Page 51 of An Inconvenient Vow

Sabina dropped the blankets like they burned her fingers. “Forgive me? For what?”

“Your role incriminating me that day.” Sabina’s breath came fast, but she was too surprised to make a reply. “I accept you acted to spare your sister,” he continued, “and with no actual intent of snaring me in matrimony.”

Sabina flopped back onto the bed, her head reeling. “I hardly know what to say,” she admitted.

“You are not required to say anything. I merely tell you in the spirit of… promoting this new understanding between us.”

Sabina lay feeling stunned for a long time, well after Jeffree’s breathing had evened out into sleep. She was surprised he managed to drop off so quickly. It almost seemed as though unburdening his mind to her had relieved him. She envied his peace of mind. In the dark, she heard the patter of canine footfalls. The bed dipped and Sabina felt a weight settle against her legs. She reached down a hand in the dark, felt a lick to her fingers, and sighed. Strangely enough, it comforted her a little.

Moments later the second dog joined the first, crawling up the bed on his belly to insert itself between herself and Jeffree. Sabina could not help but smile wryly. She reached down to pat a sleek head. This one nosed her hand insistently, demanding more fuss. Sabina fondled the velvety ears as her head crowded with the many astonishing things her new husband had said to her tonight.

She felt extremely conflicted. Jeffree had been… not nice, she told herself. Nice was not the word. Reasonable, maybe. And reasonable was not a word she would have ever dreamed she would have associated with Sir Jeffree’s behavior. He had also been somewhat kind in laying the blame for her disastrous first marriage at her father’s door instead of her own. Something her parents, though fond, had never done.

It seemed that he also no longer blamed her for what had happened on Isemay’s wedding day. Their wedding day, she ought to call it, but the idea still grated. He wanted them to reach an “understanding” of sorts over their marriage. Which was all well and good, but she was sure this idea of consummating their union was a bad one.

Her thoughts shied away from her own strange reaction to his physical closeness. That had been a momentary confusion, nothing more. Once upon a time, Sabina had been open and affectionate. Resentment and cruel experience had soon closed off that side of her nature.

She petted her dogs and cudgeled her brains on how she could only convince him that they should keep things out of the bedchamber. An annoying little voice in her head piped up, reminding her that Jeffree had said he wanted a future with her.

She blushed in the darkness. Of course, that was all nonsense.

Maybe, after all, Sir Jeffree was mercurial of nature instead of staid? Maybe she had gained altogether the wrong impression about his being stuffy. She bit her lip, debating asking his mother on the morrow. Then again, Lady Maud had not had the raising of her son. That office had fallen to Sir Charles Ellis, who had tried to raise him in his own grave image. Tried and failed, she decided, for Jeffree had definite bursts of heat to offset his chilly disapproval.

Sometimes, she reflected, Jeffree grew so heated, even the tips of his ears burned. She suspected his nature was not really cold at all, not deep down. He burned hot and struggled to contain it. Against her better judgment, she recalled the feel and weight of him on top of her. It had not been unpleasant at all. Oh gods. What was she thinking?

When she finally drifted off to sleep, it was after telling herself that mayhap the Lady Meliora would refuse after all to release him from his vow of chastity. For some strange reason, the thought did not make her feel one whit better. Who is being contrary now, my girl? she asked herself wryly as her eyelids drooped down over her tired eyes.

*

Jeffree awoke to the sensation of dog breath on his face. He recoiled and almost tumbled off the edge of the bed. Hearing a smothered laugh, he sat up and found his wife was already washing. Noticing how her shift had slipped off one shoulder, he cleared his throat. “I did not hear them bring water.”

“I know,” Sabina answered him. “You were too occupied in cuddling with Brisis.”

Jeffree glanced down at the gray dog who was curled into his side. The white one was lying shamelessly across his legs, displaying his belly. Jeffree sighed and scrubbed his face with his hand. “They have certainly made themselves at home,” he commented wryly. “It is to be hoped that the boys behave themselves today.” At Sabina’s quizzical look, he added, “So, they can sleep back in with them tonight.”

Again, she laughed. “They were not so very disruptive. They waited until you were asleep at least.”

“Humph.” Absently he reached out to stroke the sleek hound’s gray coat while his eyes dwelt on Sabina’s shift-clad form. By the time he managed to tear his gaze away, his composure was decidedly ruffled. Previous to his marriage, for some reason, he had thought he admired women built along slender lines with cultured, refined manners. Now he knew that was not the case.

Hearing her fiddling with the window, he looked up to find her emptying out the bowl of water. The action caused her shift to pull tight across her ample thighs and backside. Jeffree was forced to close his eyes against the sight, for he did not have the strength to look away.

“The water left in the jug is still somewhat warm,” she said, turning from the window. He made a rumbling sound in his throat. “You are tired today,” she commented, retreating to the far side of the room to dress.

Jeffree opened his eyes again. He did not have it in him to point out she was quite wrong on that score. All his energy was concentrated instead on bringing order to his rioting libido. Hearing the rustle of her dress, he emerged gingerly from the bedsheets and, eyes strictly averted, made his way to the basin and ewer.

They met the others belowstairs and a haphazard meal was partaken of. The boys were particularly rapturous at being reunited with the dogs.

“Poor Feste,” Crispin lamented, shooting an accusing glance at his father. “Having to sleep on the hard floor all night.”

“Not so, I assure you,” Sabina corrected him. “Feste spent the night sprawled across your brother’s legs with his tongue hanging out.”

Jeffree felt his face color as his brothers pinned him with incredulous stares. “Not by invitation!” he scowled. “The wretched animals waited until I was asleep to make themselves comfortable.”

“Don’t you believe him,” Sabina said, reaching for the toasted bread. “While I washed this morning, he lolled abed with them both. Brisis was practically curled up on his chest.”

Jeffree retreated into dignified silence, though he could feel his stepfather’s startled gaze upon him.

Jasper chuckled. “That’s her favorite spot,” he agreed.