The marriage question would arise, he knew. It was as he had been raised, after all; but everything had been changing with Anne.

He had adored her despite the fact she was a married woman. He had pressed his lips to hers in a passion of lust before she'd left her husband's castle.

Her first husband, at any rate. It was still unclear to him where the world would stand on his desire to make Anne genuinely his own.

"I hope you've not doubted it."