The Worldly Widow (63 page)

Resigned, Dalmar dutifully fetched a pencil for Annabelle.

"
Thank you. Just a few changes of the wording here and there,
"
she said, "and we shall have ourselves a document that will serve us very well.
"

Dalmar propped himself against the backrest of the bed and cupped his neck with his laced fingers. From time to time, he offered suggestions. He fetched more paper. Within an hour, the simple one-page policy he had given to Annabelle filled four complete sides.

"There,
"
said Annabelle. "I think we
'
ve covered every eventuality. What do you think?
"

He took the papers from her fingers and began to read. Annabelle raised herself on one elbow and watched him anxiously.

From time to time, as he read, Dalmar smiled. Annabelle had added any number of variations to his original proposal, but the substance of his intention remained pretty much as it had been. She had accepted that, as her husband and protector, he had some say in decisions which affected her well-being. As a last resort, he could forbid her involvement in any undertaking which might provoke insult or injury to her person. She was giving in to him. It was a heady thought. And if he had to surrender a few trifling liberties to secure her acquiescence, he counted the cost to himself as almost negligible.

"Will it do?
"
asked Annabelle at length.

"It
'
s perfect,
"
he purred.

Annabelle smiled. He was giving in to her. It was a heady thought. Did he realize, she wondered, that he had just agreed to be a paragon of a husband which few gentlemen could hope to emulate? Whether he knew it or not, Dalmar and his
redheads (with the exception of herself, naturally) would be forever parted. And if she had to surrender a few trifling liberties to secure his acquiescence, she counted the cost to herself as almost negligible.

Dalmar turned on his side to face Annabelle more fully. "I never expected this to be so easy,
"
he said frankly.

"Neither did I.
"
There was wonder and surprise in her voice.

"We
'
re both strong-willed characters, and used to getting our own way,
"
he pointed out.

She absently combed her fingers through the dark cloud of hair on his chest. "That
'
s the beauty of policies,
"
said Annabelle, with something like a smirk. "It
'
s all spelled out in black and white. An
d if we get into an argument…
"

"The policy will settle it for us.
"

"That
'
s the general idea.
"

"There
'
s something to be said for policies after all,
"
he said, and bounded from the bed.

Annabelle had been so gracious, so accommodating, that he was seized with a sudden urge to reward her
.
He strode to the clothes press and began to search for something suitable to wear for the day ahead. At his back, Annabelle became involved in reading the policies.

"I
'
m sure you have the day all planned,
"
he said, "so just tell me your pleasure and we
'
ll be on our way. What
'
s it to be? Shopping in Milsom Street? A stroll to the Pump Room for a glass of Bath
'
s invigorating brew? The new Assembly Rooms? Or how about a walk around Sidney Gardens?
"

The voice which reached his ears was low and husky. It didn
'
t sound like Annabelle
'
s.

"David, come here.
"

When he did not heed her summons at once, she repeated the command. Obediently he padded back to the bed. Her eyes were sparkling with some emotion he could not define. Was it anger, he
wondered, or amusement, or…

"Did you think you could get away with this?
"
she asked, and pointed with her index finger to the original policy paper, the one done up with the red ribbon.

He knew at once to what she referred. In very small print, on
the back
o
f the document, was the third clause which he
'
d hoped to slip by her.

He angled her a sheepish, cozening grin. "You can
'
t blame a man for trying,"
he said.

"Shocking,
"
said Annabelle, frowning. "You meant to take advantage of me.
"

Dalmar shifted uncomfortably. He wasn
'
t wearing a stitch of clothing and was beginning to feel the ignominy of his position. "It was just a bit of fun,
"
he said placatingly. "Where
'
s your sense of humor?
"

Annabelle snorted. She tapped the rolled vellum document against the palm of one hand. Her eyes brazenly swept over him. "You
'
re not forgetting,
"
she reminded him huskily, "that this policy works two ways. That what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander?
"

"Oh, quite!
"
he answered.

Slowly, deliberately, she drew back the covers, unveiling her naked beauty to his eyes. Fire licked through his veins. She crooked her little finger.

"Well? What are you waiting for?
"
she asked. "Need I remind you that, according to your very own policy, when one gives the signal, the other must be prepared to do his or her conjugal duty? David,
"
she positively purred, "I think I
'
m going to love having you at my beck and call.
"

Some things a man just didn
'
t argue with, thought Dalmar. They had a whole lifetime ahead of them to work out who would call the shots in their marriage. He was sure he looked forward to every minute of it.

Laughing, he said, "Annabelle, I promise you, this is one policy I
'
m going to hold you to,
"
and before she could change her mind he covered her with his body.