Fearful, Elle looked at Pliny. “Very well,” she said reluctantly. “What questions?”
“When was the first time you had marital relations with your husband?” Pliny asked.
That wasn’t a question Elle had expected, and she gasped in outrage, shooting up from the chair. “That is a terrible question to ask!” she said. “Why would you ask such things?”
“Because I am trying to figure out why your belly began to hurt a few days ago,” Pliny said patiently. “You did not feel ill before then?”
“I did not,” Elle said, still agitated. “I was well. Iamwell.”
“Of course you are,” Pliny said, though it was tinged with sarcasm. “That is why you are here. If you do not answer my questions, I cannot help you.”
Elle was fully prepared to blast the man, but she caught sight of Curtis’ expression. He suddenly had the strangest look in his eye. There was softness and warmth there. Perhaps even joy. She had no idea why he was looking at her like that, but she was upset about the entire situation, worse now that he didn’t seem to be protecting her from Pliny’s invasive questions.
“What else do you want to know?” she said angrily. “It had better not be something vulgar!”
“You have not answered my first question yet.”
Elle was gearing up for a sharp retort when Curtis squeezed her hand and pulled her into a one-armed embrace, kissing her on the forehead.
“I will answer it,” he said, sounding oddly hoarse. “Aye, it was the first time we had marital relations.”
Pliny could see that Curtis was more open to answering personal questions, so he turned to him. He could also see that Curtis might even understandwhyhe was asking such questions.
He had a reason.
“And I would assume it was not the last time?” he said.
Curtis shook his head slowly. “Nay.”
Pliny nodded. “Of course not,” he said. “You are both young and strong and virile. It is natural. But you understand that your actions will have results, as God has intended.”
Curtis fought off a smile. “I do,” he said. “Do you think that’s what it is?”
Pliny shrugged. “That would be my guess,” he said. “Does she eat a great deal?”
“Like a horse.”
“And she will relieve herself quite frequently?”
Curtis nodded. “During the night, aye,” he said. “We do not spend our days together, at least not for hours on end, so I would not know, but I would imagine so.”
“And her body,” Pliny said, gesturing to his chest. “Are they sore to the touch?”
Curtis knew what he meant. “Now that you mention it, they do seem to be more sensitive,” he said. “They have grown larger, in fact, but I thought it was all of the eating she has been doing.”
Elle, who had been watching the exchange with great puzzlement, interrupted them. “What are you speaking of?” she asked Curtis. “What does it all mean?”
Curtis was smiling when he looked at her, and Elle swore she saw tears glistening in his eyes. “I am older than many of my siblings, as you know,” he said. “I saw my mother go through this very same thing several times, most recently with my youngest sister about twelve years ago. My mother ate a great deal, was sick on occasion, was moodier than usual. I do not know why I did not suspect the same thing with you.”
Elle wasn’t following him. “Suspect what?”
“A baby.”
She stared at him as if she had no real concept of what he’d just said. But when she processed his words, and his meaning, her eyes widened to epic proportions. “A… awhat?” she gasped. “You cannot mean…!”
“Why not?” He grinned. “As the apothecary says, we’re young and virile. It’s natural. And it is not as if we show any restraint. It’s very simple—you’re going to have a baby, my love.Ourbaby.”
Elle was so astonished that he could have knocked her over with a feather. In fact, she plopped back onto the chair, dazed, before bursting into tears. As Pliny made himself scarce, Curtis sat down next to her and put his arms around her. As he laughed softly, she wept copiously.
