The last thought took some shine off the smile that had been blossoming on her lips. It wasn’t the finally being husband and wife part that dimmed her happiness, but the consummation itself. Suzette wasn’t looking forward to it, and really wasn’t pleased at the idea of her wedding night being spoiled by it being her first time. While Christiana had answered her question as to whether it hurt the first time or not with a weak, “A little perhaps,” Suzette was not convinced. It had been obvious that Chrissy was distressed at discussing the subject, but had that been because it was such a personal matter, or because she didn’t wish to scare Suzette by telling her the truth? Christiana had certainly changed the subject quickly at that point, and Suzette couldn’t forget what she’d read about streams of blood and enough pain to make her faint.

She really wished she and Daniel had done the consummating part before now. Unfortunately, they hadn’t been left alone since leaving London. Her father was taking his duty to guard her innocence until marriage very seriously during this journey and had enlisted her sisters as well as Robert and Richard to aid in the chore. Neither she nor Daniel was ever alone. Even when sleeping. They had taken three rooms at each of the inns they’d stopped at, one for Richard and Christiana, one for Lisa and Suzette and one for their father, Robert, and Daniel to share. Suzette didn’t mind sharing with Lisa, but knew Daniel found staying with Robert and her father something of a trial. It seemed both men snored, and hogged the bed they shared.

Suzette smiled faintly at the idea of him crowded between the two men each night, an effort by her father to be sure he didn’t slip out to meet her, she suspected. Tonight, Daniel would not have to share with them, however. He would be sharing with her . . . and there would be streams of blood and pain.

Sighing, Suzette shifted the blankets aside and slid out of bed to quickly dress. She had finished with the task and was brushing her hair when Lisa stirred awake and then sat up to glance around.

“What are you doing?” she asked around a yawn.

“Getting ready to go,” Suzette said with a laugh. “You’d best get up and start dressing. Christiana will—”

“Dear God,” Lisa muttered, dropping back in the bed. “We are not leaving early today, remember? We are leaving later, mid morning they said. We get to sleep late today.”

Suzette paused in her brushing. “We do? Why aren’t we leaving until mid morning?”

“I don’t know,” Lisa muttered, rolling on her side. “Father just said to go ahead and sleep late today, we wouldn’t be leaving until mid morning.” She glanced over her shoulder in question. “Did he not tell you?”

“No,” she said with a frown.