No Decent Gentleman (26 page)

"I suppose I was more tired than I'd thought," Sabrina answered. "I hope you don't think I was eavesdropping. I was merely passing by and heard your voice."

"Come, Princess," Adam said, offering his hand. "I want to take you on a tour of our home."

Our home
, Sabrina thought, unable to keep the smile off her face. Those two words sounded wonderful to her.

"To whom does this lovely gown belong?" Sabrina asked as they descended to the second floor.

"I had them made for you, Princess," Adam told her.

"You were that certain I'd agree to be your wife?" she asked, giving him a sidelong look of disapproval.

"No, Princess, I was
hoping
you would agree to be my wife," he said, surprising her with his sentiment.

The drawing room, library, and his office were located on the second floor. Sabrina scanned his office filled with heavy oak furniture and then crossed the chamber to look out the window. It faced the south. A huge glass house had been built on the grounds outside.

"What is that?" Sabrina asked.

"My hothouse," Adam answered. "I raise delicate flowers there all year long. Like the rose I placed on your pillow."

Sabrina felt the warmth of his body close behind her, and her legs suddenly went weak. She didn't know what to do. She had almost no experience with men.

"Are you ready to see the rest of your home?" he asked.

Sabrina turned around and smiled at him. As they crossed the room toward the door, she spied a strange sword hanging above the hearth's mantel. Its handle was a lion's head carved from ivory, and the blade curved up at the end.

"I've never seen anything like that," Sabrina said.

"The sword is a scimitar and used in the East," Adam told her.

"It looks like it belonged to some barbarian chieftain," she said. "Where did you get it?"

"My fleet trades in the East," he said. Then added preventing further questions, "I would like to show you the grounds before the sun sets."

In silence, Adam and Sabrina walked one flight down to the great hall. Winston lay in front of the hearth, lifting his head when he spied them and wagging his tail.

"Come, Winston," Sabrina called.

The wolfhound wagged his tail again and then rested his head on his forelegs.

"He enjoyed a rather big meal at lunch," Adam told her.

Adam escorted her to the kitchens next. His staff was busy with dinner preparations, but each of them stopped his task when he spied his lord.

"This is your new lady, the Marchioness of Stonehurst," Adam announced, his pride evident in his voice. "My wife enjoys cooking and baking as a hobby. Please help her in any way needed when she comes to the kitchen."

Sabrina smiled at the servants, and then realized they were waiting for her to speak. "I am pleased to be here finally," she said in a soft voice, "and I appreciate your loyalty to my husband."

She looked at Adam for approval or disapproval. Relief surged through her when he smiled and nodded.

The north side of the castle faced the mainland village of Marazion in Cornwall. Walking clockwise around the mansion, the east faced Lizard Point across the water and beyond that lay the English Channel. The south faced the Atlantic Ocean.

Holding her hand in his, Adam gently drew her into the hothouse. The humid warmth inside the glass structure surprised her. The air seemed saturated with moisture. And the incredible sight of all of those flowers growing in winter delighted her.

"How do you manage to keep this house so warm?" Sabrina asked.

"My men learned many remarkable secrets when they traveled through the East," Adam told her.

Leaving the hothouse, Adam and Sabrina walked around to the western side of the castle. The sun was dying in an orange blaze of glory, and by unspoken agreement, they paused to watch the day's ending.

"Tomorrow I'll let you help me tend my flowers," Adam said.

"And I'll let you help me make Turkish delight," Sabrina replied.

"You have a bargain," Adam said with a smile. "Let's go inside now. I have ordered dinner to be served earlier than usual."

Taking her hand in his, Adam led Sabrina to the private dining room on the first floor. He helped her into her seat to the right of his at the head of the table and then poured two glasses of Madeira. Winston sat at attention between them and drooled.

"This dog is not dining with us tonight," Adam said.

"Oh, but Winston—"

Abdul walked into the -dining room and held the door open for Razi, who carried a tray. Unaccountably, Winston lifted his long nose into the air and left them to greet Abdul. The big man scratched behind the wolfhound's ears, and Winston whined.

