remembered his inflexible determination, his quiet tenderness toward Selik during the past hours. Yes, she could trust him.
She closed her eyes and willed herself to go back to sleep, safe in Galen’s arms.
* * *
The marriage between Tess and Galen was performed by Father Francis Desleps in the Cathedral of the Holy Redeemer at three o’clock the following afternoon. Galen followed Muslim customs, but he was a Christian … and a man with a powerful influence over Father Desleps. Galen had succeeded in getting a very fast special dispensation for them to marry, so there would be no thrice-published banns and other preliminaries to their wedding.
Tess felt strange kneeling before the altar with Galen at her side. But surely it would have felt strange with any man, she assured herself. Marriage only occurred once in a lifetime, and it was unlikely one would get accustomed to the ceremony. She smiled.
“You have been smiling for some time now,” Galen commented after they had thanked the priest and were walking back up the long aisle. “May I ask what’s so amusing?”
“I was just thinking it was quite ordinary to be feeling so peculiar. After all, marriage occurs only once.”
“Occurs? You make it sound like an act of nature.” He took her arm and helped her down the steps to the cobbled street. “And it’s not inconceivable that you should marry again. Life in Sedikhan isn’t the safest existence, and wealthy widows are much sought after.”
“I shall never marry again,” she said positively. “Why should I submit to that trap? My life willbe very pleasant without a husband getting in my way.”
“Husbands have certain uses.”
“Protection? I can hire servants for that.”
He helped her into the carriage waiting in front of the church. “I wasn’t thinking about protection. More in the nature of … companionship.”
“Most husbands are dreadful companions. They’re too busy pursuing other ladies to furnish a wife with adequate company.” She leaned back in the carriage. “No, a woman is much better off with no man about to trouble her.”
He leaned back on the seat and gazed at her, smiling faintly as the carriage started with a lurch. “We shall see if you continue in your opinion. There must be some reason the state of connubial bliss still exists.”
She looked at him in surprise. “Practicality. A man must be sure of his heirs, and a woman cannot have the father of her children deserting her after the first flush of passion fades.”
His dark eyes were watching her impassively. “Is that what happens?”
She nodded positively. “Of course. You know it yourself. I’d wager you never thought of Lady Camilla or that other woman again after you had your way with them.”
“Oh, I thought of them.”
She frowned. “You did? When?”
“Whenever my body needed a woman.”
Her cheeks grew hot, and she looked hastilyaway from him. “That isn’t thinking, that’s lusting.” She leaned forward and gazed out the window, and was immediately rewarded with a glimpse of a familiar sign. “Oh, there’s that interesting café. I asked Sacha to take me there, but he refused.” She turned to Galen. “Will you take me … tonight?” She added quickly, “Providing Selik is doing well, of course.”
“Naturally, any bridal repast would have to be postponed if Selik isn’t in the pink.”
“Why are you smiling, Galen? We both know this ceremony has no importance.”
“It’s of the utmost importance.”
She gestured impatiently. “You know what I mean—only the alliance is important. Will you take me to the café?”
“Why not? I owe you a supper for your labor with Selik last night, and it may prove an enlightening experience for you.”
“I like it,” Tess announced, her gaze roaming the noisy café. The boards of the wooden floor were warped and sagging, and the torches affixed to the walls sent out plumes of smoke that stung the eyes and made the air blue with
She closed her eyes and willed herself to go back to sleep, safe in Galen’s arms.
* * *
The marriage between Tess and Galen was performed by Father Francis Desleps in the Cathedral of the Holy Redeemer at three o’clock the following afternoon. Galen followed Muslim customs, but he was a Christian … and a man with a powerful influence over Father Desleps. Galen had succeeded in getting a very fast special dispensation for them to marry, so there would be no thrice-published banns and other preliminaries to their wedding.
Tess felt strange kneeling before the altar with Galen at her side. But surely it would have felt strange with any man, she assured herself. Marriage only occurred once in a lifetime, and it was unlikely one would get accustomed to the ceremony. She smiled.
“You have been smiling for some time now,” Galen commented after they had thanked the priest and were walking back up the long aisle. “May I ask what’s so amusing?”
“I was just thinking it was quite ordinary to be feeling so peculiar. After all, marriage occurs only once.”
“Occurs? You make it sound like an act of nature.” He took her arm and helped her down the steps to the cobbled street. “And it’s not inconceivable that you should marry again. Life in Sedikhan isn’t the safest existence, and wealthy widows are much sought after.”
“I shall never marry again,” she said positively. “Why should I submit to that trap? My life willbe very pleasant without a husband getting in my way.”
“Husbands have certain uses.”
“Protection? I can hire servants for that.”
He helped her into the carriage waiting in front of the church. “I wasn’t thinking about protection. More in the nature of … companionship.”
“Most husbands are dreadful companions. They’re too busy pursuing other ladies to furnish a wife with adequate company.” She leaned back in the carriage. “No, a woman is much better off with no man about to trouble her.”
He leaned back on the seat and gazed at her, smiling faintly as the carriage started with a lurch. “We shall see if you continue in your opinion. There must be some reason the state of connubial bliss still exists.”
She looked at him in surprise. “Practicality. A man must be sure of his heirs, and a woman cannot have the father of her children deserting her after the first flush of passion fades.”
His dark eyes were watching her impassively. “Is that what happens?”
She nodded positively. “Of course. You know it yourself. I’d wager you never thought of Lady Camilla or that other woman again after you had your way with them.”
“Oh, I thought of them.”
She frowned. “You did? When?”
“Whenever my body needed a woman.”
Her cheeks grew hot, and she looked hastilyaway from him. “That isn’t thinking, that’s lusting.” She leaned forward and gazed out the window, and was immediately rewarded with a glimpse of a familiar sign. “Oh, there’s that interesting café. I asked Sacha to take me there, but he refused.” She turned to Galen. “Will you take me … tonight?” She added quickly, “Providing Selik is doing well, of course.”
“Naturally, any bridal repast would have to be postponed if Selik isn’t in the pink.”
“Why are you smiling, Galen? We both know this ceremony has no importance.”
“It’s of the utmost importance.”
She gestured impatiently. “You know what I mean—only the alliance is important. Will you take me to the café?”
“Why not? I owe you a supper for your labor with Selik last night, and it may prove an enlightening experience for you.”
“I like it,” Tess announced, her gaze roaming the noisy café. The boards of the wooden floor were warped and sagging, and the torches affixed to the walls sent out plumes of smoke that stung the eyes and made the air blue with
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