she hadn't been able to control her emotions.
She was shivering with exhaustion and cold now. Royce felt her tremble and tightened his hold. 'You should get under the covers before you freeze,' he told her in a gruff whisper.
She ignored that suggestion. Nicholaa didn't understand why, but she needed him to hold her a little while longer. 'You must think I'm a baby,' she said. 'I'm acting just like Ulric.'
'You might act like him, but you smell much better.'
Nicholaa heard the amusement in his voice and realized he was teasing her. It was an odd reaction to the tragic events that had taken place. 'Royce?'
'Yes?'
A long minute passed before she could get her question out. 'Am I a traitor?'
'No.'
The force in his denial made her jump. 'Don't be angry with me. There's been too much anger tonight.'
He held her chin and forced her to look up at him. 'I'm not angry with you. The question made me angry, that's all. Thurston called you a traitor, didn't he?'
Tears filled her eyes again. He was amazed she had any left. 'God, Nicholaa, don't start crying again. It's over now. Thurston's safe.'
'I knew he'd be safe,' she cried out. 'I was worried about you.'
Her vehemence surprised him. He didn't know if he should be insulted or not. 'Have you so little faith in my ability?'
She jabbed his chest with her fingers. 'Your ability has nothing to do with this.'
'It doesn't?'
He looked thoroughly confused. 'No, of course not.'
'Nicholaa, make sense.'
'Thurston's my brother.'
'I'm aware of that.'
'I know him better than you do.'
'Yes.'
'He has many fine qualities.'
'Don't you dare defend him to me.'
She tried to turn away from him. Royce wouldn't let her. He forced her to look up at him again, then trailed the backs of his fingers down her cheek. 'He did this, didn't he?' he asked with a frown as fierce as the welt on her face. 'If you tell me he didn't mean to strike you, I'll completely lose my patience.'
'How did you know Thurston struck me? Did he tell you?'
'You've got a mark the size of a man's fist on your face, wife. That's how I know.'
The fury in his voice made her shiver. 'You won't lose your patience,' she said. 'And that's what I'm trying to explain to you. Thurston has a terrible temper. From the time he was a little boy, he would react before he would think. Papa was often in despair. He couldn't seem to teach Thurston restraint. My brother doesn't fight with honor, Royce. You do.'
His smile was filled with tenderness. 'And how do you know how I fight?'
'I just know,' she answered. 'You have strong values. You've learned to control your temper. You're extremely patient, too. On the journey to London, when I kept trying to get away from you and you kept catching me, you never once lost your temper.'
Nicholaa was suddenly weary. She leaned against Royce again. 'The war changed Thurston. He's full of hate now. He wouldn't have fought fairly.'
'And you believe I would?'
'Of course.'
He kissed the top of her head, then lifted her into his arms and carried her to the bed. He was smiling inside. He didn't think she realized how she'd just complimented him. His wife didn't understand what was fair and what wasn't. She obviously thought there were specific rules of conduct.
She had it all wrong, aye, but he wasn't going to explain that in a fight there weren't any rules. He was too pleased she'd been concerned about him.
He set her on her feet next to the bed, then reached for the ribbon that held her chemise in place. 'What are you doing?' she asked.
'Taking this off,' he answered.
She tried to push his hands away. The straps of the undergarment slipped down her arms. 'I want it on.'
'I don't.'
The chemise fell to the floor. Nicholaa was too embarrassed by her nakedness to argue. She jerked the covers back and got into bed. Royce got only a glimpse of a blush before she cocooned herself under the quilts.
Her shyness amused him. Royce stripped out of his clothes, blew the candle out, and got into bed. He was pleased he didn't have to force her into his arms. The cold had done that for him. Nicholaa rolled up against his side to borrow some of his heat. He turned onto his side, wrapped his arms around her, trapped her legs between his own, and tucked her head under his chin. In minutes her shivers were gone.
He liked holding her in his arms. Her scent was light and appealing enough to drive a man to distraction. He wanted her. He let out a long sigh over that realization. It was too soon for her. He'd hurt her last night, and she needed time for the tenderness to ease. She'd been through purgatory tonight, too, and she needed time to recover from that upset as well. No, he shouldn't touch her.
His body wasn't paying any attention to the decisions his mind was making. He was already hard, hurting with his need to be inside her.
Hell, he had no more discipline than a goat when he was near her. Royce didn't understand his lack of control. She was just his wife. Nothing more. It was actually a little astonishing that she had this strong an effect on him.
'What are you going to do with Thurston?' Nicholaa murmured into the darkness. Her whole body tensed in anticipation of his answer.
'I'm not going to do anything with him.'
She didn't understand. 'Did you lock him up? You're taking him to London, aren't you?'
She was getting all worked up again. Royce squeezed her. 'I let him leave, Nicholaa.'
She was stunned by that news. She didn't say anything for a long minute. Then she asked, 'Will you get into trouble because you let him go?'
Her question was so ridiculous that he smiled. 'No,' he answered dryly.
'I heard a commotion,' she said. 'It sounded as though the walls had caved in.'
Nicholaa put her hand on his chest while she waited for him to explain. Her skin was so incredibly warm. Her fingers caressed him absentmindedly. He stopped her by putting his hand on hers. Another minute or so passed before she finally realized he wasn't going to say anything more. She guessed she'd have to prod him. 'Was there a fight?'
'No.'
'Then what was that noise I heard?'
He let out a long sigh. She wasn't going to give up. 'The mantel fell to the floor.' He sounded half asleep.
She leaned up to look at him and saw that his eyes were closed. 'It just fell?'
'Go to sleep, Nicholaa. It's late.'
'Why did you let Thurston leave?'
'You know why.'
'You let him leave because of me, didn't you?'
He didn't answer her.
She kissed his chin. 'Thank you.'
He opened his eyes and frowned at her. 'You have nothing to thank me for,' he said in a hard, thoroughly unlikable voice. 'I wanted to talk to Thurston, and that's what I did. I gave him an opportunity to surrender. He
