Caversham's Bride (The Caversham Chronicles - Book One) by Sandy Raven

did.”
    Her eyes met his, a seed of hope taking root in her heart. “Was I dreaming last night,” Lia said softly, her voice quivering, “or did you really say you would help me?”
    She saw his eyes darken with desire. “Yes. I believe we came to an agreement.”
    Her eyes welled with tears. Her brother and Maura’s safety were finally within reach. Her tears never fell for she wiped them away with the backs of her hands. “I promise you, Your Grace, I am not one given to tears. In truth, before my parents died I cannot remember how long it had been since I cried.” She wrung her hands in the folds of the robe, pulling it tighter around her.
    “Given the circumstances, tears are understandable.”
    “Thank you, Your Grace. For everything.”
    “Ren,” he stated.
    “What?”
    “My name is Ren. I find I enjoy hearing you say it. And your thanks is premature. I haven’t done anything yet.”
    “ Mi dispiace ,” she began nervously. “I forgot. It’s just that it is so unconventional, and goes against everything I have been taught.”
    “As of last night, you are now my betrothed, so using my Christian name in private is acceptable.” He moved to sit on the edge of the bed and watched her dry her hair with a towel. The way she moved fascinated and aroused him. “You’ll soon learn that I am not the least bit conventional, Lia.”
    The delicate Egyptian cotton robe she’d wrapped around her was now wet and virtually transparent. Ren didn’t know what was more stimulating, watching her in the tub a moment ago, with the water sluicing over bare skin, or watching her stand in a damp robe that displayed the dark, hardened peaks of her nipples, and the shadows of her woman’s curves to perfection.
    “Conventionality was never a trait I possessed much of, either,” she said.
    She walked to the dressing table to get the comb, and he could just make out the shadow between the cheeks of her derrière. He had to get out of here before he tossed her onto the bed and took much needed relief on her—after first tasting that curving slope of her back, the bare expanse of neck, and that spot behind the sweet lobes of her ears that make her laugh.
    This woman was a natural seductress. Little things, simply her mannerisms and her accent stirred him. He’d had mistresses before, and couldn’t remember ever having this reaction to them. This woman was different. An innocent, she was unaware of her effect on him.
    He should never have come in here. Seeing her this way made him ache with want of her body, and he didn’t have time to satisfy the need. His cousins, Cully and Flynn, Captains of the other two ships sailing with his, waited for him outside. “Can you be ready to leave in the morning?”
    “I can be ready in three minutes if you asked.”
    He looked at her curiously. “Don’t you have to pack?”
    “Oh, none of this is mine.” She waved at the clothing cabinet and the toiletries on the dresser. “Everything, even this comb,” she held it up, “I borrowed from Maysun.”
    Adding more to his mental list of things to do today, he nodded and turned to leave the room. Where was he going to find proper women’s clothing here? He’d have to ask Hakim.
     
    A fter a visit with Maysun to return the pearls and say goodbye to her friend, Lia returned to Ren’s suite wanting nothing more than a nap. She closed the door to the room she shared with Ren and crossed to the low bed, where she noticed five complete sets of clothing in the Muslim style and two pairs of the softest kid slippers she’d ever felt. Next to them lay a comb, brush, looking glass, and hair ornaments. There were other niceties too, such as scented bath oils and soaps, and a fine, soft cotton robe.
    She knelt down next to the bed, stroking the fine silk kaftans, tunics, and pantalettes, wondering why this man was being so kind to her. What did he expect of her to treat her this way? Well, aside from a marital vow of obedience, and an heir