Free April Kihlstrom by The Dutiful Wife Page A

expressed. He kissed her again, this time coaxing her to open wide and she did. Instantly he took advantage, drawing her closer still and dipping his tongue inside to taste the sweetness of her mouth. Even now she did not draw back but rather experimented, matching her tongue to his. Indeed, he was the one who finally drew back, breathing hard and feeling the gratification of knowing she did as well.
    As he looked down at her, her eyes slightly dazed, she said, “Oh, my!”
    Edmund couldn’t help smiling. It boded well that she was dazed by his kiss. If she enjoyed such things it would make the bond between them all the stronger and the breeding of heirs all that much more agreeable. Feeling quite pleased, he waited for her answer.
    * * *
    Beatrix stared up at Rothwood, stunned by how she felt, by all that was happening so rapidly. To be sure, none of this should have been a surprise. He had told her why he was here. Indeed, he must think her a total ninny that she did not know her own mind. But no matter what Mama said, it was not a simple matter to decide. What she chose would change her life forever. And his.
    She had wanted to, had tried to be herself, these past seven days. But every time she found herself around him, she had become tongue-tied and deferred to his every opinion. How could she agree to marry him when he still didn’t know who she really was?
    How could she not marry him when his kiss had the power to shake her to her very core and make her want to wrap herself around him and never let go? And when he offered so much to her family? If she married him, she need never worry about them again.
    If she were honest with herself, Beatrix felt as much dazed by Rothwood’s kindness as by the kiss they had shared. She could easily come to depend upon the latter, but it was the way he spoke of taking care of her and thinking of her wishes that swayed her even more. She had never had anyone who put her wishes before his own. Certainly not in her own family!
    Here was a man who would protect and cherish her. Here was a man who was the answer to her prayers and perhaps even to the prayers of her family. Here was someone who would never ask her to handle all the challenges of life while he did nothing. Even had she not been seduced by his embrace, she would have been seduced by all the rest of it.
    Beatrix took a deep breath and looked up at him. “Yes,” she said. “Yes, I will gladly marry you.”
    He gave a whoop of delight and kissed her again, this time briefly. Then he began to tug her toward the house.
    She would make him the best of wives, she vowed to herself as she followed. She would look to his comfort as he looked to hers. She would never give him reason to regret choosing her as his bride. She even, though she blushed to think of it, was beginning to look forward to their wedding night and what else he might have to teach her about the pleasures that could be shared between a man and woman. After all, she never could have guessed that a kiss could all but curl one’s toes. His kiss had been nothing like the one stolen by the butcher’s son one day when he had been delivering mutton. Beatrix had the feeling she was about to discover more delights, both in and out of bed, than she had ever known were possible.
    Inside the house, Rothwood informed her parents of their intention to wed. As he did so, he squeezed her hand and smiled so radiantly at Beatrix that it took her breath away.
    “I should like us to be married as soon as possible,” Rothwood said to her father.
    “The banns can be read starting this Sunday,” her mother said, quite happily.
    Rothwood shook his head. “A special license. We can be wed by special license sooner than by having banns read for three weeks in a row.”
    Beatrix listened as her future husband and her parents arranged matters between them. She did not question any of it. And why should she? What did she know of how difficult it was to procure a special license?