“I believe it is,” he replied in a very solemn voice, then ruined it by chuckling.
Then Primrose realized the full implications of what he had just said. It was morning. People would be rising soon. They could be caught. Clutching the covers to cover her chest, she sat up and saw the sunlight that streamed into the room through a small space between the curtains.
“Oh no! We were not supposed to go to sleep!”
“You exhausted me,” he said as he reached for her, and then frowned when she scrambled out of his reach.
Primrose leapt out of bed and tugged on her nightdress then scowled at Bened who still sprawled in the bed, arms crossed beneath his head as he watched her. “You have to go now!” she said, and hurried around to his side of the bed, picked up his scattered clothing, and tossed it on top of him.
“I hope you do not expect me to climb out a window or something,” he said as he got out of bed and began to dress.
“Just do not let Simeon see you.”
“Rose, do you really think he does not know what is going on between us?”
“Knowing it and being brazenly confronted by it are not the same things.”
Bened thought that over as he finished dressing and then nodded. “Nay, you are right, they are not. I can slip out and creep down the hall to my room.”
“Without anyone seeing you? You are not exactly small, Bened.”
“Pleased you noticed.” He gave an exaggerated wince when she slapped his arm. “No one but us is awake.”
“No? Are you certain about that?”
“Very certain.” He took her into his arms and kissed her. “I am glad you found your brother, safe and unharmed, but I do wish he would go away now.”
Primrose had to bite her lip to keep from laughing as she pushed him toward the door. She admired how quiet and cautious he was as he left, and then waited for some sound to tell her he had been seen. The tension caused by a fear of discovery and an uncomfortable confrontation with Simeon began to fade as minutes ticked by and there was no sound, not even of him going back into his own bedchamber. She crawled back to bed, pulled the pillow he had rested his head on into her arms, and fell asleep surrounded by the tempting scent of him.
“I love my horse,” Primrose said as she stood by Smudge, her belongings neatly secured on the saddle.
“That is nice,” said Lilybet, looking at her in a way that told Primrose the woman was confused and a little bit concerned about her.
“I just do not particularly wish to ride her today. Yet she looks eager to get going.”
“As do the men,” Lilybet said as she swung up into her saddle.
“Very well.”
Primrose mounted and did her best to hide a wince. She was still rather new to lovemaking and her body was making it very clear that she had been too greedy last night. In truth, Bened had been very greedy and she had had no inclination to say no. Now even her thighs ached, she thought, and waved farewell to her uncle and Frederick.
Sleeping would have been wise as well, she thought as she clapped a hand over her mouth to hide a huge yawn. Bened had not allowed her to get much of that but he did not look as if he had suffered from not sleeping. Then again he had been a soldier and they could ride all night. She chuckled as she considered that thought and saw the humor of it. Shaking her head, she decided she was losing her mind.
By the time they stopped near midday to rest their horses and have a meal, Primrose was wondering if she could just tie herself to her horse and let someone lead Smudge along as she slept. The only thing keeping her awake at the moment was the mere thought of having something to eat. She was starving.
Bened frowned as he went to lift Primrose down from the back of Smudge. She was a little pale and looked exhausted. There had been a few times he had seen her shifting in her saddle and wincing a little. He felt guilty for keeping her awake most of the night but did not regret even one of the many hours he had spent making love to her. Once her desire burned away her shyness, Primrose was a passionate, eager, occasionally demanding lover.
“Are you all right?” he asked as she swayed against him, resting her forehead on his chest.
“Just tired.” She roused enough to straighten up and look around. “And hungry.”
“Bevan is already preparing the campsite and we will eat soon. Frederick packed us a feast.”
“Oh, lovely.” She slowly walked toward where Morris already had a fire going.