“Would you feel the same way if I hadn’t already conceived?”she rushed out.“Would you still want another child?Its arrival will delay the future you’ve been envisioning—mightn’t some part of you resent that?And perhaps resent the child because of it?”
He shook his head, looking thoroughly disgusted.“See, there you go questioning my motives again.I’m devastated you don’t think better of me.I would gladly have ten more children with you, delaying that future for decades.I only talked of that because it seemed our family was complete—”
“Silent dugs also bite,” she cut in quietly.
“Pardon?Is that yet another of your mother’s endless cryptic sayings?”
“Aye.Her way of saying we should assume nothing in this life.”
“Well, I did assume, but I’m happy to learn I was wrong.Another child is a blessing.”
“I assumed, too—that I knew how you’d react.And I’m thrilled to be wrong.”
Quite suddenly, she realized just how very wrong she’d been.After twenty-one years with this man, how had she thought he might not love another child?She’d seen nothing in him to suggest that could happen.Nothing.What on earth had she been thinking?
“Oh, Jase,” she said.“I cannot believe the things I just said to you.I didn’t mean any of it.I think pregnancy must be making me daft.”
“It wouldn’t be the first time,” he said with a hint of his usual good humor.“Thank God it’s temporary.Will it help if I tell you I love you both sane and daft?”
A trickle of relief coursed through her blood.A tremulous hope began to rise.“Does that mean you’ll forgive me?”
“I will.”He fixed her with a fierce green gaze.“So long as you promise never to underestimate me again.”
She remembered telling him something similar, long ago, before she allowed him to propose.“I promise,” she told him solemnly, then launched herself into his arms.
His embrace was the most welcome thing she’d felt in recent memory.He held her so tight she could feel the pendant he wore on a chain beneath his shirt—the emerald amulet that had come down through her family.“Another babe, sweet,” he murmured, sounding genuinely pleased.“The Gypsy was right.”
“Hmm?”More laughter from the dining room filled her heart with happiness now.Loving the family she’d joined with this man, she snuggled even closer.“What Gypsy?”
“The one who sold me your wedding ring.”
“Oh, aye.”She pulled her left arm from around him to see it on her hand—a flat engraved band embedded with tiny, bright green emeralds.“You bought it without dickering,” she reminded him with a wee smile.
“She also told your fortune.She said you’d have a happy marriage.Andfourchildren.”
When Cait looked up, her astonished laugh that bubbled up was covered by his kiss.
Thirty
Jewel
JEWEL LICKEDher lips, perusing the selection of sweets.
More than a few now graced the Christmas Eve table, including creamy custard, spiced gingerbread, sugared almonds, and a platter of marzipan shaped into tiny edible sculptures of berries, fruits, and wreaths.There was also a giant strawberry tart, courtesy of Aunty Violet’s father’s greenhouse.
Aunty Kendra already had some of everything on her plate.Across the table, Diana and Elspeth were busily choosing sweetmeats for Rowan, having contrived to sit on either side of him.But the plum pudding had yet to appear, because two family members were missing.
“We’ve all been waiting for you for the pudding!”Jewel’s cousin Adam told his parents when they finally entered the dining room.
“Your father hasn’t eaten.”Aunty Cait was fairly glowing with renewed good humor.“You’ll have to wait a wee bit longer.”
“No one has to wait,” Uncle Jason disagreed as he took his seat.“I’ll eat the rest of this fish and some Christmas pie while everyone else enjoys the plum pudding.I don’t want to keepanyonefrom their pudding—most especially my dear, pregnant wife, who’s been craving plum pudding for days.”
Jewel wasn’t the only one who gasped at that news, although she noticed that none of the older generation seemed surprised.“Then let’s not keep Cait waiting!”Aunty Violet exclaimed as she rose from her chair.“I’ll go tell Hilda we’re ready for the pudding.”
After Violet left, the chamber was conspicuously quiet for a moment.
A very short moment.
