passing day.” He
leaned forward and brushed his lips against hers, lightly at first before it
deepened into everything he’d wanted to say and then some.
When
they broke apart, Emily couldn’t stop smiling. “Isn’t it wonderful? By winter
we shall be holding our own child.”
“It’s
hard to comprehend that we are so blessed. I must tell you, that’s the last
thing I expected you to tell me tonight.” He kissed her again.
“I
didn’t want to say anything until I was sure. I talked with my mother about it
when we arrived in London last week. I hope you don’t mind that I consulted
her, but I wanted to be sure of my happy news.”
Ethan
picked up Emily’s hand and brought it to his lips. “No, my darling, I don’t
mind at all. I would like nothing better than to shout this happy news from the
rooftops.”
Emily
giggled at the image Ethan had planted in her mind. “I hardly think that’s the
proper way to announce it. I’m so excited to tell Mia tomorrow. It’s been too
long since we’ve seen each other, but she’s been busy with little Lucas. It
will be such a pleasure to hold the little one in my arms, knowing that soon
I’ll be holding our own child.”
“Getting
in a little practice?” Ethan chuckled.
“Yes,
as a matter of fact I am. What do you have to say to that, Mr. Richardson?”
Emily asked in a teasing tone.
He
leaned over and kissed her again. “I’d say that’s wonderful. Do you want to
tell Aunt Mary this evening?”
“No,
not yet, but we’ll tell everyone soon. Is that agreeable?”
“Of
course, my darling. Whatever you prefer is fine with me, but only if you kiss
me again.”
Emily
chuckled before she obliged her husband with a sensual kiss of her own.
“Perhaps,
we should not celebrate any more or else we will not be going to Aunt Mary’s
for dinner,” Ethan said.
“Your
aunt would be so disappointed, but are you saying you don’t wish to kiss me
anymore?”
Now
it was Ethan’s turn to chuckle. “I always want to kiss you, my darling wife.”
“Then
kiss me once more before we reach Aunt Mary’s.”
“Gladly.”
***
Lady
Charlotte Hunt looked at her reflection in the vanity mirror. Her long-time
maid, Mayson, had done a beautiful job with her hair this evening. Dark curls
cascaded down the nape of her neck. Even in her fortieth year, Charlotte was
blessed with lustrous black hair with only a few strands of white peeking
through.
“Would
you prefer the pearls or sapphires this evening?” Mayson asked.
“Sapphires,
please. They will go nicely with this dress, don’t you think?”
“Yes,
ma’am. That’s the most beautiful navy silk I’ve ever seen. Did Mrs. Phillips
order that specially for you?”
“No,
but as soon as she saw it, she wrote to me. Once I saw it, there was no doubt
in my mind that it would make the most extraordinary dress. The fabric shimmers
and appears to change color when it moves.”
Mayson
pulled out the sapphire necklace and matching earrings from the jewelry box.
“This necklace will look stunning with that dress. Lord Hunt has outdone
himself with these pieces. The vibrant colors of the stones are so beautiful.”
“Come
now, Mayson. There’s no need to pretend with me. We’re both aware he only gave
them to me to keep up appearances, nothing more.”
Mayson
didn’t say anything. She slipped the necklace around Charlotte’s neck and
fastened the clasp before stepping back. “There you go, my lady. You look
stunning this evening.”
Charlotte
finished off the look by dressing her ears with the sapphires. “Thank you,
Mayson. As usual, it’s your expertise that has helped me look presentable
tonight.”
“You
need no help from me or anyone else, my lady. You’re a beautiful woman, and
don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”
Charlotte
chuckled at Mayson’s over-protectiveness. She’d been her maid for close to
twenty years and had seen her through the ups and downs of her marriage although
it had
leaned forward and brushed his lips against hers, lightly at first before it
deepened into everything he’d wanted to say and then some.
When
they broke apart, Emily couldn’t stop smiling. “Isn’t it wonderful? By winter
we shall be holding our own child.”
“It’s
hard to comprehend that we are so blessed. I must tell you, that’s the last
thing I expected you to tell me tonight.” He kissed her again.
“I
didn’t want to say anything until I was sure. I talked with my mother about it
when we arrived in London last week. I hope you don’t mind that I consulted
her, but I wanted to be sure of my happy news.”
Ethan
picked up Emily’s hand and brought it to his lips. “No, my darling, I don’t
mind at all. I would like nothing better than to shout this happy news from the
rooftops.”
Emily
giggled at the image Ethan had planted in her mind. “I hardly think that’s the
proper way to announce it. I’m so excited to tell Mia tomorrow. It’s been too
long since we’ve seen each other, but she’s been busy with little Lucas. It
will be such a pleasure to hold the little one in my arms, knowing that soon
I’ll be holding our own child.”
“Getting
in a little practice?” Ethan chuckled.
“Yes,
as a matter of fact I am. What do you have to say to that, Mr. Richardson?”
Emily asked in a teasing tone.
He
leaned over and kissed her again. “I’d say that’s wonderful. Do you want to
tell Aunt Mary this evening?”
“No,
not yet, but we’ll tell everyone soon. Is that agreeable?”
“Of
course, my darling. Whatever you prefer is fine with me, but only if you kiss
me again.”
Emily
chuckled before she obliged her husband with a sensual kiss of her own.
“Perhaps,
we should not celebrate any more or else we will not be going to Aunt Mary’s
for dinner,” Ethan said.
“Your
aunt would be so disappointed, but are you saying you don’t wish to kiss me
anymore?”
Now
it was Ethan’s turn to chuckle. “I always want to kiss you, my darling wife.”
“Then
kiss me once more before we reach Aunt Mary’s.”
“Gladly.”
***
Lady
Charlotte Hunt looked at her reflection in the vanity mirror. Her long-time
maid, Mayson, had done a beautiful job with her hair this evening. Dark curls
cascaded down the nape of her neck. Even in her fortieth year, Charlotte was
blessed with lustrous black hair with only a few strands of white peeking
through.
“Would
you prefer the pearls or sapphires this evening?” Mayson asked.
“Sapphires,
please. They will go nicely with this dress, don’t you think?”
“Yes,
ma’am. That’s the most beautiful navy silk I’ve ever seen. Did Mrs. Phillips
order that specially for you?”
“No,
but as soon as she saw it, she wrote to me. Once I saw it, there was no doubt
in my mind that it would make the most extraordinary dress. The fabric shimmers
and appears to change color when it moves.”
Mayson
pulled out the sapphire necklace and matching earrings from the jewelry box.
“This necklace will look stunning with that dress. Lord Hunt has outdone
himself with these pieces. The vibrant colors of the stones are so beautiful.”
“Come
now, Mayson. There’s no need to pretend with me. We’re both aware he only gave
them to me to keep up appearances, nothing more.”
Mayson
didn’t say anything. She slipped the necklace around Charlotte’s neck and
fastened the clasp before stepping back. “There you go, my lady. You look
stunning this evening.”
Charlotte
finished off the look by dressing her ears with the sapphires. “Thank you,
Mayson. As usual, it’s your expertise that has helped me look presentable
tonight.”
“You
need no help from me or anyone else, my lady. You’re a beautiful woman, and
don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”
Charlotte
chuckled at Mayson’s over-protectiveness. She’d been her maid for close to
twenty years and had seen her through the ups and downs of her marriage although
it had
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