crossed her features. Grimacing, she dropped a quick curtsey directed at both Gabriel and Celia. “Beg your pardon, milady. Milord. I must see to the other tables now.”

While she hurried away, Celia leveled a glare at Gabriel. “How long would you have allowed that to go on?”

“I’m not sure. I’m still unaccustomed to being Lord Rosenthorne. It’s easy to forget sometimes I have a new identity,” he replied casually. “What I was then and what I am now will surely clash on occasion.”

Celia’s eyes flared with helpless anger. “I meant that woman’s shameless flirtation. You were doing nothing to stop it.”

“Are you jealous, sugarplum?” Reaching for Celia’s hand, Gabriel rubbed a thumb over the blue stone of her wedding ring.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” she snapped. “I merely despise being made to look foolish.”

She was angry, but she did not pull her hand away. Gabriel realized she was searching for a means of steadying herself. He was her balance in this world now, and their connection was paramount to this marriage being a successful one.

“It is perfectly all right to be jealous, Celia. I know I am. For example, should any man in this room think twice about taking you from me, I’d have his head on a platter. Perhaps I would even serve it to his friends. Just so everyone would know how deadly serious I am when it comes to protecting what is mine.” Another sip of his ale, and he said, “Your reaction to a rather forward barmaid is an encouraging development. I think I rather like that fierce side of you.”

Celia’s stiffened. “I would like to retire to our room now.”

Gabriel frowned. “Without your dinner? I won’t allow that. You must eat. There’s another long day ahead of us tomorrow, and I’ll not have you weakened from lack of sustenance.”

“I’m not hungry.”

Her stubbornness was going to get her in trouble if she wasn’t careful.

Gabriel smiled with a little tsk of disappointment. “I did not ask if you are hungry, Celia. I said you must eat. And you will.” His manner remained calm as he spoke, but a thread of determination wove through his words.

Celia’s rebellious side flared.

“I shall go to our room on my own if you are going to be so beastly. I do not require your escort.”