and held her closer. He nestled her to him and wrapped his arms around her. He never wanted to let her go. “I love you, Nella. I love you so much I’m afraid my heart will break from the thought of ever losing you. You’ve shown me a love I didn’t think was possible and I can’t live without you.”
“Are you sure?” she asked.
“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life. Now, come with me and let’s make a home for the child you’re carrying. Our child.”
“Gladly, James,” she whispered as she leaned up to kiss him.
And he took her back to Colworth Abbey, where she belonged.
~■~
James woke the following morning to the sounds of Nella quietly retching.
“Nella,” he said when she came back into the bedchamber. “Come back to bed with me.”
She didn’t argue, but made her way back in the pre-dawn hours and slid into the bed next to him.
“I’m sorry I woke you,” she whispered. She wrapped her arms around him and nestled her head beneath his chin.
“I only wish you wouldn’t have to suffer so.” He lowered his head and kissed her forehead.
“It’s only your child telling me he or she is healthy and growing inside me.”
“I’ve decided it’s a little girl,” he said as he nuzzled her chin.
“What makes you think that?”
“Because I want a little girl just like her mother. I want a little girl to paint me pictures I can hang on my study walls, and I want to listen to the sound of my little daughter practicing her piano so she can become as talented as her mother. And a little girl who can snuggle on my lap and listen while I read her stories.”
“Oh, James,” she said as she stretched lazily. “Actually, I don’t care if it’s a boy or a girl as long as it has your remarkable good looks. And doesn’t slurp his or her tea.”
“Ha. Can you believe we were fortunate enough to make another human being to carry on our name and talents?”
“It is quite remarkable, isn’t it?”
“Yes. Quite.” He drew her close again. “When I think of how our life together began, I consider it a miracle. Do you remember how you refused to marry me at first?”
“Yes. What a fool I was.”
“Which reminds me,” he said, changing the subject. “Have you written to your friends yet to tell them our good news?”
“No, but I will. And soon. I can’t wait to hear if their relationships are blossoming with Candleton and Pomeroy.”
“I think my friends were quite taken with your friends.”
“Wouldn’t it be wonderful if they found as true a love as we have, James?”
“Yes, wonderful indeed. It would prove that we have superb taste in friends. And I can’t wait to tell them we’re going to have a little girl.”
“Yes do,” Nella laughed. “That will just about guarantee that we’ll have a boy!”
James kissed her fiercely. “Well of course we will, my love. Because I insist upon at least one of each.”
“Oh, James,” she said as tears ran down her cheeks.
He lowered his head and kissed her again. “We seem to have done an all right job of things, haven’t we.”
“Yes, we have,” she smiled.
“Except for one thing,” he said soberly.
“What’s that, my dear perfectionist?”
James stretched his arms behind his head and gave a dramatic sigh.
“You, my dearest, have not yet learned to dance.”
Chapter 13
Four months later
He was going to tie her to the bedpost for sure, he fumed.
“For the last time, it’s not safe for you to travel.”
“Oh fie! I’m barely six months, James, and I’ve never felt better. Please, let me come with you. I’ll stay in the carriage. And besides, you’ll need someone to hold the babe until we get to the vicar’s home in Lancashire.”
“I can do that just fine.”
“Pish-tosh!” Nella gave him her most dramatic look. “And what if the infant requires a change of nappy. Hm? You’ll do that, as well?”
James recoiled. Bloody hell. He hadn’t thought of nasty nappies.
“Nella, darling, I’ll work it out.”
She grinned. “You’ll do no such thing. Because I’ll be there.” She hooked elbows with him and sidled close. “You know you’ll want me with you.” She turned her face up to him and delivered her most engaging smile. The one he could never resist.
“You’re positively wicked, my little minx.”
“Then I may go?”
She fairly jumped for joy.
“On condition that you don’t set one foot out of the carriage.”
Nella swatted his arm. “We’ll be in Windermere, forgetful husband. You can’t possibly deny me the