Blame It on Bath Page 0,46

the more time she had to learn what to do when the moment arrived. Her hope was to become friends before he felt obliged to take her to bed. That would hopefully temper any disappointment or disgust he might feel about her wifely performance.

“He’s a gentleman,” was all she told Birdie. “And he has behaved as one. You mind your tongue, even when he’s not around,” she added, seeing Birdie draw breath and guessing at her response. “Just because we spoke frankly of Lord Howe doesn’t mean we shall be harsh on the captain.”

“Hmph.” Birdie closed her mouth, but her expression said it all as she pulled Katherine’s traveling dress into place.

“Birdie, I want to be happy,” she said softly. “I hope to be. You must stop thinking of yourself as my protector, at least against him. In truth, he’s been everything I asked him to be.”

Her abigail didn’t look convinced but said no more about it. She packed while Katherine ate breakfast and rang for a servant to fetch the luggage when they were ready to go.

Downstairs the innkeeper met them with a smile and assured them their carriage was almost ready, gesturing through the open door. Just there, in the courtyard, was His Lordship, checking the last of the preparations. Katherine peeped out and watched him tending to his horse.

Today he wore regular clothing, no longer his sharp military uniform, but it made him no less imposing. Or perhaps that was due to the memory, branded on her skin, of his big body pressed so intimately against hers, his hand cupped about her breast, his male organ rigid and hot against her backside. She had thought, as he lay so relaxed, touching her so leisurely and familiarly, that he would put her on her back and have her, daylight or not. But he didn’t. He kissed her, very lightly, then threw back the blankets and got out of bed as if the thought had never entered his mind.

Perhaps it hadn’t. Perhaps he dreamed of another woman and lost interest as soon as he realized whom he held in reality.

In the yard, he finished tightening the girth of his saddle and started toward the door where they waited. Katherine nodded her thanks to the innkeeper and pushed open the door. It was still early, with the chill of morning in the air, and she wrapped her cloak snugly around herself as she crossed the courtyard. Her husband met her with a keen look.

“My humble apologies in advance, my dear, for another hard day of travel.”

Birdie let out an almost soundless sigh. Katherine didn’t relish getting back in the carriage, either, but that didn’t matter. “There’s no need to apologize,” she said. “At least it is to be the last, for a little while, I trust?”

He grinned. “Indeed. And Bragg should have the house all set to rights by the time we arrive, down to a hot bath waiting.”

She smiled back at him, hesitantly. “That will be most welcome.”

His eyes lit up, and his grin grew wider. “I would be a very poor husband to drag you across England this way and not have a luxurious bath waiting at the end.”

Katherine’s heart leaped that she pleased him. She kept smiling but unfortunately couldn’t think what to say. Disagree, and protest that he had been an ideal husband thus far? Agree, and seem to reprove him for his demands? She had made him smile and didn’t want to stop; but how to do that? Of course, the longer she stood there smiling like a fool, he probably thought her more stupid than anything else. He gave her a quizzical look, his grin still lingering, then put out his hand to help her into the carriage. Once she and Birdie settled inside, he closed the door himself.

“Captain,” she said on impulse. He paused, his piercing blue eyes fixed on her, and she almost forgot how to speak under the intensity of his attention. “Thank you,” she said lamely.

He leaned his shoulder against the carriage door, setting his face very near hers. “Someday,” he murmured, “I shall do something truly worthy of thanks, and will collect your gratitude then. For now, I count myself lucky you aren’t cursing my name.”

“I would never do such a thing.”

He chuckled. “If you can say the same tonight, I may believe you.” He slapped the side of the carriage and called out to the driver, who set them in motion at once. A moment later he trotted