Free Vexed by a Viscount by Erin Knightley Page B

noise, “you and I won’t have to worry about the inconvenience of separate abodes. You’ll be right there where I want you, when I want you. A definite benefit to marriage.”
    She nodded in answer. His description of marriage didn’t exactly sound appealing to her. Would he look at her as another of his servants, there at his beck and call? The only thing she really knew of marriage was her parents’ example. They cohabited in relative peace, but rarely sought each other out. Even so, it was a given that her mother always deferred to her father, and that he not only had the final say, but the first one as well.
    “There are other benefits to marriage, you know,” Jeffries continued. “Ever since our kiss, I’ve been thinking of them a great deal. I wonder, has your mother told you what to expect on our wedding night?”
    Prudence managed to choke on thin air. Their wedding night ? That was not something she wanted to think about, now or ever. The squire juggled the reins to one hand and patted her on the back with the other, making her discomfort even worse. Hastily swallowing in an attempt to bring herself back under control—and hopefully get him to remove his hand in the process—she shook her head. “It’s not come up,” she managed to get out, her cheeks so hot they felt burned.
    The patting turned to rubbing, and it was all she could do not to bat his hand away. “That’s good. I don’t want you listening to whatever it is she has to say on the matter. All you need to know is that I will teach you exactly what it is I like, and I’m confident you’ll be a good student.”
    If she could have leapt from the moving carriage and escaped this supremely uncomfortable conversation, she gladly would have. What on earth was she supposed to say? Yes, they were to marry, but he wasn’t her husband yet and it wasn’t appropriate to be discussing such things—particularly whilst in the out of doors.
    He glanced over to her and smiled. “Such a sweet, biddable young thing. We’ll suit quite well. In fact,” he said, pulling his hand away in order to reclaim the reins, “I can prove it.”
    What was that supposed to mean? She pressed her lips together and glanced at him, dread roiling in her empty stomach. He glanced to her long enough to wink before slowing the horses and turning off the main road onto an ill-used lane.
    “Where are we going?” She tried to sound composed, but her words held a distinct edge of worry. What was he planning? Going off alone was unseemly, even if they were betrothed. An open air ride on the main roads was one thing; disappearing into the forest down a narrow lane was something else entirely.
    The carriage swung precariously as they bounced from rut to puddle, and she clung to the rail at her side. Beside her, Jeffries chuckled indulgently. “Just a little detour, my sweet.”
    Detour, her foot. The lane headed east off of the northbound road into town, though where it went after that, she wasn’t sure. What she was sure of was that it took them farther from town, not closer.
    Swallowing, she decided to try to reason with him. “After the rains, perhaps this isn’t the best route. Maybe we should try this another day.”
    “Do not presume to second guess my driving,” he said sharply. Pulling back on the reins, he waited until they came to a stop before offering her a placating smile. “A woman shouldn’t doubt a man’s abilities. See? We are safe and sound, and more important, we have a moment of privacy.”
    She glanced around, unable to shake the unease in her belly. The trees effectively blocked them from sight from the main road, giving the illusion of isolation. “Do you know,” she said, forcing a smile, “it’s a little chilly out of the sunshine like this. Perhaps we could turn around and go back to the clearing?”
    He ignored her completely, setting the brake and securing the reins as if she’d never spoken. When he was done, he turned fully toward