'All right then. I'll trust you.'
Her immediate agreement pleased him. Colin understood why she wanted to know beforehand exactly what was going to happen. It was a way for Alesandra to gain control. The more she knew, the less afraid she would be.
It was usual and customary for a young lady to get the needed information from her mother, of course. At least, Colin thought that was how it worked. He assumed his mother had spoken to his sister Catherine about the marriage act. Regardless, Alesandra's mother had died before her daughter was old enough to need such knowledge.
And so one of the nuns had tried to take over the duty. 'Exactly how old is this mother superior?' he asked.
'She looks eighty, but I imagine she's probably younger,' Alesandra replied. 'I never dared ask her. Why do you ask?'
'Never mind,' he said. He turned the topic back to her worry. 'Alesandra, I'm going to explain everything you need to know.'
The tenderness in his voice felt like a soothing stroke against her cheek. 'You will?'
'Yes,' he promised almost absentmindedly. His mind was occupied trying to picture the ancient nun explaining the facts of life to Alesandra, using such descriptive words as
Alesandra saw the sparkle in Colin's eyes and immediately jumped to the conclusion that her naivete amused him.
'I'm sorry I'm acting so… inexperienced.'
'You are inexperienced,' he gently reminded her.
'Yes, and I'm sorry.'
Colin laughed. 'I'm not,' he told her.
'You'll really answer all my questions?' she asked, still not certain she believed him. 'You won't leave anything out? I don't like surprises.'
'I won't leave anything out.'
She let out a sigh. She quit twisting the wrinkles in her gown, too. Colin's promise had just helped her regain control of her fear. She didn't even mind that he found her embarrassment amusing. He was going to give her the necessary information and that was all that counted. Her relief made her weak with gratitude.
'Well, then, it's going to be all right,' she announced. 'Shouldn't we get out of the carriage now?'
Colin agreed. He jumped out first, then turned to assist Alesandra. Both the guards were frowning with obvious concern for their princess. They wanted her under lock and key.
Flannaghan hovered in the doorway, waiting to greet his new mistress. He took her cloak from her, draped it over his arm, and then gave her his heartfelt congratulations.
'If you would like to go upstairs now I'll prepare your bathwater, Princess,' he suggested.
The idea of a long hot bath after the stress-filled day appealed to her. It would be her second today, but Mother Superior had told her that cleanliness was next to godliness so she didn't feel at all decadent.
'Colin's going to have a talk with me in the study,' she told Flannaghan. 'I'll have my bath after.'
'Have your bath first,' Colin suggested. 'I have some papers to look over.'
It was a lie, of course. Colin didn't have any intention of working on his wedding night, but he thought a bath might help relax Alesandra, and she looked in need of the diversion.
It had been one hell of a wedding day for her, and even though she appeared to be a little less worried and a little more in control of her emotions now, he knew her nerves were still frayed.
'As you wish,' Alesandra agreed. She turned to follow the butler up the steps. Colin was right behind her.
'Was it a beautiful wedding?' Flannaghan asked.
'Oh, yes,' Alesandra answered, her voice filled with enthusiasm. 'Everything went quite well. Didn't it, Colin?'
'You were almost kidnapped,' he reminded her.
'Yes, but other than that, it was wonderful, wasn't it?'
'And terrorized.'
'Yes, but..'
'They destroyed your wedding dress.'
She stopped on the top step and whirled around to glare at him. She obviously didn't want to be reminded of those incidents.
'Every bride wishes to believe her wedding was perfect,' she announced.
He winked at her. 'Then it was perfect,' he announced.
She smiled, satisfied.
Flannaghan waited until he and Alesandra were alone in her bedroom to nag the details out of her. Raymond and Stefan carried in additional buckets of hot, steaming water to fill the oval tub. The butler had thoughtfully unpacked her clothes and had placed a white gown and wrapper on her bed.
She took her time in the bath. The hot water relaxed her and helped ease the tension out of her shoulders. She washed her hair with the rose-scented soap, then sat by the hearth to dry it. Alesandra didn't worry about hurrying because she knew Colin was busy working and had probably already lost track of the time.
At least an hour had passed before she decided to interrupt him. Her hair was completely dry, but after she put on her robe, she took another ten minutes or so brushing the curls again. She was yawning every other minute. The hot bath, added to the heat radiating from the fire in the hearth, made her drowsy, and she didn't want to fall asleep during Colin's explanation.
She went down the hallway to the study. She knocked on the door, then walked inside. Colin wasn't at his desk. Alesandra wasn't certain if he'd gone into his bedroom or downstairs. She decided to wait in the study for him, assuming he would want to have his talk with her there, and went over to the desk to collect a sheet of paper. She was just reaching for the pen and inkwell when Colin appeared in the doorway to his bedroom.
The sight of him took her breath away. Colin had obviously just had a bath too, for his hair was still damp. He wasn't dressed, but wore only a pair of black pants. They weren't buttoned.
He had a powerful build. His skin was beautifully bronzed and the bulge of sinewy strength hiding under the sleek exterior reminded her of a panther. The roped muscles rolled ever so slightly when he moved. His chest was covered with a thick mat of dark curly hair that tapered to a V at his waist.
She didn't look any lower.
Colin leaned against the doorframe, folded his arms across his chest, and smiled at her. A faint blush stained her cheeks. She was folding and refolding the sheet of paper in her hands and desperately trying to act nonchalant, and he knew he was going to have to take it slow and easy with her in order to help her keep her fear at bay. It was going to be a difficult undertaking, because Colin had never taken a virgin to his bed before and the sight of Alesandra in her white gown and robe was already sending heat coursing through his body. He was getting aroused just looking at her. His gaze was centered on her mouth and he was thinking what he would like her to do to him with those sweet, full, pouting lips.
'Colin, what are you thinking?'
He didn't believe it would be a good idea to tell her the truth. 'I was wondering what you're doing with that paper,' he lied instead.
Her concentration had become so scattered from her nervousness she had to look down at her hands before she understood what he was asking her. 'Notes,' she blurted out with a quick nod.
He raised an eyebrow. 'Notes?'
'Yes. I thought I would take notes during your explanation so I won't forget anything important. Is that all right, Colin?'
The worry in her voice cut through his amusement. 'How very organized of you,' he said.
She smiled. 'Thank you. My father was the first to teach me how important it is to be organized. Then Mother Superior took over my training.'
Dear God, she wished she could quit rambling.
'How old were you when your father died?'
