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Raul paused in stroking her hair. “This is why I love you. You keep me honest. No, I have not found a way to listen into your thoughts. If I had, I would have asked you to marry me long ago.” He slid down so that they were face to face. There was just enough light to see that his expression had turned pensive. “It’s asking a great deal,” he said. “Considering who I am. What I am. But would you anyway?”
Yes. Now. Forever. Ah but he was being too impetuous. She tried again. “What about your family?”
“My mother and brother will be quite pleased. If it matters, so will my sisters.”
“You have sisters?”
“Three,” he said, laughing. “You look shocked. Dismayed, even. Are you saying no?”
“I’m— What about your father?”
“He will agree. Once he comes to know you.” Raul traced the outline of her face with one finger. “You are already more than a lady and a duchess to me. What comes after is just an outward ceremony.”
Duchess. The thought left her breathless.
Raul brushed a loose strand of hair from her face and kissed her again. “There is no hurry for you to answer me yes or no. Let me court you properly, as I should have courted you before. Give yourself time to think over what you want. Then decide. Until then …”
Until then. Yes.
* * *
ILSE WOKE TO the bells ringing late morning. Her eyes opened to an unfamiliar bedchamber, flooded with sunlight through the tall windows. She took in a few scattered details—cream-colored walls, a few brightly colored paintings in between openwork shelves, the fragrance of cedar mixed with that of sun-dried linens. A warm body pressed against her back.
Raul stirred and nuzzled closer, one arm drifting over her body. “Good morning, love.”
It was as though he said that every morning. A strange sense of vertigo overtook her.
“What’s the matter?” he said softly.
“I love you.”
His laugh tickled her ear. “You mentioned that last night. Once or twice.”
She had mentioned a lot of things. Embarrassed at the memory, she buried her face into the pillow. What must he think of her? What would the rest of the house think, once they learned about last night? Because they would learn soon enough.
Raul kissed her shoulder. “You seem unhappy. Are you sorry?”
“No. Not that.”
“But you are not yet easy with me. I understand.” His weight shifted imperceptibly, so that his body no longer pressed so close. “I think I was babbling last night,” he said. “Many things. All of them true.”
At that she laughed weakly and hiccupped. “You lied. You can read my thoughts.”
“You’re very sweet when you hiccup. Did you know that? No, I cannot read your thoughts, I can only guess from the pictures your faces makes, or the colors of your voice, or the scent of your gestures. We should take a holiday today, just you and I. Would you like that?”
The sudden change in topic left her dizzy. “A holiday?”
“Yes. Something fun.”
She twisted around to face him. “Fun?”
Raul grinned wickedly. “You look confused. Should I get a dictionary?”
He was deliberately provoking her. “What kind of holiday?” she said.
“I don’t know. Riding. Or we could visit the theater this evening, if your hiccups have stopped. I’ve heard that Vieth has engaged musicians for a special performance for the city. It would make up for our last outing. Would you like that?”
Music. It had been so long since she last heard real musicians. Not since Lord Vieth’s banquet. Swiftly upon that memory came one of Lord Dedrick’s sister, confronting Raul Kosenmark about Dedrick. Ilse had not forgotten the expression on Lady Alia’s face, nor how Ilse must have appeared to everyone there.
