Chapter Thirteen

The next morning, Ana is again pleasantly surprised when Christian visits her suite, and grateful that she's finished eating. Noting that he's wearing a woollen mantle, unnecessary inside the castle this time of year, she asks, "Ran out of barons to bully?"

He smiles and says, "Unfortunately not; I doubt that's going to happen any time soon. No, Master Rodriguez has arrived, and seeks an audience with you."

Pleased at the thought of seeing her lifelong friend, and nervous how the encounter will go given that Christian obviously intends to join them, she says, "Oh. We're not yet married, so why would he ask you for permission?"

"He didn't. As is proper, he asked your host, and Father informed me. At least Rodriguez has manners, though I still don't trust him." Ana's face must have betrayed her concern, because he holds up a hand, saying, "You've said he's your friend, and I trust you."

Thanking the maid for assisting with her cloak, Ana asks Christian, "What do you think he wants?"

"Other than you?"

She's too honest to deny it, and doubts she could achieve the lie anyway with Christian studying her, but can't quite meet his gaze to say, "Yes."

For some reason, this seems to please Christian, and his mood noticeably brightens as he offers his arm and says, "Let's go find out. He's waiting in the courtyard."

On such a fine day, and despite the morning chill lingering, the main doors are wide open, letting light and air into the palace, so they're not yet outside when Christian sees a handsome young man who must be Rodriguez nervously waiting, holding the bridle of perhaps the most beautiful horse he's ever seen, and he owns an Andalusian stallion that reliably inspires jealousy in other riders. However, this stunning creature appears not just golden, but gold, as if cast from molten metal and given life. They've not even descended the steps down into the courtyard when Anastasia exclaims and leaves Christian's side at a run. He's wondering if perhaps she has after all understated her feelings for her friend—currently bowing low in greeting—when it's obvious that her enthusiasm is for man's mount.

Rodriguez straightens and ruefully explains, "Lady Anastasia was ever more interested in Aurelio than in me."

She laughs a little and, still with her arms wrapped around the creature's neck, says, "I'm sorry, but I haven't seen him in forever." The stallion is softly nickering and rubbing his head against her in a caress that threatens to knock her down, and she adds, "Look, he remembers me."

Rodriguez smiles and dares, "Well, you're unforgettable." And then he offers the reins, saying, "My Lady."

Anastasia's face lights with joy, causing a stab of jealousy in Christian, and she asks, "You're finally willing to let me ride him?"

Her friend offers another formal bow, and says, "A wedding gift."

Christian has understood, because he'd also surrender his finest possession to remain in her favour, but Anastasia asks, "You're giving him to me?"

Rodriguez smiles and says, "Technically, to the bride and groom. But, if His Royal Highness can persuade you to share Aurelio, then he is better than me."

Damn right! Christian now greets their visitor with a small bow and says, "Well met, Master Rodriguez, and well done."

Anastasia still appears in mild shock and says, "José, thank you, this is the finest gift I've ever received, but are you sure?"

He smiles and says, "I'm sure. I'll soon be a knight, and though he is my fastest horse, Aurelio is not built to carry a man in full armour." Gesturing to the beast in question, still using Anastasia as a scratching post, he concludes, "And he loves you."

Worried that she'd dare it anyway, without seeking his approval—and, yes, wanting to please her—Christian suggests, "Why don't you find out if he'll tolerate you, my love? Just within the grounds for today."

His bride does not need to be told twice, and vaults into the saddle as if born to it. He'd heard that she can ride, but such ease suggests a skill that rivals his own. He's never yet completely trusted a horse; they're too unpredictable. But, as with every other skill he's attempted, his fears demanded that he excel. They watch Anastasia guide Aurelio first into a trot and soon into a canter—his gait is perfection—and Christian asks, "Where did you find such a fine animal?"

"They breed them in Turkmenistan, Highness, on the far side of the Caspian Sea. My late father bought him as a colt from an Arab in Genoa, and presented him to me as reward for following in his footsteps. Sadly, Father won't see me take the final steps, but Aurelio remains as proof of his pride, and a reminder of his love for me."

Perhaps they can be allies after all. Christian asks, "When do you complete your training?"

"If all goes well, around this time next year, Highness."

"As you're a friend of that family, King Raymond would have knighted you?"

Out of the corner of his eye, Christian sees the squire dart a glance at him before saying, "Yes, Highness. My master will now take his place."

He doesn't yet trust the man enough to share secrets, but says, "Well, that won't do at all. When you're ready for the accolade, and with your permission, I'd be honoured to perform the service myself."

For the first time there is something like genuine respect in the young man's voice when he says, "Thank you, Your Highness. The honour would be mine."