"Come, dog," Abdul said.

Followed by the wolfhound, the retainer walked out of the dining room. Behind them walked Razi.

"I've never seen him do that before," Sabrina said in surprise.

Adam winked at her. "Abdul carries a piece of meat in his pocket."

Sabrina laughed and then looked over the evening's fare. She'd never seen any of the dishes that had been set before them.

"What is all of this?" she asked.

"This is rice with chicken, saffron, and nuts," Adam answered, pointing to each dish in turn. "That is fried, minced lamb roll, and the vegetable is stewed leeks. For dessert we'll have cheese fingers in syrup with clotted cream."

Sabrina tasted a small piece of the lamb roll and smiled. "I never realized French cuisine was so delicious," she said. "I thought the French used rich sauces."

"This particular recipe comes from the Mediterranean," he told her.

"Oh, the south of France."

"I'm glad you are wearing the ring and the brooch," Adam said in a husky voice, his gaze warm on her. "It bodes well for our future."

Sabrina blushed. How could she reply to that? She was still trying to become accustomed to being with her husband on his island fortress. Somehow, the whole situation seemed pleasantly unreal.

"If I kiss you, will you turn into a handsome prince?" she asked.

Adam smiled, his gaze on her warm. "Kiss me and find out."

Sabrina leaned closer, closed her eyes, and planted a chaste kiss on his lips. Opening her eyes again, she stared at him for a long moment while a smile flirted with her lips. "Nope, you are still a frog," she said finally.

"And you are an incorrigible imp," Adam told her.

"I've learned the identity of my natural father," Sabrina said, changing the subject. "However, I promised not to divulge it."

"Is that so?" Adam replied, cocking a dark brow at her, seemingly unaffected by her announcement.

Sabrina stared at him and wondered why he seemed uninterested. And then it struck her. "You already knew," she said in an accusing voice.

"Guilty on that charge," he said. "You must forgive me because I also promised never to tell."

"I absolve you of any wrongdoing," she replied. She stared off into space and added, "I have so many questions for Prince Adolphus and would love to know who my mother was. Uncle Charles doesn't know."

"That I cannot tell you."

"Can't or won't?"

"Princess, if I knew her identity, I would surely thank her for bringing you into the world," Adam said.

Sabrina blushed again. God shield her, but she could easily become accustomed to his flattery.

"Tell me about your childhood in Abingdon," he said.

"There's not much to tell," she answered. "I was blissfully happy until I learned that I had been adopted. At odd moments after that, I would wonder about my real parents and why they gave me away."

"The flaw lies with them, Princess."

When supper ended, Adam took her hand in his and stared into her eyes. "You came to Stonehurst of your own free will, so I assume you want to become my wife in fact."

Sabrina felt her cheeks heat. She dropped her gaze to her hands folded in her lap and nodded.

With one finger beneath her chin, Adam lifted her head and, leaning close, planted a sweet kiss on her lips. Surprisingly, he rose from his chair and crossed to the sideboard. He returned with a footed box in his hand and set it down in front of her.

"For you," he told her.

"What is it?" she asked, looking up at him.

"Your bride's box."

The footed box had been created in gold. Joined hands were engraved on one side of it, as well as the allegorical figures of trust, hope, prudence, love, and tenderness.

"Open it," he said.

Sabrina lifted the lid off the box and peered inside. She blinked twice in surprise when she saw what it contained. Gold coins filled it almost to the brim.

"It is a tradition in my father's land," Adam told her.

Hearing the pride in his voice, Sabrina looked up at him and said, "Thank you, but I have no gift for you."

"Oh, but you do, Princess," he said, and gave her one of his devastating smiles.

Sabrina stared at him blankly. She had no idea what he meant.

Adam stood then and offered her his hand, saying, "Let us retire now."

Sabrina suffered a momentary panic and said, "The hour is still early."

Adam captured her gaze with his own. "Trust me, Princess."

Sabrina inclined her head and stood. She placed her hand in his as if she were accepting a dance. Hand in hand, they left the dining room and climbed the stairs to the third floor.

