"That wasn't a scoldIng," Marcello said, but he couldn't help putting his fingers around her wrist and letting out a little tsking sound. "It was an explanation of why I married you."

She shook her arm to make him turn loose. "Was that the only reason?"

"Why, of course. Is there any other reason to marry a woman?" Marcello asked cheerily. "Mmm, besides the fact that you're utterly beautiful, and clever, and considerate, and have strong morals, and compassion, and practicality, and...did I say you're beautiful?"

Pacified, she rolled back over to kiss him. "Aye, you did." She kissed him again and threw a leg over him. "You would think by this point we would both know not to lie on the bed together because the odds of our getting up again are very small indeed."

"Well, lately that's seemed to be more a result of falling asleep than anything else," Marcello pointed out. He let his hand stray down to her hip, stroking it lightly. "Which is another thing I hate about weddings. Or our wedding."

"It's just a public formality, my love. If we weren't noble, we wouldn't have to go through with it." She stroked a hand appreciatively up his forearm. "But then if we weren't noble, we wouldn't get the nice parts of it either, like fancy food and getting to dress up."

"Well, I could do without the dressing up," Marcello teased, tweaking her nose before he kissed her again. "But the food I don't think I could live without."

Niabheara groaned. "Of course. We know where your priorities lie. You can get yourself something if you like; I need a moment to myself. I can't do with one more person just now."

Marcello lay back. "Are you all right?" he asked, giving her a concerned look. "I mean, apart from what I already know?" He pushed himself up. "I can leave you alone for a little while if you need."

"No, love, I didn't mean you. You're the only person I've wanted." She hugged one of the scattered pillows and rolled herself around it. "It's . . . sometimes I just want things to stop. I wish it could be someone else's problem, for once." She dropped her face in the pillow.