Caithren tilted her head to one side, considering.“I daresay Griffin could manage on his own for a bit…”
“Indeed, and thereforewecould be onourown.Alone, Cait, just the two of us…doesn’t that sound delightful?Remember our courtship on the road?”
She couldn’t help but burst out laughing.“Oh, aye.I remember being at each other’s throats much of the time.”
He grinned, then cupped her face and brushed a thumb across her cheek.“Our first journey to Scotland wasn’t like that,” he reminded her in a low, meaningful tone.
Something fluttered in her stomach.“Aye, that journey was wonderful,” she agreed, remembering their last holiday without bairns.
All in all, it had been marvelous.The one black mark on the lovely memory was that she’d decided to keep her first pregnancy from him, for fear he might cancel their plans.He hadn’t been happy about that.But she and the babe had been fine, and she’d promised to never hide news like that again, and he’d forgiven her.
As fast as the years had sped by, it seemed forever since she and Jason had gone anywhere without all the complications that went with three offspring, as he’d said.It seemed a lifetime since they’d traveled that carefree, since they’d done anything just to please themselves—and each other.
“Very well,” she finally said.“I suppose the lads are old enough to spend a month or so without us next summer.”
“Excellent!I cannot wait.You’ll see, Cait, this will be a brand-new chapter for us.”He caught her up in another kiss—a kiss that made her wish they didn’t have to leave so soon for his brother’s house.
Or wait till next summer to journey alone together.
When he finally pulled away, he eyed her cleavage displayed in the tight gown.“Hmm…” he murmured, bending to kiss her there, too.“You’re as slim as ever, and you know it—not plump in the least—but I will saytheselook pleasingly plump in this gown.Is it new?”
She laughed again.He never noticed her clothes, which meant she could order any that she wanted.“Yes, it’s new for the holidays.Perhaps Mrs.Bletchley wrote down the wrong measurements.”She frowned down at herself—her smallish breastsdidlook exceedingly plump framed in the neckline.“The rest of my new gowns are already packed.Perhaps I should wear an old one that fits me better.”
“Don’t be daft.I said you look lovely, and I meant it.”
“Very well, I’ll wear it, but mostly to avoid delaying our departure.I’m so looking forward to Christmas—I can already taste the plum pudding.”
“You can?”he asked, turning away to grab his surcoat.“I thought you didn’t like plum pudding.”He swiveled back, alarm on his face.“Bloody hell, you’re not with child, are you?What a calamity that would be!”
“Crivvens, of course not!”Her heart pounded at the mere thought.“I’m forty-three!Jamie’s fourteen years old!Why would you say such a thing?”She glanced down again at herpleasingly plumpbreasts.If Mrs.Bletchley had measured correctly, she must have gained weight in the meantime.“By all the saints, I must stop eating so much!”
“You’re not eating too much.But I’ve never seen you eat plum pudding—except the three Christmases you were with child.”
They both stayed silent while Cait’s mind raced.She usually did choose another sweet in place of plum pudding—he’d been right to say she hadn’t ever really liked it.How much time had passed since her last monthly course?She couldn’t think straight enough to recall.But swelling breasts…
And plum pudding…
Perhaps reacting to the look of horror she suspected was on her face, Jason broke the tension with a chuckle.“I was jesting, love,” he said.“After all these years, of course you’re not with child.Why should that happen now?”
She swallowed hard.“Maybe because we often do the thing that makes children happen?”
“Fourteen years, Cait.No children and no miscarriages.I think God has sent a clear message that our family is complete.Eat all the plum pudding you want.Now that you’ve learned how to master English clothes, it’s about time you learned to enjoy English food.”
Maybe he was right, she thought, her heart calming a little.Maybe she craved plum pudding because she was finally learning to enjoy English food, and maybe that’s why she’d gained weight, too.Or maybe the blasted dress was just too tight—maybe Mrs.Bletchley had mismeasured.
She couldn’t be with child.
Could she?
Five
Kendra
Amberley House
KENDRA WOKElate that morning.And she didn’t wake on her own—she woke to someone gently rubbing her back.
She rolled languidly over, thrilled to find Trick in bed next to her, gazing at her with his heart in his amber eyes.She hadn’t dreamed that he’d actually come home, then.He really was here.
