The sea hath bounds, but deep desire hath none.
—Venus and Adonis, 331–32
Something disturbed Adam’s slumber. His eyes popped open. Through the slit in the draperies, he saw a faint tint of pink in the dark sky. Dawn was on the rise. He listened but heard nothing. Perhaps it was Katherine mumbling in her sleep. He smiled to himself and snuggled closer to her warm back and caught the fragrant scent of her hair. Carefully, he pushed aside her auburn tresses and brushed his lips to her nape. Her bare shoulder twitched at his feather-light caress and he smiled.
Perhaps he would wake her and let her know he wanted her.
Then he heard the noise again. It was a soft knock on the door. A knock he recognized. Deciding not to disturb Katherine, he gently threw the covers aside and eased off the bed. He stepped into the trousers he always kept on the nightstand and buttoned them as he padded over to the door, unlocked it, and opened it just a little.
Dixon stood there, holding a candle. He looked up at Adam and said, “They’re crying again.”
Adam rolled his shoulders and sniffed as he stepped out of the room and gently pulled the door around. “The twins?”
Dixon nodded. “They woke me up. Again.”
Adam frowned and rubbed the back of his neck, trying to think about what he should do or say. “Really?” he asked, stalling.
“The third time this week.”
Adam knew. It was becoming an every-other-night occurrence for Dixon to find his way to Adam’s bedchamber in the dark of night and knock on his door to complain. He didn’t know why Dixon just couldn’t sleep through crying. Their whimpers didn’t seem all that loud to Adam.
“Well, they are babies,” he answered, wondering what else he could say. “You know it’s natural. Babies cry a lot. That’s all they know how to do. That and eat.”
“How many more are you going to have?”
The door opened and Adam felt his wife come up behind him and put her gentle hand on his shoulder. “I don’t know. That’s up to Katherine.” He turned, looked at her, and smiled. “But as many as she wants.”
“Thank you, my lord,” she whispered into his ear.
Dixon rolled his eyes.
Katherine smiled at Adam and his heart melted. She was beautiful in her pristine white night rail, with her thick auburn tresses flowing across her shoulders.
She moved from behind him and looked down at Dixon. “Did the girls wake you again?”
Dixon nodded, paused, and then said, “Do you want me to go check on them for you this time?”
She glanced at Adam in surprise. “Would you like to do that for me?” Katherine asked him.
“I might as well. I’m already awake. I’m big enough now that I’m seven. The nanny can’t rock both of them at the same time. I can help her if you want me to.”
“Thank you, Dixon. That’s very nice of you, and it will be a wonderful way for you to help. Tell Mrs. Foster I’ll be along in a few minutes to help out, too.”
Dixon smiled and turned away. Adam called to him and he looked back. “You be careful carrying that candle back to the nursery.”
After Dixon disappeared into the other wing of the house, Adam turned and watched Katherine walk to the foot of the bed. She still had a bit of a limp, but it was hardly noticeable anymore. He closed the door and turned the key.
She picked up her robe and started to put it on, but Adam reached and gently took it out of her hands. He dropped her robe to the bed and slipped his arms around her slender waist and pulled her to him. The girls were almost three months old, and already Katherine’s shape was returning to normal.
He’d worried every day when she was in the family way. All during her confinement, he’d stayed close by her side. And when her time came, it was quick. She’d not only given him one child, she’d given him two. And she’d had no trouble with either birth. She had been amazing.
He looked down into her eyes. “Why am I always searching for something to say to Dixon, but you seem to know exactly what to say to make him happy every time you speak to him?”
“I suppose it comes naturally to me and not to you,” she said with a teasing smile.
“In that case, let me say something that does come naturally to me. I love you, Katherine, and I’m thankful every day that I came to my senses and didn’t let you marry Lord Rudyard.”
“I love you, too.” Katherine circled his neck with her arms. “And I’m quite happy about that myself.”
“There’s something else that comes very naturally to me,” Adam said, backing her against the bed.
“That would be many things, my lord, so which one are you referring to right now?”
“This one,” he said, and then swung her up into his arms and laid her down on the bed.
Her gentle laughter filled the room and made him desire her even more. “No, no, you rogue. You know we don’t have time for this. The babies are crying and Mrs. Foster needs my help.”
He lay down beside her and cuddled her in his arms. “And you will help her, but only after I have your help first.”
She gave him a mock look of horror. “You beast. You would leave a baby wailing while you take the time to satisfy yourself?”
“Yes.” He grinned. “But only because I know the babes are in no danger of not being properly cared for.” He pulled her close and snuggled the warmth of her neck. “Now, I hope you have no objections if I kiss you like this, my lovely wife.”
Adam kissed her hungrily, and she responded eagerly.
“But Mrs. Foster is expecting me,” she argued in between his kisses and while her arms twined around his neck.
He kissed her cheek, below her eyes, and her luscious lips again. “I know, and you will join her. Just not for a few more minutes.” He kissed his way down her neck. “Besides, you need to give Dixon time to feel like he is helping her, and…” He stopped and looked down into her sparkling green eyes.
“And what?” she asked with a suspicious expression.
He pulled on the ribbon that held the bodice of her night rail together. “And give me a little time to show you how much I love you.”
She kissed his lips. “I think after almost two years of marriage, I know how much you love me. But I’m always willing to pretend I don’t, so you can show me one more time.”
He smiled. “You could never know. But, yes. Let me try to show you one more time.”
Katherine sighed softy and wrapped her arms around his back and Adam thrilled to her touch.