Mrs.Potter beamed at both of them.“I’ll leave you two together.You’ll want some time alone.”She scurried away without another word.
Georgiana leaned her forehead against his.“Andrew, I’m so sorry, but it has passed already.I’ll be fine.I won’t let it spoil our wedding night.”
He kissed her softly.“Nothing could, no matter how you feel or what we do.We have hundreds of nights ahead of us.Are you certain you aren’t ill?Do you want me to fetch Peabody?”He stood up.“I’ll have to run to catch him.”
She grabbed a hand and pulled him back.
“I’m not ill, Andrew.I fear I may have misled you, however.This house is very small.”
He looked at her, confused.“I told you we didn’t need to stay here,” he said, struggling to understand her meaning.
“Mr.Peabody may have been wrong.”
His puzzlement deepened.
An impish smile crossed her lips.She pulled him down to the bench to whisper in his ear.“I’m not quite sure, but I think we will have another collaboration to manage in several more months.”
Still not making sense.Georgiana just smiled back at him until the radiant look on her face moved something inside him and the light dawned.He felt an explosion of joy great enough to fill their little house.
“Pregnant, Georgie?”he whispered when he could breathe.He covered her belly with his hand.A child grew there, his child.The idea made him tremble.
She nodded, a happy laugh bursting forth.“I’ve never been so glad to be wrong about something.”
He kissed her then, as he wanted to do all evening.“I love you,” he said.She didn’t answer.She took his mouth with hers and kissed him until they both gasped for air.
Andrew stood and helped her rise.He slipped an arm around her waist, and they walked to the door.
“I think, dear wife, that, no matter what happens, my life with you will be a constant surprise.”
Georgiana let out a yelp when he swept her up into his arms.He carried her across the threshold, laughter trailing in their wake.
