“Why would people need to know?” Harrison asked of the painting on the wall opposite, his head swimming. “When would that come up in conversation?”

Ignoring him, Adelaide continued to rattle on. “I know consummation occurs between married parties. I presume it involves a kiss, so you have my permission to do so if you must.”

Clamping his eyes shut, Harrison nodded. “I think it will go better for you if I do.”

“Don’t pretend to care about my welfare,” she retorted with a soft snort. “Do what must be done and get on with it.”

This was never going to end if he did not stop her, and the only way to stop her was to end her ignorance on the matter.

Which meant consummation.

“Very well,” Harrison said slowly, turning to face her at last. “I will come to your rooms tonight.”

Adelaide gave him a bewildered look. “Tonight? Why not now?”

Would the woman never stop talking?

“It’s… it’s better to consummate at the end of the day,” he sputtered.

She frowned. “I never heard that.”

She’d never heard of the thing itself, and she was questioning this?

“Trust me, Adelaide,” he begged, ready to cross the room and take her hands to plead for a cessation. “I will explain anything you want tonight. And… I will endeavor to make your experience satisfactory.”

“How gallant.” She rolled her eyes, shaking her head. “Ignorance is so maddening.”

Harrison grunted once. “That will be resolved tonight as well.”

Adelaide nodded, the matter seemingly settled in her mind, and turned from the room.

Alone at last, Harrison’s knees gave out, and he sank onto the nearest piece of furniture, which happened to be a table.

“Hell,” he whispered to the silence. Then he downed the rest of his port, barely feeling the burn as he swallowed it.

Chapter Eight

Chapter Eight

Adelaide was confused. It was no wonder, given the total ignorance with which she had entered the night before, and the fact that she quite agreed it was not a matter to be discussed among young ladies, but… surely her mother could have given her better information than to think of the coast.

Indeed, the only thing remotely coastal about any of it was the wave of sensation that had crashed across her.

And as for it being unpleasant… well, it hadn’t been.

Which was why she was confused.

Basset had been rather conscientious about her ignorance regarding the whole thing, and never once made her feel like an idiot. He had seemed quite impatient with all of her questions when he’d entered her bedchamber. He’d been quite testy in fact, but all of her questions died on her tongue when he…