He smiled.
“We are husband and wife now,” she whispered, rising to her feet as Lord Broadford came to sign his name also. “At last, we are joined forever.”
“Would that I could have a moment alone with you,” he responded, her hand settling at his heart, her eyes twinkling as the desire to be alone with her grew to frustration. “Alas, it may be some time yet.”
“We have waited so very long for this, have we not?” she responded, her smile softening. “I am sure I can wait a fewminutes more – but then, I pray, you will take me in your arms and swear to me you shall never let me go.”
David could not resist her, lowering his head and catching her lips with his for the smallest, briefest kiss that still sent a surge of heat through him. “I swear it,” he promised, holding her gaze steadily. “You have my heart, Nora. From this day onwards until forever.”
Nora walked directlytowards the study, her fingers tangling in front of her as she wondered exactly what Hampshire would say. She had rehearsed these words over and over and over again and had tried on two separate occasions to tell him before this moment but she had not been able to even begin. With family soon to arrive, however, Nora was determined to tell her husband all, knowing it could not wait for too much longer.
“My love?” Pushing open the study door, she smiled at her husband as he lifted his head at once, a delighted smile spreading across his face upon seeing her. “Might I come in for a few minutes? I know you are very industrious indeed at the moment and I do not want to interrupt you for long.”
“You are always a welcome interruption,” he responded, making her flush. “Come in, Nora.” Coming from around his desk, he held out one hand to her. “Is there something the matter? It will not be long before everyone arrives and you have already done marvelously well in ensuring the house is prepared.”
She smiled softly, pressing his hand and looking up at him. “There is nothing the matter but there is something I wanted to share with you before everyone else arrived.”
“Oh?”
The words tangled on her tongue but she took a moment to breathe, settling her free hand lightly against her stomach and holding his gaze as she spoke. “Soon, my dear husband, it will not only be you and I who reside here together.” When he did nothing but frown, she laughed softly and then took his hand to her stomach, seeing his eyes flare. “I am with child.”
For a moment, the entire world seemed to hold its breath. Hampshire’s eyes were fixed to where his hand now lay, the colour fading from his face until, with a shake of his head, he lifted his eyes to hers. “You – you… ” Closing his eyes, he pinched the bridge of his nose with his finger and thumb. “We are to have a child, Nora?”
Happiness swelled in her heart, tightening her chest. “Yes, my love. We are.”
A short, jerky, joyous laugh tore from his throat as he drew her into his arms, gathering her there as he had done so often before – but this time with an increased gentleness. Pressing his lips to her hair, he breathed out her name and then pulled back so he could look into her eyes. “You are quite certain?”
“Yes, I am. The doctor confirmed it to me this morning.”
The smile on his face grew even stronger, his hand at the curve of her cheek, his thumb dancing lightly across her skin. “I cannot quite believe it. A child of our own.”
She nodded, her eyes damp as he lowered his head and kissed her tenderly, not wanting the moment to end as she settled her hands around his neck, that familiar place one of both safety and longing.
“I wanted to tell you before our guests arrived,” she said, as he lifted his head. “This is the most wonderful news, is it not? I do not think I have ever known such happiness as this!”
“You have given me so much already, Nora,” he responded, his hazel eyes swirling with the depths of emotion that now swept through him. “And now you give me something evenmore wonderful, I do not know how my heart shall bear the joy.” Kissing her again, he held her close once more and Nora, her head on his shoulder, let out a long contented sigh, her eyes closing. It did not matter now when her parents would be arriving, did not matter that the bedchambers were not entirely prepared. All that mattered was this moment, when she was held securely in Lord Hampshire’s arms, her joy complete.
The rest of the world could wait.
“Frederica!”
Nora moved forward quickly, her smile wide as she embraced Frederica, thinking to herself just how well the lady looked. There was a brightness in the lady’s face that had not been there before, a vivacity about her that had only come from her marriage to Lord Dumfries. “How glad I am to have you join us.”
“I have been very eager indeed to come and visit again,” Frederica replied, stepping back and then embracing Hampshire instead. “It has seemed like an age since we last met!”
“It has been three weeks, my dear.”
Nora chuckled as she greeted Lord Dumfries, who quickly settled an arm around his wife as she smiled at him. “Ah, but three weeks can seem like an eternity when one is separated from one’s family,” she answered, as Lord Dumfries grinned. “We are delighted to have you join us for a time. When is your honeymoon to begin?”
“In a fortnight,” Lord Dumfries told them, as Hampshire gestured for them to step inside. “We will go to France, I think. Frederica is somewhat overwhelmed by the thought of going so very far – ”
“It is only that we must take a boat to reach there and I am not entirely convinced that I am altogether prepared for a voyage!” Frederica exclaimed, making Nora laugh. “Dumfries is quite determined that we shall make our way there, however, and I would do anything to please him.”
Lord Hampshire chuckled softly as they reached the front door of the house. “Then I think to France you shall go, Frederica.”
Everyone laughed at this but Nora’s attention was caught by the sound of carriage wheels on the gravel. Excusing herself, she turned back and hurried down the stone steps, eager now to greet her mother and father. Waving as the carriage drew near, she was forced to wait as the footman prepared the steps and then opened the door for Lady Somerset to step out first.
Nora saw it as she turned toward the sound of the approaching carriage — a small thing, easily missed in the commotion of arrivals and greetings, but she caught it in the periphery of her vision and it stopped her for a moment, a smile rising unbidden.
