She hiccupped. “He is handsome, though. It’s just his character that’s a bit stiff. Why are there only a few men in this world with pristine characters? Most of them are rude, overbearing, and pompous. It’s better to get a sloth—adozensloths.”
She snorted. “Leeds probably won’t agree to a sloth. Maybe it will be best to get a dog.”
Hah! Wasn’t he a dog himself?
No, no. Dogs were sweet, cuddly, and loyal. Leeds wasn’t a dog.
He was a wolf. Just look at how he’d hunted her down.
“A big, snarling wolf. Wolves don’t make good companions. They bite.” Harriet groaned. “I don’t want to be married to a wolf. I want to be married to a sweet dog. Is that so much to ask for?”
You can always tame the wolf.
She gave another snort. “That man cannot be tamed. But I can still provoke him, find out his secrets, and bring him to heel. Hah, Leonora said to divorce him, but since this is a marriage of convenience, would an annulment not be more fitting?”
Not that she truly planned to break her vow or even annul it.
She grinned. But she could rile him up! Ah well, he couldn’t blame her. A woman had to find her delights wherever she could, and she suspected she could ruffle his feathers with that.
Harriet laughed. “I wonder what my husband will do if I toss out the wordannulment.”
She lifted the glass to her face. “That’s a splendid idea, isn’t it? These little enjoyments are the next best thing, since I didn’t marry a man that I love. That’s not too bad of me, is it?” She poked a finger of her free hand at the tumbler. “I know, I know, it’s hard having a dream. Dreams are the hardest.”
Someone knocked on the door.
“Harriet? Are you all right? Who are you talking to?”
Ah.That man had arrived.
Harriet angled her head in the direction of the masculine voice that had interrupted her conversation. “I’m discussing an important matter,” she called to the door. “Go away.”
A short pause. “What matter are you discussing?”
Harriet chuckled. “About how I shall not annul this marriage.”
“That’s good to know.”
She blinked. That couldn’t be right—he wasn’t supposed to like it. Something must be off with her words. “I mean, I am notconsummatingthis marriage.” She balled her free hand in a fist and announced with conviction, “I shall not submit!”
The doorknob jiggled. “Did you lock the door?”
“Of course I did.”
“Even though it is our wedding night?”
“Especially because it’s our wedding night.” Harriet scowled at the door. “I said I will not consummate the marriage, ergo there is no reason for you to seek me out.” Hiccup.
A pause stretched between them before he slowly said, “Love, you are inmybedchamber. The marchioness’s chamber is the adjoining one.”
“Well, you can sleep there. This chamber is bigger. I need a lot of space.”
“I’d rather sleep next to you.”
“Hah! Don’t you mean consummate the marriage?”
“I won’t force you to do anything you don’t want, love. We have all the time in the world to get to know each other.”
“Well, you have toearnthat spot.”