Christian drags his gaze from the beguiling sight of his beloved on horseback and offers the squire his outstretched hand, suggesting, "For Anastasia?"

Rodriguez proves smart enough to hesitate only a moment before clasping Christian's forearm in the informal greeting of two equals, and vow, "For Anastasia."

As Christian escorts Ana back to her chambers, she enquires, "You believe me now, that he's merely a loyal friend?"

He smiles a little and says, "I always believed you. But that didn't mean I could trust him."

"But you're not jealous anymore."

His smile widens and he replies, "Of a man who holds less appeal than a dumb beast? Hardly."

Laughing, Ana insists, "Christian, I'm serious."

He chuckles and says, "Clearly." But then he relents enough to reveal, "I called for a truce on your behalf, and he wisely accepted. I told him to come back in a year, when he's ready to be dubbed knight, and I'll oblige him."

Ana knows that, though almost any nobleman can knight a squire who's completed his training, the recipient holds much more prestige if knighted by royalty. "Oh, darling, you'd do that for him?" And then she remembers, and is brought to a standstill by the memory. Not even Katya is with them right now, but she glances around to make sure only Taylor might overhear her whisper, "You'll be King by then." Not only King, but the only one in more than a million square miles.

Christian smiles and says, "Yes. So, you approve?"

Weeping happy tears, and uncaring of them, Ana asks, "You know what this would mean for his career, for his family?"

"Of course."

Shaking her head, sending droplets flying, she asks, "Well...why would you do that for a man you've just met?"

He inclines his head in a slight bow and reveals, "I wouldn't."

She takes a deep shuddering breath and understands, "You did this for me. To please me."

"Yes."

Smiling through her tears, Ana vows, "Two days now seems like an eternity."

His expression softens, and he argues, "It's not. I can wait."

Ana sobs a laugh and dries her eyes as she jokes, "Maybe you can." And, in that moment, she notices that any fears she might have had about her wedding night have dissolved as if they never existed, and she quietly begs, "My first time, could it be in your room?"

Christian at first looks confused, and then shocked. "My locked room?" When she merely nods, he shakes his head, saying, "No. Like I said, I'll not use any of the implements my first time. I was introduced to the pleasures of the flesh in a similar manner, and it was like being plunged into the Neretva." At her confusion, he adds, "A river that flows through Croatia. Even in summer, it remains cold enough to steal your breath."

Resolving to check an atlas when she next has the opportunity, Ana explains, "I don't necessarily mean with implements, though I still trust you in that regard. I just want..." And then she notices, "You said 'my', as if this will be your first time too."

His eyes widen in surprise. He obviously hadn't noticed. And then Christian shrugs, claiming, "I misspoke."

"You're lying."

He doesn't look angry, or ashamed, but asks, "How can you tell?"

Only love in her heart, Ana smiles and tenderly accuses, "You're terrible at it." They're both smiling when she continues, "Probably something you should work on, if we're to rule."

He breathes a laugh and agrees, "Probably." And then he sobers to reveal, "I do feel like this will be my first time. Only to you shall I confess to feeling a little nervous."

Mystified, given his comparatively vast experience, Ana asks, "Of what?" And then she knows. "Failure."

He nods and says, "Yes. I want it to be perfect for you."

Her sudden need to touch him is powerful enough that Ana's hands are clenched tight together as if in earnest prayer when she asks, "Will you be there?"

He huffs another soft laugh, and jokes, "Ideally."

"And do you yet love me?"

Christian smiles as if he's understood, and reveals, "More every day."

Ana beams at him and confirms, "Then it will be perfect."

Christian nods and offers his arm, so that they're again walking when he concurs, "Two days too long." But he sounds relaxed.

They walk in silence and in peace for a while, and then Ana thinks to ask, "You didn't enjoy your first time?"

"Why would you think...? Oh, the Neretva. You've never swum in icy water?"

Ana is shocked enough to laugh and ask, "Why on earth would I?"

Christian pats her hand where it rests on his forearm, and says, "This winter, I'll introduce you to that pleasure. The water simultaneously burns and freezes you, and your heart will attempt to burst out of your chest to escape the ordeal. When you emerge, you'll tremble as with the ague, even as your feet stamp like you're preparing to run a marathon. Indeed, you'll feel as if you could." After a moment, he continues, "And then it will all just...stop, and you'll be left with such a feeling of bliss that you'll immediately want to dive back in."

Finding the last implausible, even as she believes him, Ana asks, "And this bliss, it happens every time?"

Proving that he's understood that she's not talking about swimming, he presumes, "You didn't ask Lady Katherine?"

"I've not yet seen her, though she must have arrived with José; I know he intended to accompany her family. I suppose she's catching up with Katya, who I dismissed for that purpose early this morning. I wasn't expecting to need a chaperone before this evening."

