Page 84 of The Mistletoe Dare

“Yes. Terrified,” she admitted, turning in his arms. “But not of this, not for tonight. Only… well, the rest of it.”

He nodded. “I know.”

“Are you afraid too?” she asked, surprised to see the understanding in his eyes.

“Scared to death,” he said with a crooked smile. “I’m afraid I’ll make a mess of things, that you’ll hate Mulcaster, that you’ll hate me. I don’t want you to be unhappy, Georgie.”

“Then I won’t be,” she said simply. “We’ll make it work. You and me. We’ll figure it out between us.”

He nodded. “Let’s not worry about all that just now,” he suggested, tracing the line of her jaw with a gentle finger. “Not when there are much pleasanter things to concern ourselves with.”

“Very well,” Georgie said, trying not to sound as though her teeth were chattering with nerves. She’d meant what she’d said. She wasn’t afraid of him, or of their wedding night, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t nervous. “I’d like a bath first,” she said in a rush.

Rochford nodded. “Of course. Your maid will see to it. I’ll return in an hour, shall I?”

“No.”

He hesitated, a crease of concern at his brow as Georgie realised how that sounded.

“I mean. You don’t have to go, I… I thought you m-might like to help me,” she stammered, blushing scarlet now. “With the bath, I mean.”

Rochford stared at her and swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing.

“If you want to, I mean. Y-You don’t—”

“I want to,” he blurted. “Christ, yes, please. I want to.”

Georgie let out a breath of laughter. “Well. Good.”

“Good.” He grinned and rubbed the back of his neck. “I’ll er… see to it.”

Rochford told himself to calm down and stop behaving like a green boy, but he was a bag of nerves. He had been in a stew of anticipation for days now, but when Georgie had asked him if she wanted to help her bathe, he’d damn near expired of shock.

Rochford had skill enough with women, but had only known the experienced kind who wanted paying for their services. The thought of deflowering a virgin had him all on edge, appalled at the idea he might hurt her, that she might scream or cry, or hate him for bringing her pain.

“Bridal nerves, eh?” Joe quipped with amusement as he bent to remove Rochford’s boots and stockings.

Rochford glowered at him, about to make some scathing retort when he decided he might be better off admitting the truth. “Yes, if you must know,” he grumbled irritably. “Do you think she’ll—? I mean, I don’t want to—”

Joe sat back on his haunches and gave Rochford an assessing look. “If you’re looking for advice, you’re barking up the wrong tree,” he remarked dryly. “However, she’s no shrinking violet, and women have babies, don’t they? I know you’re built like an ox, but you’re not a bleedin’ elephant. I reckon she’ll accommodate you without bodily harm.”

Despite the sarcasm, Rochford relaxed. “That’s true. I’m being an idiot, aren’t I?”

Joe smiled and shook his head. “No, your grace. Actually, I think you have the makings of a decent husband. Now, give me that waistcoat and go and take care of your bride.”

Rochford handed the waistcoat over and padded barefoot to the door adjoining his wife’s chamber. He knocked lightly and entered. The bedroom was empty, but the scent of perfumed oil hung on the warm air, and he followed it to the small bathing room. Georgie sat at an elegant dressing table, clad in a silk dressing gown, whilst her maid took down her hair.

“Leave us,” Rochford barked at the maid, though he’d not meant to sound so hard.

The woman shot a quick look at Georgie and dipped a curtsey, but Rochford did not miss the quick press of the maid’s hand to her mistress’s shoulder as she went out. No doubt the woman thought him a brute now, but there was no help for that.

Georgie watched him approach in the mirror. Feeling as if his heart might pound its way out of his chest, Rochford touched a hand to the thick silk of her hair.

“Could you take the rest of the pins out for me? Now you’ve frightened poor Meg away,” she added with a smile.

“Didn’t mean to bark at her,” he said gruffly.

“I know. It’s fine. We all need to get used to each other.”