“So, may I get up from this bed now?” she asked in an exasperated tone, earning a sharp glance from Gabriel.

The peevish note in her voice was simply not complementary of a marchioness, and the flare in Gabriel’s gaze was a stark reminder of her new status. Swallowing hard, she amended in what could only be considered a breathless, flirty explanation. “That is, I would very much like to see my new home. We only just arrived, Doctor Franklin, and right away, I was carried to this room and put to bed. Please say I don’t have to remain in it for very long.”

Gabriel’s head tilted, an eyebrow raising in dark amusement at her obvious tactic.

“If you are feeling well, you most certainly should do as you please, Lady Rosenthorne,” Dr. Franklin said with an encouraging smile.

“Thank you. How refreshing to discover your sage advice matches my feelings on the subject. Why, I might have just had the capacity of diagnosing myself all along!”

Celia found she could not move when Gabriel suddenly moved closer. Standing beside the bed, his hand clamped over her shoulder, keeping her pinned against the pillows. “It’s best you stay where you are. Just relax and let me tend to you. Even when you are somewhat petulant, I enjoy seeing to your needs.” His fingers drifted up and caressed the curve of her throat, his touch sure and possessive. “In fact, I insist upon it.”

Celia flushed, catching the meaning behind his words and his actions. She was behaving rather brattish, and Gabriel would not hesitate in correcting her once they had a bit of privacy. He might even punish her for speaking so freely to the doctor. Why her blood began racing through her veins at the very thought was a puzzle she’d yet to work out.

“I will walk you out to your carriage, Doctor Franklin. The marchioness and I both appreciate you coming so quickly.” Gabriel moved away, and Celia thought it was as if the sun had retreated. When he glanced back at her while escorting the doctor to the bedchamber door, Celia shivered at the promise in his dark gaze. “I’ll return in a moment, darling. Do not think of moving from that bed. Not even one inch.”

Celia should have thought twice, but her chin tilted high in a challenging manner. “I anxiously await your return, dear husband.”

Gabriel’s eyes burned at the unspoken challenge in Celia’s voice, a smirk twisting his lips. “Not as much as I do.”

Gabriel took the stairs returning to the master bedchamber slowly. He could not erase from memory how Celia had appeared just before she fainted. How frightened she appeared. It was as though she’d seen a ghost, her features so white and pale that she might have been an apparition herself. He literally panicked when she slumped in his arms. His usual, calm demeanor was almost comically obliterated by fear and irrational terror for his wife’s well-being.