“Oh, dear. Does this mean we are stuck here for another day because the roads will be impassable come morning?”
“Possibly. No reason to fret about it, Syd. If those roads are treacherous for us, they will be just as treacherous for your father and Sir Henry if they happen to be chasing us.”
“Octavian, what if this is an omen?”
He rolled his eyes. “This is a storm and nothing more. For pity’s sake, Syd. Don’t you dare consider reneging on our marriage plan.”
“Our make-believe marriage,” she reminded him.
“Right, make-believe. After what passed between us just now, is this still all I am to you? A temporary convenience. You bared your body and soul to me,” he said, knowing the words sounded like more of an accusation than a mere statement.
Why was she talking about bad omens and not even thinking of their marriage as something permanent? “Did you have me remove my clothes just for a lark? Mere curiosity? Were you bored? Curious?”
“You know it isn’t true.” She curled her hands into fists. “Why are you being so churlish?”
Because he wanted her to stop lying to herself about their arrangement. Their marriage was never going to be make-believe for him. “Why are you refusing to admit the obvious, Syd? We like each other…as surprising as that may be.”
Her fists were still clenched as she regarded him from the bed. “There is nothing obvious to admit.”
“Fine, be stubborn about it. I’ll ignore our naked moment and pretend it never happened. Or would you like us to dine nakedly tomorrow night? Is this something you plan to have us do on a regular basis? I would just like to understandyourrules regarding our fake marriage.”
“Stop it, Octavian. I am going to beat you about the head if you do not shut up this very instant.”
“You are getting scared and defensive again.”
“I am not defensive, and I am certainly not scared of you. Why are you making so much of our baring our bodies? You’ve seen plenty of naked women, I’m sure.”
“That is beside the point,” he grumbled. “They were notyou. And you had not seen alivingman without his clothes until me just now. I make you feel safe and I make you feel happy, and this troubles you to no end. Just don’t let it scare you into doing something foolish. You promised me you would not run away.”
“And I have every intention of keeping my promise.”
“Good, because I intend to hold you to it.”
She came up to him and placed her hand on his chest over his heart. “I did not mean to overset you, Octavian. It was just a casual remark.”
“About it being a bad omen? Nothing is ever casual with you, Syd. Your mind is always whirling with ideas. I thought we had moved beyond this question of do you marry me or do you not? We took a giant leap forward a few minutes ago and now you are trying to leap backward the entire distance plus some.”
She tipped her chin up in defiance. “I am not. You are reading too much into everything I say and do. Are you angry because I had us undress and then did nothing about it?”
He emitted a groaning laugh. “No, I’m not angry about that.”
But perhaps he was frustrated and this was skewing his judgment about her intentions. Her claiming the torrential storm was a bad omen was said in jest in all likelihood. But hehad leaped on the innocent remark as though it was a wild beast on the loose and about to pounce on him and eat him up. “Sorry, Syd. I think I will be on edge until we are married and I have the legal standing to protect you. Let’s be optimistic, shall we? Let’s count on the rain being done by morning and the sun out in full force to dry the roads. Let’s go to bed. We’ll be up at the crack of dawn again tomorrow.”
“All right, but no pillows between us tonight. I think I am going to have bad dreams and will need you to hold onto me very tightly.”
“Of course. Whatever you wish.”
Suited him just fine.
He fully intended to hold onto her. In truth, he would have tied her to the bed if he could have done so without coming across as depraved. Despite the horrendous storm outside, Syd would run off if she set her mind to backing out of their fake marriage plans.
This is why he had been eager to hear her speak of her childhood. He wanted to learn more about her to better understand what might set her off and make her run from him. He was just as set on preventing her from carrying out any ill-conceived plan that did not include marriage to him.
Anything might pop into her head at the last moment.
Was he being an ogre about it?
Yes, but for her own good.
