The Adventurer's Wife by Anne Herries

Author:Anne Herries
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2004-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

The celebrations had gone on until late into the evening, and Anne Marie had danced with several gentlemen before dancing once more with her husband. Although she had taken part in both the country-dances, and the galliard with others, it was only with Kit that she became so heated, something she knew he was aware of and which caused his eyes to gleam.

He smiled at her, a half tender, half mocking look in his eyes, as their fourth dance of the evening ended.

‘So, my love, I think we begin,’ he murmured softly against her ear as he released her. ‘The hour is late. I believe your guests will forgive you if you retire now.’

Anne Marie inclined her head in assent, not speaking. She could not find the breath to speak because her heart was beating like a drum. She left his side and made her way to Lady Sarah, who smiled her understanding.

‘You want to leave now?’

‘I—I believe it is time.’ Anne Marie ran the tip of her pink tongue over her lips. ‘May we slip away quietly?’

‘I fear that may not be possible, but we shall try.’

However, once it was seen that the bride was about to leave, those gentlemen who had imbibed a little too freely of their host’s good wine gave a great cheer. Several of them followed her and Lady Sarah from the room, singing and jesting as everyone trooped up the stairs to the upper landing. At the door of the bridal chamber, Lady Sarah turned and stopped them with a shake of her head and bid them goodnight.

‘You will respect my daughter-in-law’s modesty, good sirs,’ she said firmly. ‘She thanks you for your kind wishes and she wishes you good night.’

There were a few protests, for the custom of seeing the bride bedded had been a popular one and some would have liked to see it continue. However, in these enlightened days there were many who believed it belonged to the past and Lady Sarah had her way, and with some grumbling the guests went back to their feasting, though still singing and calling out in a bawdy fashion.

‘There, that was not so very bad,’ Sarah said, smiling at her new daughter as the door closed behind them. ‘You must forgive them their manners, Anne Marie. I dare say a few will have sore heads in the morning, and some of them will have their ears severely boxed by their good wives if I am not mistaken.’

Anne Marie laughed, her embarrassment gone as she listened to her mother-in-law’s good sense.

‘They have drunk too much,’ she said. ‘I think I may have drunk a little too much at dinner, though I have not touched a drop of wine since.’

‘Then have a little of this,’ Sarah brought her a cup of the sweet honey wine she had enjoyed earlier. ‘It will relax you, my love—and now I shall help you to undress myself.’

Anne Marie stood still while her laces were unfastened, sipping her wine as she

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