The Marquess Method by Kathleen Ayers

16

“Wake up, Theodosia.” Lips traveled up the line of her back, nibbling along her spine before disappearing.

Blinking, Theo opened her eyes, the dream fading as consciousness returned along with a view of the small room where she’d spent her wedding night. She’d been painting Haven. And she was naked wearing only her spectacles. They were outside in a field, butterflies floating around her head as Haven stood before her, his eyes the exact color of the summer grass. The sun was glinting in his hair as he raised a hand, palm up, in her direction.

“Haven?”

“Of course, it’s me.” He appeared before her, partially dressed. “I know you can’t see, so if you’d like to be sure,” the bed shifted as he leaned over her, “feel free to grope me.”

Theo snorted, laughing into her pillow. “You’re horrible. And my spectacles are in my valise.”

“I am. But I’m also hopeful. There’s a difference.” A lone finger trailed against her ribs and along the side of one breast. “Are you well, Lady Haven?” He pressed a soft kiss to her lips.

“Yes.” Theo pulled herself up, deliberately allowing the sheet to slip, exposing one breast.

“Tease.” His gaze raked her before taking hold of the sheet, pulling it lower until the edge brushed her navel. He leaned forward and pressed an open-mouthed kiss to her stomach before licking against one of her nipples. “On second thought, I do think you got the color correct.”

“But not the color of the pond?”

“I want only to be helpful.” His fingers were gliding over her skin, warming her with his touch. “I know nothing about art—”

“Shocking,” Theo interrupted sarcastically, sucking in her breath when his mouth fell to her hip. “I’m certain you have other talents.”

“Mmm. Possibly. But what you need to know is that I am appreciative of your talent and creativity. I want you to paint. Create. Or anything else you wish to do. I will be a supportive husband.”

Her heart constricted gently. “But not a distant one?” After last night, the very thought of her and Haven living apart bothered her greatly.

Haven nipped the skin of her upper thigh. “No. No distance. That is not up for debate. I fear I will be prone to give you whatever you wish, Theodosia, except for that.” He raised his head, taking her hand to press a kiss in the center of her palm. “I am sorry about last night. I assumed—” A slight frown brushed across his lips. “Had I known, I would have gone slower. Taken greater care. Forgive me.”

Haven was terribly apologetic, as if he’d done her a much more grievous injury than deflowering her. Surely, he hadn’t presumed—but how could he possibly think that she—

The absolute wonder of the previous evening dimmed somewhat. “What is it exactly, my lord, that you ask forgiveness for?” she said quietly, pulling up the sheet. It took her far longer than it should have to comprehend his meaning.

“I was careless.” Haven had the grace to look embarrassed. “I was only taken aback.”

He hadn’t been overly careful because—“You thought I wasn’t a virgin.” Her mind raced over every interaction they’d had up until this morning. Why would he think such a thing? “Is that why you kissed me the first time? Not because you were jealous of Blythe but because you thought I’d welcome you taking liberties? No wonder you claimed to want me the minute I spilled ratafia on you. You thought I was a harlot.” Theo took a deep breath. “A wanton duke’s daughter with poor eyesight.”

“No,” he snapped back at her. “That isn’t what I thought. Nor why I kissed you. And as seductive as spilling ratafia on me was, I didn’t think you wanton. But—” He paused as if assessing how best to frame his next words. “Try to look at it from my perspective. You painted a half-naked miniature of yourself to give to Blythe. What sort of gently reared virgin does such a thing? It was an honest conclusion. Obviously, I know now that is not the case.” He nodded to the bed.

Theo looked down to see a bit of blood on the sheets and on her inner thigh.

“And whatever else you’ve allowed—”

Whatever else I’ve allowed?Haven should really learn when to stop talking. Now would be an excellent time. “Yes, now you know I was a virgin. But despite that fact, you still assume,” she cleared her throat, “that I may have encouraged other liberties?”

“A virgin doesn’t take a man’s cock in her mouth on her wedding night.” He stood and walked to the other side of the room, looking away from her. The fingers of one hand drummed against his thigh.

“You think I’ve put another man’s cock in my mouth? When would I have done such a thing? At a ball?” Theo was incredulous. She’d performed such an act on Haven because she’d wanted to please him and because . . . it was him.

“If—we all have a past, Theodosia.” He took a step in her direction and halted.

“So, because I desired you, because I had some limited knowledge of what transpires in the marital bed, but most of all, because I wanted to please you and didn’t fall into a sobbing fit when you discarded your clothing, you thought I was—” Theo closed her eyes for a moment. Even Haven thought the worst of her, it seemed.

“It doesn’t matter to me. I promise.”

“Obviously, it does, my lord.” Theo was angrier than she had ever been in her life. “I wonder, how do you suppose I engaged in these other activities? Brazen Theodosia Barrington. She’ll do anything to garner a gentleman’s interest.” Her voice grew hard. “All it requires is a dance. Perhaps some poetry.”

Haven stared at her, stone-faced. “Have you? Answer me.”

She merely smiled back at him, satisfied to see how his fingers curled into fists at his sides. That, at least, gave her a modicum of satisfaction. Let him wallow in his own uncertainty. He’d no idea how much he’d wounded her. Just when she’d thought their marriage could be more than that of a silly girl being compromised by a desperate marquess. “Hand me my chemise. Now.”

“Theodosia.” He ran a hand through the tangle of his hair. “We’ll discuss this later when you are less overwrought.”

“No, we won’t. Your destruction of my character may leave me overwrought for quite some time, my lord. My chemise, if you please.”

He ignored her, his jaw hardening.

Maybe her outrage over the whole situation was foolish. Most gentlemen would want to know if their wife had had a previous lover. She could see his point about the miniature and possibly other things. But since the day in her studio, Theo had grown used to Haven knowing her. And realizing that he didn’t was rather painful.

“Fine.” Theo threw aside the covers. After last night, she’d little shame over her body and certainly not with Haven. Bravely, she stood and walked with excruciating slowness across the room. Her hair fell around her shoulders, brushing against her waist as she moved. Deliberately, she paused to seductively brush a curl off her breasts.

A noise came from Haven, much like that of a wild animal. Or a feral tomcat.

She bent, picking up her discarded chemise, taking overly long to shake it out.

“Never fear, my lord. The enthusiasm I displayed for you which led to such unwelcome assumptions about me,” she flung the chemise over her head, “will not be repeated.”