With a considering hum, he paused before asking, “Did you bring a cutting from Mrs. Finch’s roses?”
“No, dearheart.” Violet straightened and stared at him. How did he not realize what she was referring to? It wasn’t as though her hints were subtle. “Iexpectyou will be very pleased about it.”
Arthur pondered it another moment before shaking his head. “Is it a horse? I know we need to purchase one—”
“Not a horse, Arthur,” she said, pushing away from him with a frown. “Why would I be so excited about a horse?”
Grabbing her hand, Arthur pressed a kiss to her palm. “Peace, dearest. I am guessing that this gift will arrive in about six months.”
Violet’s brows rose at that as she fitted herself in his arms once more. “You know?”
Arthur’s chuckle vibrated through them both. “Wife, I am a physician, and I would be a poor one, indeed, if I didn’t recognize the signs.”
Heart falling to her toes, Violet gaped at him. “Why didn’t you say anything?”
“Because you wanted to surprise me. Unfortunately, I am not good at acting, else I would’ve put on a better show of being astonished,” he said as his hands rubbed at her back, and whatever hurt she might’ve felt (which was little at best) melted away.
Violet had wanted some grand shout of excitement or some other overdone display of emotion, but she ought to have known better. It wasn’t in Arthur’s nature. But her husband’s eyes glowed with such pleasure, and her heart flushed with it.
He held her fast, his eyes growing misty and his lips trembling slightly as he whispered, “Our dream is coming true.”
Violet’s breath caught, and her pulse quickened. “That it is, my love.”
But she couldn’t say anything else, for Arthur swept her up in a kiss that erased all thought from her mind.
