“Julian, Clara, and little Arthur!” She could not contain her excitement as she rushed forward.
Julian caught her in a brotherly embrace, whilst Clara gave her a half embrace as she cradled little Arthur in her arms. Jo’s heart surged as she gazed down at her nephew’s sweet, cherubic face, dropping a kiss upon his smooth, velvet-soft forehead.
“Oh, my sweet baby nephew,” she crooned to him, before glancing up at Clara. “May I hold him?”
“I was hoping you would,” Clara drawled in her thick American accent, smiling warmly. “The little darling was putting my arm to sleep. He is such a large baby already. I can scarcely countenance how much he has grown.”
“Nor can I.” Jo took her nephew in her arms and gazed down at his adorable, round face. “He is lovely, Clara. I do believe he has your nose now. At first, I thought he had Julian’s, but yours is ever so much better.”
She slanted a glance in her brother’s direction. He was watching her with a bemused expression. She had missed him, she realized. He was a good brother, one who was protective and caring and all the things a brother ought to be. Even if he had been an utter bear over her being ruined by Decker.
Jo could see now that it had been because he loved her and because he wore the heavy weight of responsibility upon his shoulders.
“I thought I had failed you,” Julian told her, as if reading her thoughts. “But you look happy, Jo. I do not think I have ever seen you so pleased. Your husband is behaving himself, I trust?”
Jo tempered her smile at her brother’s protective question. “He is behaving admirably. And I could not be happier.”
In the fortnight since their return to London, she, Decker, and Lila had settled into a comfortable routine. Lila’s nightmares were growing more infrequent. Decker had moved all his erotic art to his club, where Lila would never see it. And Jo? She had found her place as Decker’s wife, the keeper of his heart, and the wicked wife in his bed. Or study. Or music room. Or carriage. Office. Library…
She forced her mind to more prudent thoughts as her cheeks flared with heat. She was hopelessly in love with her husband and more content than she had ever imagined possible. That was all.
Actually, that waseverything.
Lila appeared in the salon then, offering a shy curtsy for Julian and Clara. She had gone off for a snack upon their return—cream ice was a favorite of hers, and Chef always kept some on hand for her.
“May I hold the babe?” she asked tentatively.
“Of course you may,” Jo said. “Have you ever held a baby before, my dear?”
Lila shook her head, eyes wide with wonder as she gazed down at the little lord in Jo’s arms.
“Come and have a seat in this chair and then hold out your arms,” Jo instructed. “You must take care with his head and neck. Be very gentle. I will place him in your lap.”
Her nephew gurgled happily as he was settled in Lila’s arms.
“Oh, what a darling he is.” Lila smiled down at him. “He is so small!”
“He is, isn’t he?” Jo gazed down at her nephew, wondering what it would be like to have her own child one day with Decker.
A little boy with his bright-blue eyes. Or a girl with his soft, wavy hair. He was no longer holding any part of himself back from her, and she was heartily glad. Thankful, too, for how far they had come.
Jo tore herself away from her nephew, a new eagerness for a child of her own fluttering to life inside her, and seated herself. They settled into a comfortable chat, Lila cooing over Arthur, and Julian and Clara politely inquiring after Jo, Decker, and Lila.
“How do you care for London, Miss Decker?” Clara asked Lila.
“I like it far better than I expected to,” the girl said, smiling at Jo. “I am fortunate indeed to have a new sister to help me find my footing here.”
“And I consider myself fortunate as well,” Jo told her with a wink. “It was dreadfully boring here with no one to keep me company save your brother.”
“Our Jo is one of the very best sorts,” Julian said, giving Jo a tender, brotherly smile.
Jo smiled right back at him, yet another weight removed from her shoulders now that he seemed to have finally accepted her marriage to Decker. “I learned from one of the best himself.”
“Do I know the fellow?” Julian asked with his signature wit, his smile turning into a grin.
“I would like to offer my opinion on the matter.” Decker strode into the room abruptly, handsome as ever. His gaze met Jo’s as he crossed the Axminster, and she felt an answering tug low in her belly. “I think our Josieisthe best.”
Jo’s heart gave a pang at the sight of her husband, his expression filled with so much love, she felt her cheeks heat anew. She rather thought he was, too.
