Her temper flared. “I-I…swear to you, I…have never entertained…such immoral thoughts! And…Ruth would n-never betray your trust—”
“I know,” he murmured in a low voice. “I’m just trying to explain to you how it is between me and the princess. I do not dislike her…. In fact, I would go so far as to say I regard her in a good light. But I have never once wanted to kiss her.”
Leaning back in, he gently nipped at her lower lip, his stubble brushing against her face. “It’s different from what I feel for you.”
Maxi glanced up at him nervously. As far as she could tell, the portion of his life that she could claim as hers was only as large as the bed they shared. “What…do you feel…for me?”
Riftan stared back at her before pulling her to his chest. His voice rumbled under her ear. “You are the only family I have.”
Her breath caught in her chest. She had not been expecting that. Against his chest, she silently mouthed the word. Family. She had never once thought of Riftan as her family, but he was right—they were a family. He was her husband, and she was his wife. Her heart ached, and a lump formed in her throat.
Breaking the silence, he brought a hand to her belly. “Though it would be three of us if you ever give me a child,” he said with a mischievous smirk.
When she finally found her voice, it was tight with emotion. “D-Do you…want a child?”
“It would be nice. A little nipper with red hair and big gray eyes crawling around. What’s not to love?”
“I-I…would like our child…to have…black hair,” Maxi murmured into his chest, quiet, like a prayer. Just imagining a baby that resembled Riftan filled her with a joy she had never felt.
Our child.
Ever since arriving in Anatol, she had been far too busy to even consider children. But thinking about it now, Riftan was right. It was time.
Maxi’s drowsy eyes sparkled. She imagined holding a soft baby in her arms and breathing in its milky scent as she ran her fingers through its thick, black hair. What would it feel like for a baby to suckle on her with its plump, rosy lips? Or the joy of her child running into her arms, calling her mother? Her heart fluttered with excitement.
Then, a sudden thought broke through her pleasant reverie.
It had been almost half a year since she had come to Anatol. Should she not be with child already? Her nursemaidhad told her that her bleeding would stop once she was pregnant. If that were so, should it not have stopped already? While it was true that Riftan had been away a few times, they had not been negligent of their marital duties.
Remembering how her own mother had struggled to conceive, Maxi could feel that fluttering excitement change to anxiety. Not wanting Riftan to see her worry, she muttered, “Let us sleep.”
He put out the lamp and tucked the blanket up to her chin, prompting her to snuggle into his warm embrace. She tried to let his warmth melt away her terrifying premonition. It was still too early for such worries. There were couples who tried for years before finally conceiving. If she could just be patient…she would be able to give him good news one day.
Chapter Thirteen
The next day, Maxionce again woke up alone in the sunlit bedchamber. Her eyes still heavy with sleep, she gazed at the empty side of the bed and sighed. Her husband’s diligence was astonishing.
She rose and dressed herself. Despite her low spirits, she intended to tackle the tasks she had been unable to do due to her excursion with the princess, including checking on the gardens and their guests’ needs. It would be a busy day, but she tried to focus on the memory of Riftan’s warm arms holding her all night. There was a measure of reassurance in knowing that, at least for now, his passion for her had not waned.
When she stepped out of her chambers, the maidservants who had been cleaning the windows bowed and greeted her with bright smiles.
“Good morning, my lady.”
“Did you sleep well, my lady?”
“Yes,” she said brightly. “Did the guests…have a pleasant night?”
“Yes, my lady. They all said that they slept well. Everyone except the princess is currently resting in their rooms.”
“Where…is the princess?”
“Her Highness went to the training grounds with his lordship early this morning.”
“With…his lordship?”
At Maxi’s crestfallen expression, one maidservant quickly added, “The royal knights joined them, my lady. I heard that they planned to observe the sentries’ training session.”
“I-I see.”
