“I have no intention of waiting.”
“What? But you just said—”
“I won’t force you.” He gave her a slow smile. “I won’t need to.”
She frowned, considering his words, then sudden outrage surfaced. “You’ddrugme? I have heard of such wickedness.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Of course I wouldn’t drug you! Good God! No, I promise you’ll be wide awake and you’ll give full consent.”
She eyed him suspiciously. “Why would I do that?”
“I’ll seduce you.” He had no doubt of it. Yes, she was skittish now, but last night she’d responded with natural, unfettered sensuality—until he’d bungled it, entering her with more desperation than finesse. It went against his honor as much as anything. He prided himself on his bedchamber skills. He hadn’t treated a woman so clumsily since he was a green and eager youth. He had no idea how his loss of control had happened last night, but he was damned sure he wouldn’t let it happen again.
She narrowed her eyes at him, then shrugged a shoulder as if she didn’t believe him and said with airy insouciance, “You are welcome to try.” She started packing up the remains of the picnic.
His lips twitched. The minx, throwing his own words back at him.
They reached the town of Huesca just as siesta time was ending. The streets were already filling with people all heading in the same direction, and when they reached the center of the town, they saw why.
“It’s a market.” Bella turned eagerly to Luke. “Can we stop and look? I can’t tell you how long it is since I’ve been to a market.”
Luke could see she was dying to dive into that throng. “Come on, then,” he said. “Let’s go shopping.” He’d planned to buy her a cloak, and this might be an opportunity.
“Shopping?” Her eyes sparkled. “What shall we buy?”
“We’ll have to see what’s available, won’t we? But first let’s stable the horses and find a room for the night.”
They found one eventually, a private room in an inn off the central square, probably the most expensive accommodation in town, but the town was full because of the market, and nothing else was available. After a wash, a change of clothes, and a drink, they stepped out onto the square and plunged into the crowd.
Isabella’s eyes were everywhere; even the humblest stall was of interest to her, and Luke was reminded again that she’d been shut away from the world for eight years. She smelled the fruit, sampled everything that was offered to taste, and examined the animals from geese and pigs, to cages of bright parrots and a box of kittens. She cooed at the latter with such delight that he had to inform her that they could not travel with a kitten.
“I know. It’s just that they’re so sweet.”
Isabella moved from stall to stall. She was friendly to a fault,examining the goods and exchanging greetings and banter with the stall keepers. And she fingered the fabrics and eyed the ready-made clothes with ill-concealed covetousness.
“Would it fit you?” Luke asked when she lingered over a simple dress in a glowing dark red.
“Really?” She turned to him in surprise, and seeing he meant it, she examined the dress more carefully, then held it up against her. “I think so,” she said breathlessly.
“Would theseñoritalike to try it on?” The stall keeper’s wife came forward. “We have a private place here, very safe.” She indicated a cubicle draped in fabric set up against the cart at the back of the stall.
“Señora,” Luke corrected her. He examined the cubicle, nodded, then stood guard outside as Isabella and the woman stepped inside.
“What do you think?” Isabella stepped out through the curtain.
The dress was cheap, simply made, and old-fashioned to one accustomed to London society, but he could see she loved it, and indeed it suited her. The dark red was perfect for her dark coloring, and a simple decoration of pale yellow piping gave it a smart, jaunty air that suited Isabella’s personality.
“Very nice,” he said.
“It’s a bit loose here.” Isabella plucked at the bodice.
“Theseñorajust needs a corset,” the woman murmured.
“A corset? She isn’t fat!” Luke exclaimed indignantly.
The woman tsked indulgently. “Theseñorais as slender as a reed, to be sure, but a corset also helps here.” She cupped her own substantial breasts.
“She doesn’t need—”
