Bronwyn Scott's Sexy Regency Bundle (99 page)

's Seduction

Beside him, Elena stirred gently in his arms.

His wife was a saint-she'd been patient with him today, tolerant of his memory loss. She'd left him alone to sort

his feelings. She'd not

peppered him with questions that he couldn't answer-like why he'd not sent word of his safety, or why he'd been gone for so long.

Alejandro doubted many women would have shown such restraint.

Still, he didn't like the feeling of being a man grown with fewer memories than a babe in Elena deserved more than that. She deserved a man who was complete in all ways.

Tomorrow, Elena had promised to show him around the estate. Tomorrow, he would start rebuilding his history, one experience at a time.

Chapter 11

The pazo was a rambling collection of buildings contained inside a large area enclosed by a high stone wall. Alejandro was impressed with the self-sufficiency of the place-his wife had done splendidly in his absence. He'd toured the main house of the pazo yesterday but he hadn't been outside since his arrival. The

air was sharp

and bracing, adding to his acute awareness that he was alive.

He'd woken that morning feeling almost giddy with elation for no apparent reason except that he was filled with vigor. The soreness of his muscles had lessened considerably overnight. He had made love with Elena in the light of the new day, proving that the intensity of last night's coupling had not been an anomaly.

Alejandro shot a sideways glance at the woman

beside him. The quiet gray of her

plain everyday gown did nothing to diminish her incredible beauty. Her hair was pulled back with a single ribbon, leaving the soft curve of her cheek

's Seduction

exposed. He reached for her hand as they walked, lacing his fingers between hers, unwilling to be physically separated

her. She noted the

gesture and gave him a gentle smile. It was no secret to him why he'd married her.

Everything inside the walls was built around a square like a little town. Elena took him past the low, single-storey building that housed the servants and then to the stable, a small structure of light that was neatly kept for the four horses that lived there.

"This horse is yours." Elena led him to the stall occupied by a dark-coated stallion who tossed his head at

approach.

put his hand out, palm side up.

"There, boy. Take it easy. It's just me, home at last," he coaxed, but the stallion remained skittish.

"He'll come around," Elena offered when it appeared the stallion wasn't going to be friendly.

"It's been nearly a year,

all. He'll get used to

you again. He always was high-strung."

Alejandro gave a tight-lipped smile. He was getting tired of not knowing silly little things about his life. He looked around the stable and told himself not to panic. His memory would come back soon enough and in the meantime Elena would fill in the gaps. He

to exit the

stables and suddenly an image flitted through his

Scott

mind. Mentally, he grabbed for it, held onto it briefly-but couldn't quite keep it.

Alejandro frowned. Something was missing the stable. "Where's the carriage?"

Elena looked at him sharply. "The carriage?

We don't have one. We've never kept one.

Fishing villages aren't the most practical of places for carriage driving."

His hopes plummeted. "For a moment, I thought I remembered something.'' Great, now he was making up a history out of whole cloth. Elena tugged at him. "Let me show you the other buildings."

She showed him the long, four-legged where the grain was kept and the little stone chapel with its altar and gold crucifix. "Our one

She hesitated for a moment.

"You were loathe to buy that crucifix for me when the merchant ship came into port a few years ago, but I insisted." She studied him, probably waiting for his reaction. Alej andro couldn't believe he'd deny his wife anything.

Well, better sense prevailed in the end, thankfully," Alej andro said easily. "I'm home now and

buy you anything you want."

Elena's eyes danced. "So you think we're rich?" she teased, and he took joy in the simple flirting.