She shivered, fighting off the temptation. Although she ached to do exactly as he said, she’d made a vow not to let him touch her until he acknowledged her as his countess. And already she wanted to break that promise.

“Stephen, wait.”

His mouth continued trailing down her throat. “What is it?”

She pulled back. "Come with me tomorrow night to Lady Thistlewaite's ball. As my husband." After all these weeks, she’d worked so hard, hoping not to embarrass him in a ballroom. She wanted to show him that she could behave like a countess. The ball wasn't merely a social engagement. To her, it meant much more—it was a second chance to prove herself.

He shook his head. "It's not safe for either of us."

Though she understood his caution, it still made her wonder whether his refusal was more than that. "Are you ashamed to be seen with me?"

"That's not true, and you know it."

"Do I?" She lowered her forehead to his shoulder, fighting back angry tears. “I don’t even know if you’ll ever let me become your countess. You keep trying to brush me aside, and we're living apart. I know what everyone thinks about our marriage.”

He gripped her tightly. “I won’t risk your safety.”

She took a breath, straightening a stray lock of hair. “And if there was no danger? Would you escort me to the ball, and admit that I am your wife?”

He hesitated. “If that is what you want. But you didn’t appear to enjoy the last soirée.”

Tears heated her lids, but she would not let herself cry. It was the answer she’d feared he would say. “I feel like I am the wife you never really wanted. And maybe what you truly want is for me to return to Falkirk.”

He cupped her cheek. “It’s not that I don’t want you beside me, Emily. But I won’t watch someone hurt you or the children. My enemies are far too close now so you cannot go out in public.”

Her anger rose up, so painful her eyes burned with the unshed tears. “If your enemies are too close, then why did you come here tonight? You’ve led them right to us.”

He said nothing, as though she’d struck him. She wanted to take back the angry words, to say she hadn’t meant them. But it was too late.

Without another word, he bowed and left.

The tears broke forth, and she clenched her waist, sobbing quietly. So many excuses. So many reasons not to let her be with him.

Right now, she didn’t know if he would ever acknowledge her as the woman he wanted.