permission to pursue an interest or a worry, and Colin had best understand she had a mind of her own and could use it upon occasion.
'Promise me, Alesandra,' he demanded again.
'No.'
He couldn't believe what he'd just heard. 'No?'
Because her face was still tucked under his chin and he couldn't possibly see her expression, she felt it safe to grimace. Lord, he sounded surly. His arm tightened around her. A good wife probably would try to placate her husband, she supposed.
She guessed she didn't have it in her to be a good wife, however, for no man-not even Colin-was going to direct her actions.
Ask his permission indeed! She pushed herself away from him and sat up. Her hair covered half her face. She brushed it back over her shoulder and matched him glare for glare.
'Marriage is new to you, Colin, and so you will have to take my word when I tell you…'
'Correct me if I'm wrong, but haven't we been married the exact length of time?'
'Yes…'
'Then marriage is just as new to you too, isn't it?'
She nodded.
'New or old, Alesandra, the vows haven't changed. Wives obey their husbands.'
'Ours is not a usual marriage,' she countered. 'You and I settled upon an agreement of sorts before we spoke our vows. You've obviously forgotten and for that reason I will not take exception to your outrageous command. I will remind you, however, that we both agreed not to hover.'
'No we didn't.'
'It was an unspoken promise we gave to each other. I told you I didn't want a husband who hovered and you admitted you didn't want a wife who hovered, either.'
'What the hell does that have to do with…'
'By hover I meant someone who interferes,' she told him. 'You've made it perfectly clear on several occasions that you don't wish my help or interference in your business affairs and I would now like to take this opportunity to insist you not interfere in my affairs.'
She couldn't quite look into his eyes. His incredulous expression made her nervous. She turned her gaze to his chin. 'My father would never have forbidden my mother anything. Their marriage was based upon a foundation of mutual trust and respect. In time I hope we can achieve the same kind of arrangement.'
'Are you finished?'
She was pleased that he didn't sound angry with her. Colin was going to be reasonable about this after all. He had listened to what she had to say and hadn't allowed his arrogant nature to get in the way.
'Yes, thank you.'
'Look at me.'
She immediately lifted her gaze to his eyes. He didn't say another word for a long minute. His stare made her worry, though. His expression didn't give her a hint of what he was thinking and his amazing ability to mask his thoughts and his feelings did impress her. She was a little envious, too. She wished she had that much control.
'Did you want to say something to me?' she asked when she couldn't stand the silence a second longer.
He nodded. She smiled.
'You will not talk to the viscount about his wife.'
They were right back where they'd started. Colin obviously hadn't heard a word she'd said. She felt like kicking the stubborn man. She didn't, of course, because she was a lady, and her impossible husband was never going to know how furious she was.
God's truth, he could make Mother Superior curse in vexation.
Colin forced himself not to smile. The issue was too important to turn into a laughing matter, but, dear God, her expression was priceless. She looked like she wanted to kill him.
'Give me your promise, wife.'
'Oh, all right,' she cried out. 'You win. I won't bother the viscount.'
'This isn't about winning or losing,' he countered. 'The viscount has enough on his mind. I don't want you adding to his misery.'
'You don't trust my judgment at all, do you, Colin?'
'No.'
That answer hurt her far more than his high-handed command. She tried to turn away from him, but he reached out and grabbed hold of her chin. 'Do you trust my judgment yet?'
He fully expected to hear the same denial. She didn't know him well enough to give him her complete trust. In time, of course, when they had both learned the other's ways, she would begin to give him her trust.
'Yes, of course I trust your judgment.'
He couldn't contain his surprise or his pleasure. He grabbed her by the back of her neck, pulled her toward him, and leaned up at the same time to kiss her hard.
'I'm pleased to know you have instinctively put your faith in me already,' he told her.
She leaned back and frowned at him. 'It wasn't instinctive,' she said. 'You had already proven to me that you can upon occasion use sound judgment.'
'When was that?'
'When you married me. You used sound judgment then. I understand now, of course, that you knew something I didn't.'
'And what did I know?'
'That no one else would have you.'
She'd deliberately tried to prick his temper with that remark, for she was still irritated with him, but Colin wasn't at all offended. The slap at his arrogance went unnoticed. He either didn't know she'd just insulted him or he didn't care, she decided when he burst into laughter.
'You please me, Alesandra.'
'Of course I please you. I just gave in.'
She fluffed her pillow, then got back under the covers to rest on her side. 'Marriage is more complicated than I anticipated,' she whispered. 'Will I always have to be the one to concede?'
God, she sounded forlorn. 'No, you won't always have to concede.'
Her unladylike snort told him she didn't believe him. 'Marriage is a give-and-take arrangement,' he speculated.
'With the wife doing all the giving and the husband doing all the taking?'
He didn't answer that question. He turned on his side and pulled her up against him. Her shoulders rested against his chest and her bottom was pressed against his groin. The backs of her thighs, so smooth and silky, covered the tops of his thighs, and, God, how he loved the feel of her against him. He draped one arm over her hip, dropped his chin to rest on top of her head, and closed his eyes.
Long minutes passed in silence. He thought Alesandra had already fallen asleep and was just easing away from her when she whispered, 'I dislike the word
'I gathered as much,' he told her dryly. 'A princess really shouldn't have to obey anyone.' It was a paltry argument. 'But you're my princess,' he reminded her. 'And you will therefore do what I think is best. We're both going to have to bow to tradition for a while,' he added. 'Neither one of us has any experience being married. I'm not an ogre, but the fact is you did promise to obey. I specifically remember hearing your pledge when you were reciting your vows.'
'I wish you would be more reasonable.'
'I'm always reasonable.'
'Colin?'
'Yes?'
'Do go to sleep.'
He let her have the last word. He waited a long while until he was certain she had fallen asleep before he left her bed and went back to his own chamber.
