had to make the right decision or lose her growing trust. He caught her by the waist and spun her back into his arms. She sucked in a breath as her hands braced themselves against his chest.
“Never shut me out, Letty. We are in this together, and I do not want to treat you like a child. All I’m asking is that you trust me. Talk to me. No more leaping headlong into danger.”
Her pained look faded as she offered him a tremulous smile. “I didn’t think a moat qualified as danger.”
“You would be surprised.” He rubbed his hands up and down her back. “Quite a few dangers abound on Chilgrave lands, even for me. And I grew up here.”
“I understand.”
Adam lifted her chin so he could gaze into her warm brown eyes. “Are you angry with me?” he asked.
“No,” she replied honestly. “Are you angry with me?”
“No. I’m angry with myself. You needed my protection, and I wasn’t prepared. And now you’re trembling, and I’m neglecting my duty to take care of you. We need to get you warmed up.”
The main door opened, and Mr. Sturges met them.
“My lord!” The butler’s eyes widened. He better than most knew that Adam’s occupation came with many dangers, and he clearly thought something sinister had befallen them.
“It was just a little boat accident, Sturges. Not to worry. Please have a bath drawn in my chamber. My wife and I need to warm up.”
“Of course.” The butler rushed away, while Adam escorted Letty to her room.
“Collect a robe and a chemise.”
She turned innocent eyes upon him.“Am I not to bathe?”
“Not here. Not alone.” Adam’s voice was a little rougher than he meant it to be, but he was still fighting off his concerns and his desire for her at the same time.
How did other men cope when they married attractive strangers? Was he wrong to want to bed her so soon? He felt half-mad knowing he could take her in the bloody bath if she gave him any sign of approval. But he wouldn’t. As his countess, she deserved to have a romantic setting for her first time. He owed it to her to make their first time as honorable and pleasant as possible.
“Oh . . .” That single syllable held the weight of a thousand unsaid words. She collected her robe and chemise and followed him to his chamber.
“Here, sit by the fire.” Adam set her in the comfortable worn armchair he favored. He was glad Helms had thought to have a fire already going. September in England could be cold, and the lake water didn’t help matters.
She sat, and Adam placed her robe and chemise on the bed before he draped a heavy woolen blanket about her shoulders. A parade of footmen arrived, carrying steaming buckets of water to the deep copper tub until it was full and steam curled up from its surface.
Once they were alone, Adam gently pulled Letty to her feet. “Come, let’s get you warmed up.”
“I suppose you’ve had much practice at undressing women?” Letty asked, her teeth chattering a bit.
“A bit, I confess, but this feels different. My hands are almost clumsy when I touch you. It’s as though I must learn it all anew,” Adam murmured.
“The cold water, no doubt,” said his wife. His fingers did seem to be lacking their usual deftness as he fumbled with her laces. “First you must loosen the tied knot at the bottom, then work your way up.” Her voice was a little breathless, but at least her teeth had stopped chattering.
As he drew the laces out, he let his fingers linger in places, touching her through the thin layer of the wet chemise she wore as he exposed her bit by bit while undressing her.
She stayed quiet as he undressed her. Both of them barely breathed now as pieces of her gown draped about her body and then fell away. Every bit of him seemed locked in those powerful moments where his heartbeat and hers seemed to match, the dampness of his hands touching her chilled body as he lifted the chemise off her. She was warming up now, a blush heating her pale face, and he wanted to bury his lips against her throat and inhale her scent, but she needed to be even warmer than she was now.
When at last she was fully naked and he had a chance to admire her lovely body, he nodded toward the tub.
“Get in.” His voice was hoarse as he