It had been her own fault, what had happened down there. She should have screamed when she heard the stranger in the garden. But the punishment for such a trespass would be severe, and she did not like the thought of bringing it on some poor soul who might only seek to steal a few apples to ease his hunger.

Only it had been no poor soul, and a very different hunger that she had confronted.

Her fingers drifted to her mouth, and the memory of those kisses filled her mind and body. Titillating sensations crawled deeply in her again. A mistake to permit that, but who ever expected him to be so bold? Or so compelling as he approached her with command and confidence, the moon finding lights in his dark blond hair and the depths of his dark eyes captivating her.

Nay, it had been the moon’s fault, too, not just hers. And the garden, and the night. There was danger in the beauty of such places. They seemed removed from the world, and full of a magic that made people do unthinkable things.

He would come in the morning, eager to see her in the light of day. And he would see her, because she did not have time to escape by then.

She imagined that meeting.

Perhaps she had not been so stupid after all. He had said that he would not delay any longer with this marriage, but tomorrow would change his mind. After he saw her, really saw her, it would take a few days at least for him to accommodate himself to this marriage again.

And before he had done so, she would be gone.

CHAPTER 2

Not long after dawn, Marcus returned to the house near the Guildhall in London. He rode into its courtyard as the Lord of Anglesmore rather than stealing into its garden like a thief. The guards at the gate wore the King’s livery, but the elderly woman who opened the door a crack was Welsh.

She peered up at him solemnly from under her low-dipping kerchief and repeated the words with which she had met each of his earlier visits. “She is not well, Sir Marcus. We will send word when her strength returns.”

It surprised him that his bride still thought to play that childish game, even after last night. Then again, perhaps she now persisted because of last night. She was an innocent, no matter how much passion slept inside her, and he may have frightened her.

Well, he would behave better today, and woo her gently. That should reassure her.

He pushed the door open wider and stepped across the threshold into the house’s great hall. “I will see her today, be she ill or well.”

“I will tell her you are here and see if she can receive you.”

“I will see her now and I will announce myself.”

“Sir Marcus, you mustn’t intrude. She be abed.”