"I started to use cold water while you were dozing."

"I didn't mean to fall asleep."

"You worked very hard. You deserve your sleep."

Her lids lifted slowly. Galen's face was only inches from hers. She stared dreamily at the sharp molding of his cheekbones, his well-shaped lips. She had not noticed his lips before because his large dark eyes so dominated his other features.

He must have become aware of her study, for he looked down at her.

He smiled. "Sleep, kilen. All will be well. I promise you. You can trust me."

She 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 will be 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 hastily away 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 cafe. 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 cafe?"

"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 cafe. 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 haze. "Isn't it exciting, Sacha?"

"You shouldn't be here."

"Of course I should be here." She glanced mischievously over her shoulder at Galen as she sat down on the chair he was holding for her. "I'm a married woman, and therefore privileged to go where I wish. Isn't that correct, my lord?"

"Within certain limits." Galen's expression was impassive as he glanced around the room. "However, I see little to recommend this establishment."

"How can you say such a thing?" Tess folded her gloved hands on the scarred table. "It's perfectly splendid, and I'm sure the food will be excellent."

"Providing there are no cockroaches in the stew." Sacha sat next to Galen and motioned to a burly servant.

"There were no cockroaches in the stew on board the ship. The food was a bit boring, but the cook was clean, and I'm sure that—Is that a strumpet?" Tess stared at a fair-haired woman in a dirty green dress who sat on a sailor's lap. "She's quite pretty, isn't she?"

"Prettier than most of her breed," Sacha said as the waiter unceremoniously plopped down three glasses and filled them with red wine from a huge leather carafe slung on a strap about her neck.

"Breed?" Tess frowned. "I don't like that word. It makes her sound like a horse or a cow."

Sacha waved the waiter away as he appraised the woman's huge breasts spilling over the neckline of her gown. "There are some similarities, you must admit."

"I do not admit to anything of the sort. She's a woman, not an animal. She obviously lets herself be used because she has no other means to support herself."

"And what about your Pauline?" Galen asked softly. "Why does she let herself be used?"

"Pauline isn't a strumpet, she's…" Tess hesitated, thinking about it. "She's not overly bright and has few interests. Perhaps she does it to keep from becoming bored."

Sacha choked on his wine. "Quite possible. She certainly applies herself to… er, entertaining herself."

Tess knew they were laughing at her, but she didn't care. The subject of physical pleasure was not really important to her except as a curiosity. This place was too interesting to waste time on trivialities. "I'm hungry. May we eat now?"

"But of course." Galen's lips quirked. "It's a husband's duty to satisfy his wife's… appetites."

"Stop it, Sacha." Tess giggled helplessly as Sacha swung her in a wide circle all the while moving across the courtyard toward the inn. "You've had too much to drink. We'll both end up in a heap on the ground."

"You insult me," said Sacha, looking owlishly at her. "You think I can't hold my wine. This is a felicitous occasion, and I'm merely happy. Extraordinarily happy."

"You're extraordinarily drunk." Tess smiled indulgently as she steadied him against the door-jamb. "You would think this was your wedding day by the way you're celebrating."