"I have ordered a bath for you," Adam told her. "When you are ready to begin your new life with me, simply walk through the connecting door."

Sabrina walked into her bedchamber. Sure enough, steam rose from a bath set up in front of the hearth. She started to unbutton her gown, but a movement on the far side of the chamber caught her attention. And then a figure stepped out of the shadows.

"What are you doing here?" Sabrina demanded.

"I will help you undress and bathe," Razi answered. "The master—"

His words shocked her. "Leave this room at once," she ordered.

"Princess, you do not understand," the little man said with an ingratiating smile. "I am not like other men."

"
Adam
!"

Razi started walking toward her again.

"
Adam
!"

The door jerked open, and Adam walked into the bedchamber. Wearing a puzzled expression, he looked from her to his man and then back again.

"Tell this man to—"

"She won't let me do my job," Razi whined, cutting her words off. The little man began babbling in a foreign language.

Adam held his hand up in a gesture for silence. Using the same foreign language, he spoke to his man, who threw her a hurt look and then quit the chamber.

"I apologize for this misunderstanding," Adam said. "You may bathe at your leisure."

"That didn't sound like French to me," Sabrina said.

"It wasn't French," Adam replied. "Razi comes from Istanbul." The connecting door clicked shut.

Sabrina stared at the door for a long moment. She suffered the uncanny feeling that circumstances at Stonehurst weren't what they appeared to be. Something was amiss, but she didn't know what.

Adam couldn't possibly be withholding information about himself, she decided. He had promised to be totally honest with her in all matters. Omission was a form of lying.

Without honesty, there could be no trust; without trust, there could be no happiness in marriage. Her husband had given her his word and would never risk their future by keeping something from her.

Sabrina disrobed and climbed into the tub. She sighed as she relaxed in the hot water. A bar of rose-scented soap floated on the water's surface, and, before washing, she lifted it to her nose and sniffed the intoxicating fragrance.

Stepping out of the tub, Sabrina toweled herself dry and then reached for the nightshift left on the bed for her. The silky material was nearly transparent and revealed more than it hid.

Sabrina looked down at herself, and felt the blush already beginning to rise on her cheeks. She'd never worn so little in her life and wasn't sure she had the courage to go through with this. How embarrassing to parade half naked in front of a man, albeit her husband. Holy hemlock, she'd known him for less than two months.

Summoning her courage, Sabrina opened the connecting door and stepped inside her husband's chamber. Quietly, she closed the door behind her lest she try escape.

Wearing a sapphire-blue bedrobe, Adam stood in front of the hearth. He turned around slowly as if he felt her gaze on him.

Adam nearly laughed out loud at his bride's anxious expression. She had the look of a woman on her way to the gallows.

Dropping his gaze to her body, Adam felt his manhood stirring with anticipation, and his breath caught raggedly in his throat. She was too beautiful to be real, even more beautiful than he had imagined.

Adam admired her shapely legs, the alluring curves of her hips, and her pink-tipped nipples that played a teasing game of peekaboo through the gown's transparent material. All that he saw belonged to him. In a few short minutes, he would bury himself deep within her and possess her body.

She is uninitiated
, he told himself when he lifted his gaze to her face.
Go slowly with her or you will regret it for the rest of your life.

"Come, Princess," Adam said in a husky voice, holding his hand out in invitation.

Slowly, Sabrina crossed the chamber to stand in front of him. He held her gaze for one long moment and then lifted her hands to his lips.

Adam slipped the winter rose betrothal ring off her left hand and placed it on the third finger of her right hand. He smiled at her confused expression, reached into his pocket, and produced a golden wedding band.

"With this ring I thee wed," Adam whispered, slipping the scrolled band onto the third finger of her left hand while reciting its inscription, "
Pour amor say douc
... for love so sweet."

Sabrina smiled at him then, and it reminded him of the French sunshine he loved so much.

"Sit here on the chaise," he said. "We'll share a glass of champagne and talk."

"You only want to talk?" she exclaimed.

Adam couldn't tell if she was relieved or disappointed. He took her hand in his and walked the short distance to the chaise. "Sit beside me," he said.