his mouth to confirm it and then changed his mind. Her hands were clasped together so tightly at her waist that he could see the whites of her knuckles and her stance was tense, the way soldiers looked before a battle. Was that how she thought of their reunion, as a battle? Perhaps he ought not to reprimand her for tardiness this time after all, although as to what else he might say... He cleared his throat awkwardly. He hadn’t expected to be quite so—what was the word?—speechless...
‘You’ve grown.’
They were the first words that came into his head, though judging by the immediate flash in her eyes, they were also the wrong ones. Oddly enough, however, he found the defiant spark reassuring. Those frightened grey eyes—he’d thought they were grey anyway—from their wedding day had haunted him ever since.
‘It’s been five years.’ Her retort sounded even more brittle.
‘I suppose so. You were just a child when we last met.’
Another flash, even brighter this time. ‘I was fourteen.’
‘As I said, just a child.’ He inclined his head as she jutted her chin forward slightly. ‘Or do you not think fourteen young?’
‘I think it depends. Some ladies run households at fourteen.’
‘Not many, I should think, and not on their own.’
‘That doesn’t make it impossible.’
‘No—’ he wasn’t quite sure why they were arguing ‘—but perhaps not advisable either.’
She thrust her chin out even further, looking as if she were on the verge of arguing some more, before changing her mind and dropping her eyes instead. ‘I’m sure that you’re right, my lord.’
‘You’re nineteen now?’ He decided to move the conversation on to safer territory.
‘Yes, my lord, and you twenty-four?’
‘Twenty-five.’ He lifted an eyebrow at her forthrightness. A man’s age wasn’t something a lady would usually ask, but then he had just asked hers. Fair was fair. ‘It was my birth date last month.’
‘Oh.’ She pursed her lips as if she were less than impressed by the fact. ‘Then I wish you a happy birthday, my lord.’
He didn’t bother to lower his eyebrow, surprised by the strange combination of submissiveness and defiance about her. There was an undercurrent of antagonism in her voice that suggested she was angry at him, but why? It wasn’t as if he’d expected a joyous reunion, but she was as tense and defensive as a cornered animal. Surely it wasn’t because he’d said that she’d grown? It had only been a statement of fact, although in retrospect, he supposed some kind of compliment might have been more appropriate...especially as an introduction...and he was frowning again...
‘My friends call me Matthew. You may do so, too, if you wish.’ He attempted a small, very small, smile. Under the circumstances, it was the best he could do.
‘Very well.’
‘I hope that we can be friends...’ he held on to her gaze, loath to state the obvious, though it appeared to be necessary ‘...since we’ve already vowed to spend the rest of our lives together.’
This time the flash was so bright it practically scorched him. ‘I had not forgotten.’
Matthew folded his arms, attempting to restrain a growing sense of irritation. So much for getting to know her. The relief and attraction he’d felt when she’d entered was already wearing thin. He was back to being irritated again—and starting to wonder whether one of her cousins might have been preferable after all.
‘You seem uncomfortable, lady.’ He made one last attempt at conversation. ‘Ours is a strange situation, is it not?’
‘I did not say so.’ Her eyes flickered towards the daybed. ‘I am here, my l—Matthew.’
He followed the direction of her gaze. Was that why she was behaving so combatively? Since the position of the bed wasn’t exactly subtle, he could only imagine what her aunt had told her to expect. Personally, he wasn’t sure whether to feel amused or offended, but he supposed in that case it was no wonder she looked so tense, as if she expected him to leap on her at any moment. Well, he could set her mind at ease on that score at least. He had no intention of doing anything besides talking to her today and he’d just about lost patience with that.
‘Which doesn’t answer the question.’ He decided to be blunt. ‘Perhaps you are displeased with me?’
‘I do not know you.’ She looked straight at him then, blue-grey eyes bright as sapphires and blazing with some fierce emotion. ‘Like you say, this is a strange situation and we are strangers. How could I be anything but uncomfortable?’
‘You’re right.’ He considered briefly before unfolding his arms. ‘Then perhaps it might help you to know that I feel the same way. We barely know each other and yet tonight we’re expected to sit side by side at a feast and make a public show of ourselves. I’m a soldier. I’ve no idea how to play the husband, but...I am here, too.’
He planted his feet firmly apart, waiting for another spark, possibly a whole bonfire this time, but instead she simply regarded him with a look of surprise.
‘You feel the same way?’
‘I’d rather face a dozen French soldiers single-handed. No offence, lady.’
‘I do not think I’d fare so well against a dozen French soldiers, but...’ her tense expression eased slightly ‘...I’ve no idea how to play the wife either.’
‘Then perhaps we’re well matched after all.’ He took a step closer, holding a hand out palm upwards towards her. ‘Although I don’t believe you would ever be called on to fight. I’m sure any French soldiers would be smitten by your charms first.’
As compliments went he’d thought it wasn’t too bad, for a first attempt anyway, surely nothing that would justify the way her eyes suddenly widened and her cheeks flushed as if he’d just insulted her.
‘There’s no need to mock me.’
‘Mock you?’ He was surprised by the tremor of emotion in her voice. ‘I was not...’
‘My charms?’
She lifted her hands, clasping them together over her chest protectively, though it still took him a few moments to work out what she was referring to and then a few more to believe it. Then he burst out laughing.
‘It’s not funny!’ Her cheeks were practically crimson now.
‘It is if you thought I meant that! Those!’ He cleared his throat, attempting to pull himself back together, but now that he’d started laughing it was proving difficult to stop. It had been so long since anything had really amused him.
‘Stop it!’ She sounded furious now.
‘Forgive me, lady...’ he eventually succeeded in stifling his laughter ‘...but I swear I was not mocking you. I was simply referring to your beauty.’
‘Then
