“A… a baby?” she sobbed.
He held her tightly. “Aye,” he murmured. “A baby. Are you not pleased?”
She was gasping and sobbing dramatically, something he found hilarious. “But I cannot be! I’m barren! Cadwalader told everyone I was barren!”
Curtis chuckled. “He lied,” he said flatly. “He lied to cover up the fact that he was an old man incapable of impregnating his wife. Clearly, my dearest, you arenotbarren.”
She continued to weep dramatically, and he grinned through the entire thing. It was like music to his ears. But as suddenly asthe hysterics happened, they stopped as she pulled back to look at him with big, watery eyes.
“Are you happy?” she said, sniffling. “Does this please you, Curt?”
He cupped her face between his two enormous hands, kissing her gently. “I have never been happier about anything in my entire life.”
“Are you certain?”
“Of course I am,” he said, gazing into those bright eyes. “But I must tell you something.”
“What?”
“I love you very much.”
The hysterics came again as she threw her arms around his neck and wept as if he’d just broken her heart. Or made her the happiest woman alive. It was difficult to tell with Elle, because she could be dramatic at the best of times. He let her cry for a few moments before pulling back and forcing her to look at him.
“Have you nothing to say to me to that regard?” he said, his eyes glimmering with emotion. “Or am I to go through life only admired by my wife and nothing more?”
She shook her head, running her hand down his cheek as she gazed at him adoringly. “I’ve never had anyone tell me that they loved me,” she whispered. “Not anyone. You are the first.”
“It is not painful to say it,” he said, kissing her fingers as they moved over his lips. “Try it.”
She sniffled, a smile playing on her lips. “I… I love you.”
“I love you,Curt.”
“I know your name.”
“Then use it.”
She leaned into him, kissing his mouth gently. “I love you, Curt,” she murmured against his lips. “In this life and beyond.”
Her mouth claimed his again, strongly and passionately, as he wrapped her up in his powerful embrace. He could taste hersalty tears on her lips. She ended up on his chair, on his lap, and probably would have remained there forever had Pliny not returned to the small chamber, making his way over to the big wardrobe against the wall and throwing open the doors.
“Ah!” he said. “Here it is!”
The spell was broken between Curtis and Elle as Pliny drew forth a small sack and approached them.
“Here,” he said, extending it to Elle. “This will help settle your stomach.”
Elle stood up from Curtis’ lap, peering into the canvas sack. “What it is?” she asked warily.
“Licorice root,” Pliny said. “Chew on it when your stomach feels poorly. It should help.”
“You have my thanks,” Curtis said. “Is there anything else she can do to help?”
Pliny shrugged. “She must not eat big meals,” he said. “I would suggest she eat a little, but eat frequently. Bread, apples, things like that. Broth is good, but nothing too heavy. The sickness should pass in a while.”
Curtis couldn’t stop smiling. He took Elle’s hand and kissed it before turning for the door. “You have helped us solve a great mystery,” he said to Pliny. “Would it be too much to ask you to find a good midwife? I should like my wife to have the best of care.”
Pliny nodded. “My sister is an excellent midwife,” he said. “I will send her to you in a few days to see to your wife. Congratulations, my lord. May Lady Leominster bear you many strong sons.”
