The two fell into gentle bickering, and the ladies clustered together. “I’m so glad you’re here, Caroline,” Edwina said. “But I almost can’t believe it. I’d heard you were considering going to Spain a few months ago!”
“I couldn’t bring myself to leave my husband,” Caroline said with a smile—it seemed unbelievable now that she had ever even considered such a thing. “Perhaps Levi will take me to Spain one day when the time is right for both of us, but until then, I’m glad to be here.”
“I just can’t believe you would pass up on the adventure of a lifetime,” Edwina said. “I think, had I been in your shoes, I would have insisted on taking the trip right away I would have made it a condition of returning to my husband’s home.”
Caroline laughed. “And what would Allan say if I were to tell him that?”
“I assure you, Allan would be thoroughly unsurprised,” Lavinia grinned. “My sister takes pride in being difficult to manage. I think he values that about her, truth be told. Every gentlemanhas his own tastes, of course, and it is always a blessing when a lady finds herself with the one who appreciates her for exactly who she is. Don’t you agree?”
“I do,” Caroline said. “And that’s why I chose to stay here with Levi rather than pursue travel and adventure. I couldn’t let such a wonderful man and a wonderful life get away from me, and I am sure I’ll never regret that decision.”
“And what are you ladies talking about?” Levi had now come over to join them. “Aren’t you going to join us for the game?”
“Oh, I’m going to,” Edwina assured him. “And I’d watch out if I were you, Your Grace. Allan hasn’t won a game of pall mall since the day we were married.”
“That is, unfortunately, the truth,” Allan said ruefully, joining them. “She’s very good. I almost wish I could ask her to sit the game out just to give the rest of us a fighting chance.”
“Afraid of defeat at the hands of a lady?” Edwina teased him.
“I could hardly be afraid of something that happens to me regularly,” Allan said. “But I will admit to feeling rather discouraged by it. Still, I return to battle. Levi? Caroline? Will you join the game?”
“Perhaps the next one,” Caroline said with a smile. “I think I’d like to watch for a while at first. Maybe visit with the children.” Their peals of laughter echoed across the grounds.
“Well, if you head that way, do me a favor and make sure none of them are fighting,” Lavinia said. “They do carry on.”
“I’ll check on them,” Caroline agreed.
“Shall I come with you?” Levi asked her.
“Oh, you don’t have to, if you’d rather play the game.”
“No, I’ll come, if you’d like,” Levi said. “I would much rather spend time with you, Caroline.”
She was glad. It would be good to have a few moments alone with him, particularly in the company of the children. She started down the lawn in the direction of the garden, following the sound of their laughter, and allowed him to take her hand when he reached out for it.
“It’s a lovely day, isn’t it?” he commented. “The perfect day for a garden party, truly.”
“It really is,” Caroline agreed. “I’m sure the children are having the most marvelous time.”
“It’s funny—I never attended parties like this one in my own youth, of course,” he mused. “And I never would have said that I was missing out on anything much. But being here now, I find there’s a part of me that’s excited for the future—for the days when we have children of our own to bring to these affairs.”
Caroline hesitated—she hadn’t planned on telling him this now. But suddenly, it was difficult to imagine a more appropriate time. With the sun shining on their faces and the sound of children laughing in the background, with his arm in hers—yes, now was the time. She wanted to tell him. She wanted him to know.
“It might happen sooner than you think,” she told him.
He turned to look at her. “What do you mean?”
“I’m talking about the future. When we have children of our own. I’m saying those days might not be so far in the future after all.” She waited for him to make the connection.
His eyes widened. “Are you saying…what I think you’re saying?”
Caroline felt the smile breaking on her face. She couldn’t hold it back, nor would she have wanted to. “I just found out yesterday. I had suspected for a while, but when the physician made his routine visit to the house, I asked him if he could confirm things for me.”
“And—and he did? We’re going to have a child?”
“Are you happy?”
“Am I happy! Of course I am!” He pulled her into a quick embrace, then released her. “How can that even be a question? We’re going to have a child—I can’t believe it!”
“I wasn’t sure that was something you would want,” she confessed, heat coming into her cheeks. “And after all, we’ve only had a conventional marriage for a few months now. I wasn’t sure you would have anticipated something like this happening so soon, even if you were open to it as a possibility for our future. We never spoke of having children in any detail, even though I hoped…”
“I wouldn’t have wanted it,” Levi confessed. “It was never a part of my plan. Not before. But now that I’m with you, everything is different. I can’t help but want everything life has to offer if it means I’ll be experiencing those things with you. Oh, Caroline, this is the best news you could have given me in all the world.”
He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her deeply and passionately, and Caroline was glad they hadn’t yet reached the garden and couldn’t be seen by the children. Of course, any of their friends who looked this way right now might see them, but that was a risk she was willing to take. For the sake of this beautiful moment with the man she loved…yes, it was worth it.
We’re going to have a child together. We’re going to be parents—start a family—and it will truly be the adventure of a lifetime. How could I ever long for Spain when I could have this? It’s the greatest blessing I could possibly have been given.
She kissed him back with everything she had in her, grateful for his love, grateful for the life they were building together, and overwhelmed with excitement for everything that lay ahead—for the rest of their days as one.
The End?
