want to.”
He nodded.
“Dr. Finch said to rest.”
He was right. Of course. And she trusted Rock.
She closed her eyes. “In that case, I’m going to try to sleep so I can wake up and remember.” She needed to remember facts about her life but even more importantly, she wanted to remember how they’d fallen in love—how he had proposed.
“That’s a good girl.” The approval in his voice warmed her.
This man had kissed her. He knew her intimately. What had that felt like?
Mrs. Hettrick had mentioned they’d married the day before. Which meant that she and her husband would have had relations already.
Rather than a church wedding, with family in attendance, they had traveled to Gretna Green and eloped. Had they anticipated their vows? Without having to think about it, she realized that she would have had difficulty resisting any wooing this man might have directed her way. His sheer maleness, lying beside her, holding her, charged her with awareness.
His features were defined but not hard, and he was inordinately handsome, even with the slight crook to his nose. But she was truly caught by his eyes. Although filled with worry as they stared up at the ceiling, they were positively beautiful.
“I think that I must be very much in love with you.” She had no reason to hide her feelings. Touching him like this, feeling his hard edges against her softer ones…
Well, it was truly the most wonderful thing in the world.
He cocked one brow and flicked his gaze down at her, one side of his mouth tilting up in a teasing half-smile. “And why is that? You don’t remember me.”
“Because of how my heart feels when I look at you.” She tucked her head beneath his chin, a little embarrassed at her admission. “And since I can’t remember anything, I have to trust my heart.”
He sighed, and she felt him drop a kiss on her forehead. “I’m so sorry.”
“It wasn’t your fault. I’m the one who is sorry,” she murmured sleepily. “Mmm… This is nice.” Her lids heavy, she had no doubt that she was precisely where she belonged. His scent, his touch, even the rhythm of his breathing felt… right. She relaxed in his arms and as sleep crept in, one thought drifted in her mind.
As long as she had this man at her side, she’d needn’t worry about the past or the future. She could simply embrace the love that she felt today.
Tabetha groaned as the warm pillow beneath her head squirmed and slid out from beneath her. “Mmph!” she protested sleepily but then smiled at the ensuing masculine chuckle.
“Morning, duchess.”
She opened her eyes and relief flooded through her. He was flesh and blood—not a dream.
Her second thought, which a more prudent person might suggest ought to have been her first, was that she still couldn’t remember anything about her life. She couldn’t remember who she was, who her family was, or anything that implied she’d existed before she’d woken up in this cozy inn in Gretna Green.
But Rock Chester was here. He was real. He was her husband, and he was standing across the room, his chest gleaming in the morning sunlight, fastening his trousers, barefoot and looking incredibly adorable. When he turned and caught her watching him, her heart swelled.
“How do you feel today?” He tilted his head, his hair springing out in all directions, a hopeful smile on his lips.
Her own smile fell, knowing she was going to disappoint him. “I know that my name is Tabetha Chester and that you are my husband, Rock, but aside from that… I reach for it. It’s as though my fingertips are almost touching it. But then it is gone. I simply grasp at… nothing. I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t.” His voice was abrupt, surprising her. Even from across the room, she recognized the hardening of his jaw.
“Don’t?”
“Don’t apologize. This isn’t your fault. I should have protected you.” His indigo eyes darkened, reminding her of a distant storm. “God, Tabetha. I’m the one who needs to apologize. I should have caught you. I shouldn’t have…” He stared down at the floor, his feet shoulders’ distance apart, looking far too guilt-ridden.
Not only was he handsome and sweet, but he was also a person with a sense of responsibility. She pushed herself off the pillow. She would not allow him to go on blaming himself.
“If I can’t be sorry then you can’t either. My head doesn’t hurt today, and I’m sure my memory is going to return soon. As I said, it’s