He stopped walking and waited until she turned to him. "Anna, I will not be disappointed. You are our mistress now and you can have and do anything you like. You can plant flowers, move the furniture, order different food or throw everything out the window. You will please me when you make this your home." For a second he was worried about the sparkle in her eye and wondered if she really would throw everything out the window.
"I may have anything I like?"
He hesitated. "What is it?"
"I would like you to hold me."
He was relieved. At least that request he could easily agree to. "I will hold you whenever you like."
"I would like it now." She caught the look on his face and decided he found the idea repulsive, so she started to walk on. He didn't join her and wouldn't let go of her hand, so she was forced to turn and face him.
"Where precisely can I touch you without hurting you?"
"Oh that, I thought you did not want to."
"I want to very much."
"You are right, of course, it would be painful." She started walking again and he easily caught up. Then she stopped and turned to him. "When you were bringing me here on your horse and I rested my head against your chest, I could hear your heart and it comforted me somehow. Even the sound of your voice gave me peace. I think about that and try to understand it."
"Perhaps you would have felt the same with any lad."
"I did not feel the same when Thomas held me. He was very kind, but I did not feel the same. With you, I felt safe. Do you think it odd?"
He thought about his strange need to hold her when he first saw her. "'Tis not odd at all, I am your husband, and I want you to feel safe."
"Then may I hear your heart now?"
"The same way as before?" When she nodded, he slowly pulled the length of plaid off his shoulder and opened his shirt. He put the palm of her hand on his chest and covered it with his. Then with his other hand, he cupped the back of her head and slowly drew her to him.
At last, she was close to him again. She put her ear against his chest, closed her eyes and listened to the peaceful, steady rhythm of his heartbeat. Yet that was not all, now that she knew who he was, she loved the feel of his touch and his warmth so much more. Without realizing what she was doing, she wrapped her other arm around him.