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complain about’ is seldom used to flatter a lady.”
    “Indeed, you have me there.” Even under the intermittent flicker of the torchlight, Rowena could see the unmistakable flare of interest in his eyes. Eyes that had grown darker with each passing moment. “While I hardly think I need to woo my wife, all this talk of beauty makes me think that you desire me to court you.”
    “That’s…” she spluttered, “that’s utterly ridiculous. I have no wish to be courted.”
    “Just bedded and married then?”
    “Certainly no wish for either of these.”
    “The last of these has been accomplished but I can add in some wooing if it sweetens the idea of being bedded. You are obviously acquainted with the art of wooing for you to criticize my efforts—”
    “Not at all—”
    “Tell me, what words should I be using?”
    “I have no interest in such matters. You purposely misunderstand.”
    “Your protestations simply convince me further of my rightness.”
    “So… if I speak, you disbelieve me, and if I say nothing, I cannot defend myself.”
    “ That is about the sum of it.”
    “Then I shall save myself the bother of conversing.” Rowena rose. “I’ll bid you goodnight, sir. Do not even think to disturb me.”
    “You seem to forget, lady, that we share the same solar.”
    “You touch me and—”
    “You would enjoy it, believe me.”
    “You would not force me?”
    “You’re right. I would not. I never have, and I never will, force a woman into my bed—the thought is abhorrent to me. But I will lie close to you, watching you, but not touching you. And then there’s tomorrow. Tomorrow, ’twill be different.” He looked at her thoughtfully. “Tomorrow we will begin our courtship.”
    A thrill of excitement shot through her, as she remembered his lips against hers. She couldn’t risk being close to him, couldn’t risk being weakened by lust. “Surely you have better things to do.”
    “Aye. I have. We can inspect the estates together. Tomorrow, show me the estate’s business at the port. Seduce me with your words of business and I’ll seduce you with my words of love.”
    “You’re wasting your time. Instead of seduction you should be about your business.”
    “As of today, seduction is my business. And I’m going nowhere until you come to me willingly.” The noise she uttered made him laugh. “Go to bed, sweetheart, gather your strength. You’ll be needing it.”
    Rowena gritted her teeth at his arrogance but did not reply. She didn’t trust herself. Instead she walked away without a backward glance, calling to her maid who was laughingly fighting off the attentions of one of Saher’s men.
    It certainly wasn’t the heat of the fire that enflamed her cheeks and her body now, but anger at finding her freedom curtailed. Nothing else. Certainly nothing to do with the hot lick of desire his touch, his words and his eyes had sparked. Certainly nothing to do with the knowledge that there was clearly only one way to get him to leave the castle—to allow herself to be seduced by him.

CHAPTER FOUR

    “’Tis too dark to see in this small room, my lady,” Birghiva muttered as she opened the shutters to let in what little light there was, before returning to fuss over Rowena’s hair.
    Rowena’s gaze was immediately drawn to the faint outline of the deserted tower on top of the hill, barely visible in the pre-dawn light. Despite her dread of the place and the memories it held for her, her gaze was inevitably drawn to it, a constant reminder of what could happen to a woman.
    “Turn to me, my lady, I cannot dress your hair if you insist on twisting around.”
    “Keep your voice down, Birghiva. I don’t want Sir Saher awakened.”
    “You look tired, my lady,” she whispered.
    Rowena knew the question Birghiva wanted to ask, but she wasn’t of a mind to answer it. Let people think what they wished. For, if people thought she hadn’t lain with Saher, that they weren’t properly married,