Christian chuckles and reveals, "Last I heard, Her Grace disappeared into the bedchamber currently assigned to her husband, and has not yet emerged. And Lady Katherine is probably becoming reacquainted with my brother."

Utterly confused, Ana stops walking to ask, "Your brother?"

"Oh, I didn't tell you? That night, when you fell asleep in my arms...a very pleasant experience, by the way. When I was certain you slept soundly, I returned to the adjoining room, to find Claude had vacated it and your friend in a highly compromising position with Elliot."

Though Ana doesn't have siblings, Kate is like a sister, so imagining such a scene means that all she can think to say is, "Oh, God."

Christian laughs and jokes, "I'm not sure he was present."

"What did you do?"

"Slept in the passageway, though the noises emanating from that room made me seriously consider returning to your side."

Trying not to laugh at his ordeal, Ana says, "You could have, darling. Just to sleep. I wouldn't have minded."

"You'd mind very much if a servant had found us like that."

She smiles and reveals, "I guess you didn't notice that I'd taken the precaution of bolting the door."

"Oh, that's unfortunate." Christian shrugs and says, "I'm a soldier; I've slept in far worse conditions." And then he frowns slightly to enquire, "Why would you need a bolt on your bedroom door? Surely not for your father."

Pleased that the last doesn't sound like a question, Ana says, "No, Papa would never. But, uh...several years ago, a visiting nobleman over-imbibed at dinner and..." Becoming afraid at the speed at which fury has found a home on Christian's mien, she insists, "He wasn't successful in his goal."

Ana is imagining thunderclouds on the horizon when Christian quietly suggests, "Which was to take you by force."

"Yes. I won't divulge his name. He yet lives, but with scars from that night sufficient to improve his manners."

The thunderclouds persist for a few moments more, but then his expression softens a little as Christian says, "I'll just have to winkle it out of you." And they're again walking as he asks, "You didn't inform your father?" At her confusion, he quotes, "Yet lives."

"Oh. No, the only other witness was my personal maid, and I swore her to secrecy. Though, sometimes I wonder if she quietly made it known anyway; I heard that the man's fortunes have suffered since."

"Good." After a moment, Christian asks, "Why didn't you tell?"

She shrugs and reveals, "As you say, Papa would not have tolerated the man to live, despite him being a...despite his rank. And I never want to be responsible for someone else's death."

Christian nods and is silent for a while before asking, "You know I've killed many men?"

She laughs at the question, and says, "Of course I know."

"That doesn't bother you?"

"It bothers me that you ever needed to, but I refuse to believe that you'd kill otherwise. One good thing about being a woman is that I don't have to so risk my soul."

Christian again replies with only a nod, and then asks, "But it's true that you are able to defend yourself?"

"I am." And then she grins to inform him, "My male friends taught me."

She's rewarded by the slight hitch in his step at this cheeky information, and then he lovingly accuses, "You test me."

Smiling, Ana reveals, "One of the first things I learned about you, My Lord, is that you like to be tested."

His tone holds great promise when he confirms, "I do." And then he reminds her, "You were telling me why you wanted to begin our private life in the locked room."

"Oh, yes." Gathering her thoughts, Ana soon says, "I've only realised since, but now understand that it's not just a room, it's an extension of you. In a way, it is you. And I trust you. Of course, I reciprocate the courtesy of requiring your consent, so I'm content to forgo the pleasure. But I want this, very much."

Christian silently ponders for several seconds and then comments, "You called it 'beautiful'."

Finally understanding something about her fiancée, Ana stops their progress and is holding both of his hands when she asserts, "It is, and you are."

He studies her for a moment, and then supposes, "You don't mean my face."

"No." And then Ana teases, "Though it is an adequate visage, I suppose."

He's stunning!

Yes, he is.

Christian smiles then, and says, "Tread carefully, my love. Even a man who relishes each new challenge has limits." Ana is marvelling that his words somehow sound less like a threat and more like a promise, and she finally begins to understand why someone might not only tolerate punishment at his hand, but welcome it. Christian is again guiding them towards her rooms as he says, "All right, Anastasia, it shall be as you wish."

"Truly?"

He chuckles at her surprise and says, "Truly. I'm not sure that I should reveal so much, and don't yet know if it will prove to be a blessing or a curse, but I find it difficult to refuse you anything."

Ana grins and claims, "Blessing."

His laughter is warm and relaxed, and Christian points out, "Well, you would say that." They're now outside her chambers, so he bows and says, "Two days, Anastasia, not a moment more."

With a couple of the palace guards now within earshot, Ana resists yet another cheeky response, instead curtsying and farewelling him with, "My Lord." Apparently, even that is enough that desire sparks in his eyes before he blinks it away and is gone.