Defiant Surrender by Tamara Gill Read Free Book Online

our future children. I would look past your indiscretions after the birth of a son, as would you, me. Have—”
    “You would allow your wife to sleep with other men after she bears you a male child?” Madeline asked, interrupting.
    William frowned. “’Twas what was agreed. Have you changed your mind?”
    Madeline stood and started to pace the floor. The gown swished about her legs showing a lithesome and well-proportioned body with curves in all the right places.
    She stopped and turned to face him. “I don’t want to sleep with anyone else.”
    Blood pounded to his groin at her declaration. “Am I to take it you wish to sleep with me?” And sleep with her he would, should she wish to. It had been many months since he’d had a woman warm his bed. Why, he had remained faithful to his future wife he couldn’t fathom. He supposed seeing his own father’s faithfulness to his mother and their happy union had something to do with it.
    “No!”
    William chuckled at the vehemence behind her reply. “Do not fret, my dear. I do not care to share your bed today or any day soon.” His words not true. With her long brown tresses tied neatly with a ribbon, he could picture her on his bed, hair cascading over his furs. Over him…
    He cleared his throat. “Do not tell me you went ahead with the marriage with the thought of changing our agreement?”
    His wife came and sat before him on a stool and frowned. “No. But neither will I have your lover thrown in my face.”
    “The king decreed our marriage. Our arrangement will suit you well enough in time. ’Tis nothing either of us can do to change our lives.” Nor did he like having to remind the woman she’d agreed to all his commands. Was the woman daft? Never in living memory had a fever of the mind cursed the Vincent blood. Or so he thought.
    “Why did the king decree a marriage between us when it is clear you loathe me?”
    William stood, walked to the narrow window and looked onto the bailey. He’d married a crazy woman. Lady Madeline knew the history between the two families. “Does a sickness of mind run through your family, my lady?”
    “What?” she asked, looking at him as if he’d grown two heads.
    “Well,” he said, sitting back down. “You know the reason why and yet you ask. To find you’re afflicted would at least explain the callous actions of your father. I always believed he was mad.”
    His wife shook her head. “I’m not mad.”
    “Good, for I’d hate to have to send you away.” The blood drained from her face and a twinge of guilt nipped his gut. He watched her chew her full bottom lip, making it red. They were delectable lips, full and pouty. Supple.
    “Where would you send me?”
    William noted her concern and clenched his jaw against the unwelcome feelings she evoked. “To a convent.” With his reply, her dull brown eyes sparked to life like embers in a fire.
    “I’d die first before I’d allow you to do that,” she said.
    William stifled a laugh. “Our bargain stands, m’lady.”
    She stood and started to pace again. “My room, if you hadn’t reali zed, is on the same floor as your lover’s. And, two nights ago, you should remember, it being our wedding night, I had the dubious delight of seeing you two within the passage.”
    “What I do, and where I do it, is my business, Lady Madeline. ’Twould be wise to remember that.” William knew he should explain that he was merely putting Lady Veronica to bed. His cousin, ever since he had stopped sleeping with her months before, had become a little forward of manner, and—if truth be told—a little scandalous. Madeline obviously thought he was bedding her and for now that would suit his plans. Until he figured out how to handle his attractive and strong willed wife, keeping her at a distance would suit him very well.
    “Remember such things. How about you remember the vows you took not days ago. Or do you not respect the church’s word as you should?”
    His fist