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She gazed at him with a warm expression before responding, “This is the future, William. If you allow it.”

William was overcome, his throat growing thick with the sheer emotion enveloping him as he took in the sight of his uncle and aunt restored to good spirits. New life that had been brought into the world and set things right, with two healthy children to build the future.

Turning, he pulled Caroline into an embrace. He wanted this! All of this. He wanted children and hope. He wanted reconciliation and good cheer. He wanted her!

As he engulfed her with his arms, feeling her slight body against his own, she giggled. “Careful, William. Do not squish our babe.” Which was when he felt the roundness of her belly pressed against him. Caroline was increasing, and with this news, he nearly wept his joy into her vanilla-scented hair.

“Merry Christmas, sunshine,” he whispered, feeling her lips curve into a smile against his neck.

“Merry Christmas, blacksmith.”

She was half asleep, dozing on the shorter settee and wishing she could stretch out properly on a bed, when Caroline heard the blacksmith mumbling in his sleep.

She could not make out the rest of the words, but she could pick out one.

“… sunshine …”

What on earth could the blacksmith be dreaming about?

She dug an elbow into the settee cushion and raised her head to peer across to where he lay.

“… Christmas …”

Caroline tried to see his expression in the darkened room. Was he in distress? Should she waken him once more?

“… Caroline …”

She bit her lip. He was dreaming of her!

One of Chatternwell’s most eligible men was currently prone across the room and dreaming of silly little Caroline of Somerset. An orphan and unchaste woman of few redeeming traits!

What a bizarre situation this was proving to be. There was nothing to compare this night to, no similar experience to call on. She did not know what to make of the strange events that had unfolded these past hours.

In a day or so, she would leave this cottage and return to the real world, outside of this strange interlude. When she and William met in the future, they would have to pretend this had never happened. In fact, they would have to return to their aloof relationship as Mrs. Brown and Mr. Jackson, their only commonality being that they each owned a business on Market Street. This entire evening would be swept away as if it had never happened.

This realization was unexpectedly desolate. She liked the blacksmith, especially since he had relaxed his grim mood and revealed some of his struggles.

Many women in this town coveted William for his handsome form and successful livelihood. Yet Caroline knew something else about him. She was the only woman in Chatternwell aware he had injured himself while secretly helping the old widow next door by repairing her roof on Christmas Eve.

He was an honorable man, and she had to admit their earlier conversation was thrilling, when he had confessed that she had influenced his thoughts and lightened some undisclosed burden he had been carrying. The shift in his mood was palpable, and she was apparently the cause of it.

The thought of gathering her things to walk out the door was rather disheartening.

Work!

Caroline drew a deep breath, slightly mollified at the reminder of what would take the place of this increasingly intimate connection she was forming with William.

Work will keep your mind from wandering about!

She nodded to herself. Close relationships were not permitted. This was an aberration, a freak occurrence. Once this holiday was over, so too would be this strange bond they had formed over the course of the night. Work would distract her from any yearnings that might disturb her thoughts.

As she reached this conclusion, feeling better for having a plan to get past these unprecedented events, Caroline realized that William’s eyes were open. He was staring at her with the oddest expression. Was it … admiration?

Caroline sat up. “Do you need anything, William?”

He licked his lips to moisten them, then spoke in a low voice. “Would you check my ankle?”

“Of course.” She swung her feet to the floor and bounced up, quickly navigating the room to light a candle before sitting on the low table. She pulled his blanket up to reveal his ankle in the low light, then gently felt around.