“Despite your mother’sdemand?”
Rolfe’s lips quirked, but his gaze was warm. “It would take more than that to keep me from your side,Annelise.”
“You said before that I would be safe while in yourpresence.”
“That is a pledge I mean to keep forevermore, myAnnelise.”
The heartfelt declaration brought unexpected tears to Annelise’s eyes. Her grip tightened on his hand and he leaned forward, concern in his eyes. “What isit?”
She shook her head and her tears fell. “I am simply so happy,” she confessed. “I never imagined that I would have a husband such as you, or a home such as this, or a family.” She sniffled and bit her lip in an effort to control her tears. “To have all three and so much love, it defies every expectation. This is what I have always wanted and you have granted it tome.”
“It is no less than what you deserve.” Rolfe moved closer and the welcome weight of his arm slipped over Annelise’s shoulder. He leaned down to whisper in her ear, his hand still cradling hers. “You had a familybefore.”
Annelise shook her head. “No, I had no family, not after my mother died. I will not accept that man as a part of my life. If I had a family, it was at theconvent.”
“But I thought you did not think as those womendid.”
“No.” She sighed. “We had little in common, but they were good to me. They gave me a home and for that I will always be grateful, even though that life was not forme.”
“I am relieved to hear it,” Rolfe teased and she smiled athim.
The babe stirred against her breast, then opened his eyes to gaze upward. To Annelise’s shock, his eyes were the same amber hue as her father’s. She gasped and Rolfe’s grip tightened aroundher.
“What isamiss?”
“His eyes are the same as my father’s.” Annelise whispered, then looked into Rolfe’s gaze. “What if he has inherited more than the shade of his eyes fromJerome?”
Rolfe’s finger flew to Annelise’s lips and his touch silenced her. “Annelise,” he said in the low tone that always reassured her. “Our son has youreyes.”
“But it is more than his eyes,” she admitted, staring down at the tiny child. “What of the rest? I would hate to know that such evil flowed through his veins because ofme.”
“But you share nothing of your father’scharacter.”
“What of my brother Quinn? He was said to be worse than my father. Perhaps it is a curse upon the menalone!”
Rolfe gave her a little squeeze. “What of your brother Yves? There are men in your family who do not share your father’scurse.”
Annelise shook her head again. “Yves was only a half brother. It could be that his mother’s goodness overwhelmed my father’s evil. My mother, it is more than clear, was dominated by Jerome in every way.” She straightened and looked Rolfe squarely in the eye. “No, you, our son and your mother are my sole family. That is more good fortune than most have to call theirown.”
A considering glint lit Rolfe’s eye. “I told you before that I knew Quinn deSayerne.”
“But you never mentioned as muchagain.”
“You never spoke of him again, either,” Rolfe said. “Though I think it time to put your ghosts torest.”
What did thatmean?
She might have asked, but Rolfe changed the subject. “What shall we name him?” He tickled the babe’s chin and the child squirmed. He belched with a volume that surprised them both intolaughter.
“I do not know. Do you have a family name you would like to bestow uponhim?”
“Let me think upon it.” Rolfe kissed her on the nose, and then lingeringly on the lips. “Take your leisure this morning,Annelise.”
“I should like to wash anddress.”
“Then I will send the maids, and the nurse for our son, aswell.”
“Your mother will doubtless come to visit,too.”
