COLIN POKED his head out of the carriage, frowning at the unmistakable sounds of construction. His gaze followed the circular drive as he slowly stepped to the gravel.
Atop the great hall, a new slate roof glistened in the sunshine.
Suddenly weak in the knees, he leaned against the carriage. Criminy, if she’d spent his small savings on a new roof, thinking to surprise him…
But no, it didn’t matter. Not now that he’d decided to forfeit Greystone, regardless.
His attention was diverted as Amy slammed out the front door and bounded toward him, as fast as her swollen girth would allow.
“Colin! I’m so glad you’re home!”
She threw herself at him, the mound of her stomach bouncing off his solid form. With a shaky laugh, he reached to set her aright, then crushed her against himself, burying his nose in her rose-scented hair. “Heavens, I missed you.”
She pulled back, a radiant smile on her face, then lunged at him again, as though to convince herself he was really there.
He half-laughed, half-groaned, the gravel crunching beneath his feet as he shifted. “What is going on here?” he asked, gesturing at the roof.
Her smiled widened, then she gasped when she looked past him. “Aunt Elizabeth?”
As her aunt stepped down from the carriage, Colin ventured a small smile of his own. “It seems we both had surprises for each other.”
“Oh, Colin! Aunt Elizabeth!” As she let out a cry of pleasure, enclosing her aunt in an enthusiastic embrace, Colin’s smile turned genuine.
She was such a joy…how could he have ever considered betraying her, even for a moment? Any sacrifice was worth it, so long as he retained her trust. And her love.
All at once, the old fear started melting away. Here with Amy again, it seemed marrying for love was the best thing he could have done for himself and his children, no matter the consequences.
Wherever they ended up living, they’d be happy, because they’d be together.
Amy tugged on his hand. “Wait till you see the inside! Did you notice the new windows as you drove up? The downstairs chambers are ready for furniture, and our suite upstairs is nearly—”
She stopped when he didn’t budge.
He couldn’t budge.
He felt rooted to the ground. He didn’t want to see all the improvements, his home restored like he’d dreamed, only to hand it all over to Hobbs.
The buzzard.
He backed up and sat on the carriage step. “Amy, love…just give me a minute to get used to this.”
“There’s more! I bought more sheep, and the thresher. And the mill is fixed.”
He squeezed his eyes shut.
“Colin?” She jiggled his arm. “Colin, are you all right?” She gave a nervous giggle. “I’m the one who’s supposed to feel faint these days.”
“I’m fine,” he whispered. “Did you spend it all?”
“Spend it all?” Her laugh rang through the courtyard. “Have you any idea what those diamonds are worth? Or how much gold a trunk will hold?”
His eyes flew open. “Diamonds? Gold?”
Why did she always make him feel so dense?
Her laughter tapered off into the heavy summer air. “Did you think I would spend Greystone’s accounts?” she asked slowly. “Without asking?”
“I…” He rose, but his knees still felt weak. “Are you saying, then—”
“I want you to have it, Colin. I want you to be happy.” Her hand moved to the bulge of their child. “The gold was meant as security for my son, was it not?” Her amethyst eyes glistened with tears as she gazed up at him. “What could be more secure than an earldom and acres of land? The fortune will be there, in the crops planted in the fertile soil, in the stone walls of the castle and the shingles on the great hall’s roof. I should have realized it months ago.” One tear escaped and traced a path down her cheek. “I’m sorry.”
“You’re sorry…?” His hand came up to wipe away that single tear, warm against the pad of his fingertip. A peculiar grayness crept to fog his vision. He gathered her against him, holding her tight.
Holding himself up.
She was the pregnant one—he was not going to faint.