Peter ran a hand over his forehead, squinting his eyes shut in obvious frustration and confusion.Spanish words spilled haltingly from his lips.“Ana.Estoy embarazado, pero no entiendo.”
I am pregnant, but I don’t understand.
Hewas pregnant?
“Qué?”Ana María burst into laughter, despite herself.Her tears continued but for much happier reasons this time.“Piensas que estás embarazado?”
“Uh...yes?I am embarrassed.And I see you take great pleasure in my embarrassment.”
“Oh!”Ana laughed even harder upon understanding.“Embarrassed?”Ana’s wide vowels and rolling tongue fought against the word.“You said you are expecting a child!”
“I what?Is that whatembarazadomeans?”
“Sí!You mean to sayIamembarazado, not you!”Ana María could hardly breathe now for laughing.Her rounded frame bounced.The worry that had been building up in her slowly released as she pictured her husband in such a ridiculous role.
Peter joined her in laughing, tension rolling off him as his shoulders dipped and hands relaxed.He shook his head.“What an absolute mess I am.”
She doubled over until a pang in her midsection reminded her that she had not yet gained full comfort or control over her stomach.
“Ay, Pedro.You aretan chistoso.Most amusing indeed.”
“I am glad that my apparent condition can bring you some amusement,” he said, puffing out his flat, muscular stomach and placing his hands around the shape as if he were an expectant mother.This only caused Ana to further lose control of her laugh.
“I don’t want you to be distressed,querida,” he continued.“What can I do to assist you?Shall we move forward with the preparations for the house?”
She held out the list she had been working on, and as he read through it, she dried the tears that had soaked her cheeks.
“I’ll pass this along to Miss Thompson and Mrs.Smith.I am sure they will have some excellent ideas about the nursery and any other necessary items for the baby’s arrival.”
“Gracias,” Ana managed, tears wetting her cheeks again.
“I thought we had quite our fill of those tears.Qué, querida?What is wrong?”
“No quiero que te vayas,” Ana replied.“Do not leave me,por favor.”
“You know as well as I do that the only place I desire to be is here with you.But I fear that in failing to respond to these summons, I will only put our future at greater risk.I cannot allow them to think I have abandoned my position, particularly when we know the truth of all that occurred at San Sebastián.”
“Lo sé.”I know.
“Then you understand why I have to leave?”
“I suppose so.”
“More importantly, do you understand how desperately I will miss your companionship?”
Ana looked up, expecting to see a teasing, crooked smile on Peter’s lips, but instead his eyes were trained on the floor, his cheeks slightly flushed as he gnawed on his bottom lip.He seemed somewhat embarrassed at the admission!She stood and flung herself into his arms, ignoring his sounds of surprise and protestation until at last his arms wrapped firmly around her in return.She savored his warmth, the feeling of his firm body against hers.He was her safety—her lifeboat.
Ana would be all right without him for a day.She had to be.
“I will miss you too,Pedro.”
“I may not be the perfect husband.I certainly have not done all I could have done to understand you.”His jaw tightened, and his eyes were bright and clear.“I clearly do not understand what it is to be an expectant mother, and I have never had to experience the many changes you are handling with such grace.This conversation has demonstrated quite remarkably how basic my understanding of Spanish is.And to make it worse, I am a man, and I cannot understand the tender and deep emotions you are gifted with as a woman.But I want to understand you, Ana, in all the ways you need to be understood.And I will strive for that, I promise.Even if it requires that I make many more foolish decisions and Spanish errors.But I do promise I will put forward all my best efforts to be more understanding of you.And I pray God will help me do so.”
Ana choked with emotion at Peter’s open honesty and could hardly hold his gaze for the intense feeling found therein.Instead, she pressed down that feeling of foreboding that refused to leave her and brushed a lingering kiss against his lips.“Thank you for these words so sweet.Por favor, return to me asprontoas you can.”
Chapter 15
December 28, 1813, London, England
