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understand Kendrick. She’d expected him to be angry with her for staying so long. Instead he was suggesting she stay longer. “Why?”
    â€œWell, if he has more opportunity, a young man like Daniel might be able to mount you more than once a night, increasing the chances for his seed to take root.”
    Hiding her enthusiasm for his suggestion, she said, “Well, if you think that’s best, I will.”
    He pulled the covers up to her chin. “That will also save me the boring task of waiting in a drafty hallway.” He stood and started for the door. “Good night, Isabel. Sleep well.”
    She was relived he didn’t intend to spend the rest of the night with her, but a little uneasy over his pleasantness. But she quickly dismissed this nagging worry in order to review the pleasures she had just experienced in Daniel’s arms. He made her feel more alive than she had ever felt before, and she realized he did this not only because he was young and vigorous, but also because he made special efforts to please her.
    Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be married to a man who would be considerate of my feelings? Imagining such a life, she went to sleep with a smile on her face.

Chapter 4
    Daniel slumped in his saddle and let his horse follow Wilmont’s. The steward had taken over Daniel’s instruction, familiarizing him with the crops and cattle produced on the lands near the castle.
    Today it was barley fields almost ready to harvest. Wilmont had droned on with a long lecture about how important it was to let the grain reach its peak before harvesting, until Daniel’s head had begun to nod with sleepiness. Wilmont apparently noticed his disinterest for he’d stopped talking and let his horse take the lead.
    It wasn’t that Daniel didn’t care about barley. He realized it was an important crop for Tewsbarrow, but spending his days constantly on the go and his nights with lively Tess in his bed had taken its toll. He’d even suggested not accompanying Wilmont today, so he wouldn’t interfere with the man’s work, but Kendrick had insisted he go. It was almost as if his uncle didn’t want him in the castle during the day. While the man was cordial to Daniel in the evenings, he obviously didn’t care for Daniel’s company at other times.
    Perhaps that was the way of scholars. To Daniel such an occupation seemed more suited to a monk in a monastery than a baron charged with safeguarding land for his king. But Kendrick’s crippled leg prevented him from doing any real soldiering, so he had to find other interests. It seemed ironic that Daniel’s father had been a strong and skilled warrior, while the older brother, the heir, had been a cripple from birth who couldn’t mount a horse without assistance.
    Had that been the source of the ill will between the brothers? Had my father been jealous of the less fit brother inheriting? Had my uncle resented the robust health of the younger brother? Daniel supposed he’d never know the truth and what difference did it make? His father would triumph in the end if his son inherited the lands and title.
    His thoughts about the past aroused his curiosity about the more recent history of Tewsbarrow. He urged his horse to catch up with Wilmont’s. “Have you been at Tewsbarrow long?” he asked.
    â€œAye, sir, near twelve years.”
    â€œHas the lady of the castle always been in poor health?”
    â€œWhich lady? Lady Anne died three years back. She had a wasting illness. Lady Isabel hasn’t been here a year yet.”
    â€œLady Isabel is the baron’s second wife?”
    â€œAye.”
    â€œWell, he certainly has bad luck with his wives’ health, doesn’t he?”
    Wilmont frowned at him. “The lord says Lady Isabel is down with the ague.”
    Daniel nodded as if he believed Wilmont. If poor Kendrick was trying to keep his wife’s condition hidden,