She excused herself from dinner that night, pleading tiredness and sickness, both of which were true anyway, then curled up in bed, watching the last of the fading daylight through the windows. She knew that Alex would not come to her, even though he had kept the key to her room. She had turned her back on him before and she doubted he would risk it again. She lay sleepless for a long time, thinking, wishing she could be back home with her parents. Suddenly she felt a piercing sting of homesickness so strong that she burst into tears.
Alex had sat in the parlor and stayed awake for a long time, thinking. Perhaps he should have given up on the idea of marriage. Maybe for some men it was just not meant to be, and children were not his destiny.
He decided to go to bed, since his thoughts were leading him around in ever decreasing circles; he yawned, stretched, and made his way to the top of the stairs, and that was when he heard the sound of a woman weeping. It could only be Robina and she was not just weeping—she was sobbing her heart out.
He did not think to knock. She was curled up in a ball on the bed with her arms wrapped completely around her head. He laid down beside her and uncurled her body, then cradled her head against his chest. For a while she continued to weep, the force of her shuddering shaking them both, then gradually she stopped.
He realized that at that moment he was where he had wanted to be since the first time he saw her. She was prickly and difficult, but she had been let down just as he had, although perhaps not so badly, since there had been no love involved, but they had shared a similar experience.
He felt her arms creep around him and he tightened his around her with a sigh of satisfaction.
“What is wrong?” he asked gently.
“I am so homesick,” she replied. “I want to be back in my own home in my own bed with all my things around me.”
Her words were like a slap in the face, but his voice was even as she spoke next. “I told you, Robina, this is your home now,” he reminded her.
“And there is one more thing,” she went on. Rose had told her not to tell him, but she needed him to know, without knowing why. “I-I am with child.”
He could not quite take it in for a moment, then a great surge of joy went through him. “My child?”
“Of course it is your child!” she snapped. “You took my virginity and I am never likely to forget it!”
He sighed and shook his head. “I am sorry, Robina. I did not think...but we only came together once.”
“Once is all it takes,” she said, then looked down at his feet noticing that he was still wearing his shoes. “Are you going to sleep in your boots?”
He laughed again. He had never been so happy. “I will take them off in a moment, Robina,” he said, then he realized what she had said. “You want me to sleep here? With you?”
“You are my husband,” she replied, laughing softly. “It is permitted.”
He sighed, then leaned on his elbow to look down at her. “Of course I will, you impossible woman.”
7
Sleeping Together
It was a magical night, and Alex slept with his shirt on, not pressing her to do anything she did not feel comfortable with, while he instructed her in the art of kissing. He showed her how to kiss with her tongue and how to give him pleasure by running it around his mouth and twining it with his. He gave her slow and tender kisses, then hungry and passionate ones, till she was dizzy with desire.
She ran her hands greedily over his chest, reveling in the difference between his and hers. Unlike hers, his was not soft and rounded, but was dusted with fair hair, smooth and flat, with hard muscle underneath that felt like rubber. His arms were powerful too, and while hers were slim with soft white skin, his were wholly masculine, with bulging biceps and prominent bones. Everything was different, even their necks. His had a hard bump in it just underneath his chin, and hers was as smooth as white satin.
Alex was in heaven. The body of his wife, with her soft rounded buttocks and breasts and silky skin, was the most wonderful thing he had ever touched. Maybe it was because it was a long time since he had lain with a woman, but he thought the most likely reason was because she was having his baby.
He burrowed under the bedclothes and peppered her belly with kisses. She giggled, then took a handful of hair on each side of his head and pulled him up again. He laid his head on her breast and sighed.
“Robina,” he whispered, “I am so glad this has happened.”
She kissed the top of his head and stroked his hair. “Rose told me not to tell you yet,” she said. “In case I had a miscarriage.”
Alex raised his head and looked into her eyes, frowning fiercely. “You are not going to have a miscarriage,” he said firmly. “I will not allow it!”
“This is bliss,” she whispered. “Lying here with your arms around me.”
“So I am forgiven for hurting you?” he asked, his voice hopeful.
“I was scared,” she answered. “And tense. I had never lain with a man before. Forgive me, Alex.”
“We can forgive each other,” he said contentedly. “And now, Milady, you need your rest.” He put a hand on her stomach. “Wee one, this is your father speaking. I am the one who is going to protect you from all harm, so you must listen to me when I speak.” He kissed her tummy again, and looked up into Robina’s hazel eyes. “You will come to no harm as long as I am here, Robina.” He placed her hand against his cheek, and all of a sudden she felt cherished, sheltered, and at peace. Then he blew out the candle, gathered her into his strong arms, and began to sing her a lullaby.
