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gain her acquiescence again.
    "I believe William knew what he wanted when he forced this marriage upon us. You on the other hand, I have no sympathy for."
    In all her bare splendor she stood beside him.
    His breath caught in his throat. She was perfection in every sense, and he was a very blessed man. His hand itched to pull her back to him, but she continued behind the wooden screen.
    "You may leave now and please send Joan to me ," she said.
    Duly chastised, he grinned at her commanding tone. The screen, however, did nothing to suppress his knowledge of every detail of the beauty that stood on the other side and the longing it enflamed. John tamped down his desire. For now.
    "I will get Joan for you, my lady, and thereafter you will attend me at supper."
    §
    When the door closed behind her husband, Rowena slid to the small stool, still shaking at her bold behavior. He had allowed her to walk away from him when she had feared he would pull her back to him. She knew it and he knew it. That he would be returning for her said it all. He would return for her and…expect what? Was he going to stay and be her husband in every way? Was he going to expect her to share her bed with him? After all this time, she wasn't sure what she wanted. He had walked away from her and left her alone. Not just alone but untouchable as his wife.
    "Humph." She had crumbled under his attention after determining to be strong and show him she had no need for him. Did she need him after all?
    Rubbing her arms, she could still feel the heat from his body and her own response to it. That had taken her aback. She had been treating this as a child's game. If he did not want her, then she wanted him even less. But in his arms she had come alive, feeling things she'd never imagined. She wanted more.
    She smiled. It appear ed the attraction was mutual.
    "My lady, what has happened here?"
    Rowena stood behind the screen, startled from her thoughts by Joan's entrance.
    "Are you well? Arthur was beside himself. Please come out and show me you are well."
    "Calm yourself. I am not clothed and wish to dress for dinner. Will you assist me?"
    Joan's look of worry quickly turned to a knowing smile when she came around the screen to help her with the gown. Her presumptuous expression made Rowena bite her lip to keep from smiling. Yes, her husband found her pleasing. There. It was out and even Joan knew it. How much Joan knew would be left up to her imagination. That was until Rowena saw the mark that held Joan’s attention. A love bite. Proof of what had transpired or almost transpired.
    "You can stop smiling." Rowena tightened her lips to convey her disapproval. "I am a virgin still."
    Joan's crestfallen face was almost comical except that it really wasn't. The whole situation was intolerable. Well, Rowena would find out this night if the man who was her husband was worthy of the title. If he was, she would commence with the bedding and that would be the end of that. The massive jolt of heated desire that shot up through her body made her catch her breath. Well, she would just have to ignore that for now. She just wasn't sure if she could.

Chapter Four
    John's patience was growing thin. As Peter had been chatting on about horses and soldiers for nigh an hour, his desire for his wife did not diminish. Where was Rowena?
    "You can just tell me to shut up," Peter raised one eyebrow as he spoke.
    John had no time to placate the man. "Continue ," he ordered as he took another swallow of the local mead. Its bitterness reminded him of sweeter nectar he would prefer to taste. What was taking her so long? He'd gone to escort her down and been told she was not ready. The audacious way the servant spoke to him had left him with much to say in response and yet when he'd opened his mouth to speak his mind, he recalled of the wrong done Rowena and chose to walk away. Now he was left waiting for her.
    "You're as antsy as a bridegroom."
    If only you knew, my friend. John scowled in