“You don’t have to keep calling it that,” Basset interrupted easily, waving his hand in a quick gesture. “Consummation happens once. After that, you can call it whatever you like. Create a name for it. A euphemism. Everyone else does.”

Adelaide flashed a tight smile. “I shall think of something. Does it… this thing… happen every night?”

Basset paused, and continued to pause, before saying, “No, unless it is wished. It can occur as the parties are so inclined.”

The tight knot began to unravel in Adelaide’s chest, unlocking a certain tension in her knees and freeing her fingers entirely from their hold on the chair. She drummed those fingers against the wood in thought, processing all she had learned, not entirely certain what she felt.

“Do you have any other questions?” Basset inquired, turning toward her a little more. “I apologize for not indulging them last night, I simply thought it would be best—”

“It was, you were quite right,” Adelaide overrode, not wishing to relive any of the details with him by the light of day.She could only take so much mortification.

She swallowed, pressed her tongue to the roof of her mouth, then exhaled slowly. “Last night was… satisfactory on my side, thank you. You were a generous tutor, of sorts. I am… available for any additional nights of such things as you see fit. I have no plans tonight, if you are agreeable.”

A room had never been more silent, she was sure of it. Basset’s dark eyes were wide, and his tanned complexion seemed markedly less so, particularly with his jaw so slackened.

That was not at all encouraging.

“Unless it was disagreeable for you,” Adelaide heard herself say, wishing she had maintained more decorum in the moment of her suggestion. “In which case, pay me no heed.”

Basset cleared his throat, straightening entirely. “It was not disagreeable. I am… only startled by the offer.”

“Because it is me?” she quipped, smiling with what she hoped was encouragement.

“Not especially,” came his hesitant reply, “though that does play a part. I rather didn’t expect you would wish to after the first. Unless we were trying for children. Not that I would object to children, should you fall in that way. I simply…” He laughed once, the sound a little unsteady. “Gads, Adelaide, I don’t bloody know what to say.”

The man of collected nature and cool reserve was fumbling for words? Well, well. She was not the only one stewing in awkwardness and vulnerability. There was something oddly thrilling in that.

Perhaps there would be more in these marital activities to her benefit than she previously thought.

“Say yes,” she suggested with more confidence than she had felt all morning. “Or no, if you’d prefer otherwise.”

“Yes.”

There was no hesitation, and a thrill of pride jolted through Adelaide at hearing it.

Odd, enjoyable, and curious.