table, and Letty eased into one of the chairs. Adam took the other. Mr. Bristow had brought roast beef, leek-and-onion soup, and wine, all of which was excellent. She was relieved to find that she and Adam could be together like this, not feeling the need for talk simply to fill the passing minutes. Not that she minded talking with him. She quite liked it, but it was nice to know she could have a companionable silence with him as well. Letty gazed in exhaustion at the fireplace a long while before she sensed Adam was watching her.
“Did you have enough to eat?” he asked.
Letty nodded. She’d perhaps eaten too much. She felt rather like a wild animal, uncertain of when shelter and food would come again.
Adam held out his hand and leaned forward in his chair.“Give me your foot.”
“My foot?”
He chuckled at her reluctance.“Yes, your foot.”
Letty extended one booted foot. Her suspicion must’ve shown, because he laughed even louder.
“Oh, my darling, you are quite precious in your skepticism.” He caught her foot and set it on his lap, thenunlaced her boot. He slid the boot off and took her foot in both of his hands and began to massage it. The sudden pleasurable touch melted every bone in Letty’s body.
“Is that something they teach at the academy for spies?” she asked.
Adam had a wolfish grin on his lips, which sent flutterings deep in her belly. “No, this I learned a long time ago from a friend.”
Letty briefly closed her eyes but soon opened them again. “Do you mean one of your mistresses?”
“Yes, but she was also a friend.”
“Well, I send her my thanks. This is quite wonderful.” Letty closed her eyes again and couldn’t help but moan as Adam’s strong fingers pressed into her tender foot, the tips of her toes, her ankle, and the arch of her foot in the most splendid way. She wondered what else he could do with those hands, where else he might put them upon her.
“Now, your other foot,” he said.
Letty placed her other foot in his lap without hesitation, and he repeated the ceremony for her.
“I feel quite certain I would do anything for you just now, my lord,” Letty said drowsily.
Adam chuckled. “I shall remember that. But for now, it’s time for you to be in bed.”
Letty grumbled a little as he removed her feet from his lap. She walked toward the bed.
“Lady wife.” Amusement filled those two words.
She yawned.“Yes?”
“You are still dressed.”
She glanced down at her gown and nearly groaned. She so desperately wanted to sleep.
“Here, allow me to assist you.” Adam came up behind her and started to undo the tiny buttons down the back of her gown with an experienced deftness no doubt also acquired from his previous mistresses. For this, too, she was grateful. Within moments, her gown gaped at the back, and she was able to slide it off with ease and let it drop to the floor. She turned toward him and sat on the edge of the bed as he bent, lifted her chemise, and next removed her stockings.
“Adam, you must think me quite a silly, useless creature,” Letty sighed.
He pulled the covers on the bed back, and she slid beneath them.
“Why would I think that?” He started to remove his own clothing.
“Because I cannot seem to stay awake like you can.” She burrowed deeper under the blankets and watched her husband bare his beautiful, muscled body.
“My dear, you’ve been through quite a lot these last few days. Indeed, more than most men could handle. It would be well within your rights to dissolve into hysterics after this nightmare of a honeymoon. Hell, I might dissolve into hysterics if you don’t.”
The thought made her giggle.
Down to his smallclothes now, Adam joined her under the covers. She slid toward him, feeling more awake now as she realized that perhaps tonight he would finally claim her as a husband would his wife.
She rested her cheek against his chest, the heat of him emanating through to her and his heartbeat steady and slow.“Adam?”
He rubbed her arm, slow and soothing.“Yes?”
“I’m too tired to fall asleep. Will you tell me about your uncle?”
“Of course.” His hand moved to her hair, stroking it.
“Is he frightening?”
“Frightening?” Her husband sounded confused.
“Yes, he is a Highlander? I hear some of them in the far north are still quite brutish.”
“He isn’t frightening, but he is fierce. Show no fear when you meet him, and he will love you in an instant.”
“Will he?”
“I promise.”
“What else