What Happens in Piccadilly - Chasity Bowlin Page 0,97
laughter in the crowded coach. Highcliff had produced a bottle of champagne and glasses. The cork released with a loud pop that had them all giggling and then he poured the bubbling liquid, spilling as much on the upholstery as he got into the glasses that he passed around. “I only brought four,” he said, passing the last one off to Averston. “That means I drink from the bottle.”
“Not for the first time,” Effie quipped primly.
“It certainly is not,” Highcliff agreed.
Winn noted that the pair seemed to have achieved an unsteady truce despite their recent discord. There was still a noticeable coolness in their interactions, however. It wasn’t the temper of the day before. This was something far worse. Still, they were both putting on pleasant faces and attempting to be festive. Averston was stiff, his presence a complete surprise, but not an unwelcome one. He hoped, for Calliope’s sake, that she might come to have some sort of relationship with someone she shared blood with.
When they arrived, the smaller carriage bearing the housekeeper and the children had already unloaded and she was bustling the children into the house. The servants were lined up in the entryway, happily cheering as they entered. In the dining room, the wedding breakfast, complete with a cake far too massive for such a small party, had been laid out.
The children were shrieking with glee and William’s eyes had glazed over the moment he saw the cake. They’d grabbed Callie’s arm and dragged her into the dining room, pointing to every treat with absolute delight.
“Don’t worry. They’re all going back to the Darrow School with me.”
Winn turned to Effie who’d snuck up beside him. “Pardon?”
“My wedding gift to you,” she said with a smile. “I’m taking the children with me and they will be returned to you safe, sound and hopefully better behaved by tomorrow.”
Winn uttered a silent prayer of thanks. “Miss Darrow, were I not a married man, I would kiss you for that.”
“Save your kisses for your bride. Now, eat quickly and make your escape.”
With that, Winn made for the dining room and let the festivities begin while anticipating their ending and the wondrous things that would follow.
Making his way to Callie, he pried her hand from William’s. “If you want a piece of cake, you’ll need to let her go so she might actually cut it.”
“No cake. Not yet,” Callie replied. “You’ve eaten nothing of any substance and I won’t have you all getting ill.” To Winn she added, “You help Charlotte with hers. Claudia, William and I will prepare plates for them and for us.”
Winn watched her go, leading the older children. He felt a tug on his hand and looked down at little Charlotte. As always, his heart melted a bit when he did so. Leaning down, he hoisted her up into his arms. “Let’s get you some breakfast, shall we?”
“Will you and Aunt Calliope have babies now?” she asked.
His heart thundered in his chest. “At some point, I’m certain we shall.”
“Will you still love us if you do?” The question was voiced softly and then her thumb popped immediately into her mouth.
Winn felt his chest tighten. Gently, he pulled her hand away from her mouth and pressed a kiss to her cheek. “Charlotte, my sweet, I can promise you that Calliope and I will always love you… just as we will always love William and Claudia. The three of you brought us together, after all.”
Charlotte laid her head on his shoulder. “I love you, Uncle Winn.”
Holding the little girl close, Winn looked around the room and realized just how full his life had become. It was chaotic, certainly. But the alternative was something he’d never wish to return to. How alone he’d been, without ever realizing it!
Callie approached him then, carrying two plates while William and Claudia each held their own. “What are you thinking so pensively about?”
“That a little chaos is a small price to pay for this much happiness. Now, let me feed this child before she starts chewing on the furniture,” he said, prompting a giggle from Charlotte. Impulsively, Winn leaned forward and kissed Callie softly on the lips.
“What was that for?” she asked.
“Because I can. Prepare yourself, Wife. I mean to do that every opportunity I get,” he warned.
“Kissing is disgusting!” William said, making a face from the table where he’d already dug into his breakfast.
Highcliff clapped the boy on the shoulder. “I’ll be expecting a revised opinion in a few years.”