COLIN KICKED the door closed behind them and gently deposited Amy on the bed. The sudden apprehension in her eyes made his gut clench.
“Are you truly pleased?” she asked in a small voice. “I mean, it’s so soon…and maybe I should have told you first, privately…”
She looked away, staring up at the underside of the canopy.
“Oh, love, how could you doubt me so?” He lowered himself to the bed and turned her face toward him with a fingertip. “A babe…a family…”
Amy’s breath rushed out, and she offered him a shaky smile. “A son,” she said. “I don’t know why, but I’m sure of it, Colin.”
He didn’t care whether she carried a son or a daughter. Either way, his throat tightened as he thought of their child growing within her. “A son,” he echoed, suppressing a chuckle. “How long have you known?”
Her fingers toyed with a lock of her hair. “I think it must have happened the very first time, on our wedding night.”
“But you said nothing until now.”
“It’s been too soon to tell till now, only six weeks,” she defended herself. “Besides, I wasn’t sure you’d be happy. Our wedding happened so quickly, and now this…”
Colin suspected she was thinking they hadn’t been meant to wed. He’d manipulated her by bringing Robert’s threat into the equation. And look where it had landed him: He was happy beyond belief, but those days were numbered. A year—one precious year—until that buzzard’s debt was due.
He laced his fingers with hers. He’d been right all along: marrying for love was irrational. A mistake. But one he couldn’t bring himself to be sorry for—yet.
“Go on,” he said, squeezing her hand.
She took a deep breath. “When I became convinced—and don’t ask me how, I just know—I didn’t know how to tell you. I wasn’t sure whether you’d be pleased.” She bit her lip. “But I wanted to give you a Christmas present, and this was all I had.” Her mouth curved in a tiny smile. “Since you won’t take my diamonds and gold.”
“My Amethyst is the most precious gem of all,” Colin teased. “Why would I want any others when they all pale in comparison?” He brushed a gentle kiss across her lips.
“Then you’re really, truly pleased? You’re not vexed we conceived so soon? Because, heaven forgive me, I cannot find it in me to be sorry. I want your son more than anything in the world,” she finished on a sigh.
What had he done to deserve her? And how—heavens, how—could he manage to keep his promise and save Greystone, too?
And her amethyst eyes still radiated worry. “I’m more than pleased,” he assured her. “I’m overjoyed…delighted…enchanted…elated…” A kiss punctuated each word, and his voice grew rough. “Ecstatic…intoxicated…”
“That’s the buttered ale, I think.” She giggled.
“No, it’s you,” he protested.
She blushed and cleared her throat. “Well, now that you’ve relieved my fears, we may as well go join in the games.”
Colin laughed, the sound bubbling up from deep in his chest. “Not yet,” he said flatly, one arm coming around to hold her hostage.
“But I’ve never before had a large family to play games with.”
He nuzzled her neck, smiling when he felt her pulse speed up.
“I-I was so looking forward to it,” she stammered out.
He kissed a trail to her ear. “First, I would meet my child.”
“Your son. But he won’t be arriving for many months.”
“That doesn’t signify. I shall meet him anyway.”
His heart soared with anticipation. Though he hoped he’d never be forced to spend her inheritance, now, thanks to this miracle, he’d have something to bind her to his side. Their baby…surely she’d stay with him always for the sake of their child, even if he lost Greystone or depleted her gold in saving it.
He was so lucky to have her. He leaned over her, running his fingers through her dark tresses and arranging them artistically on the pillows. Criminy, she was beautiful. He smiled down at his handiwork. “Ahh,” he said with a long, drawn-out sigh of contentment, running his hands down her sides to span her waist. “I haven’t been able to touch you properly since morning.”
“Improperly, you mean.” Amy giggled, feeling light-hearted for the first time since she’d realized she was pregnant.
He smiled, that mischievous grin that made her heart flip-flop. “It’s deucedly inconvenient having the family around.” His stern voice didn’t fool her. “I warned you.”
She lifted her head for a kiss, but he seemed to have other plans. His hands were skimming over her hips now. “It has its compensations,” she said, watching the firelight play over his perfect features.
“Such as?”
“Such as…” She felt him inching her skirts up, making concentration difficult. “They’re quite helpful with practical joke arrangements.”
“I see.”
He inched them up more. “They…make interesting supper conversation,” she managed to say.
“Is that so?”
“Mmm-hmm.”
With sudden impatience, he hurried her out of her dress, and their inane discussion came to an abrupt end.
When his lips finally met hers, her heart swelled with emotion. But not as much as when he glided down, until his scratchy chin and cheek grazed against her smooth belly.
“Are you in there, little one?” His voice vibrated into her body. “It’s your father.” His lips moved against her stomach, his breath warm.
Her hands reached down to tug insistently at his shoulders.
“Your mother wants me now,” Colin gloated, throwing Amy a roguish look. “But first I want to say…we love you.”
“Colin…”
“Good-bye for now,” Colin murmured, pressing a final kiss to her stomach. “We’ll talk again soon.”
He lifted his head, and she knew right then that they wouldn’t be joining his family for games that night. The eyes that blazed into hers were a deep, fathomless green, overflowing with more love than words could ever convey. Everything between Colin and herself seemed incredibly perfect, as though they belonged together, each and every minute particle of their bodies and souls.
No matter that her head sometimes told her otherwise, her heart had always known they were meant to be.