Greaves Estate, Arabella’s ancestral family home, wasn’t as unsettling and weird as she led Xavier to believe. Or perhaps he found it charming because of Arabella’s presence.
The surrounding village of Gull’s End was a whole other matter, however. They had taken a couple of trips into it for supplies since they arrived and found the hospitality somewhat… lacking, to put it mildly. It seemed the village thought the house was cursed. Xavier and Arabella living together without being married also added to the stigma but neither of them cared. What mattered was they were together, in a home of their own of sorts. It even had its own small bowling alley.
It was Arabella’s first visit to the estate since its extensive renovations over a year ago, during Lucien Quinn’s disastrous tenancy. When she gave Xavier a tour of the house, she pointed out the newly constructed wall that replaced the doorway that once led to the house’s underwater ballroom, now gone. “At least it will make this place easier to sell,” she said. “I don’t know what my ancestors were thinking with that stupid room.” But she wasn’t planning on selling the estate for a while. It was nice, she explained, to stay in one spot for a few months. Once they grew bored of the estate, they would board the dirigible, now anchored on the property, and take to the skies for somewhere new to explore.
What mattered to Xavier was the manner of all kinds of sparkling and shiny things the house had. He could hoard and hide to his dragon heart’s content. The silverware collection was of particular interest, and would be coming with them when they eventually left.
Xavier’s life changed once again on an unseasonably warm Sunday afternoon in early October. He’d spent the morning at the property’s pebbled beach, looking for interesting rocks to add to a growing collection he kept outside the servants’ door off the kitchen. Arabella found him barefoot, with water up to his ankles, an unreadable expression on her face.
“Xavier?” She looked a little pale and unsure of herself, both out of character for her.
Something in her voice had every sense of his on alert. His dragon stirred, wanting to know what was wrong with his mate. “What is it?”
Arabella looked at the water, at a loss for words for possibly the first time in her life.
His heartbeat thundered so hard he thought she must be able to hear it. “What’s wrong?” he repeated.
“Would you marry me?”
He was so taken aback by the question that he nearly fell over. “What?”
“Would you marry me?” she repeated. She opened her palm to reveal a pair of freshly cleaned ruby earbobs, an old-fashioned set if he’d ever seen them. They had to be older than the house itself. Damn it if his dragon didn’t want to snatch them out of her hand and hide them away in his trouser pocket.
“A ring may be more traditional,” she said.
“I believe my asking you would be more traditional.”
“I think I’m pregnant.”
Well, that wasn’t what Xavier was expecting to hear. Is it? a small voice reminded him. How long did you think you keep up what you were doing without this happening? Xavier didn’t care. Once the shock had worn off, delight crept in. “Are you certain?”
“I think so. The symptoms I’ve been having for the last couple of weeks couldn’t be anything else.” That unnerved, unsure look returned to her face. He hated to see it. “Is that all right?”
He was affronted that she would ask. “Of course!”
“It’s such a change for both of us, and…”
He silenced her with a kiss. “I want this and I think I would have married you as soon as I set foot in England again, looking back on it.”
A relieved smile spread across her face. “Why not New York?”
“Why not Santiago? It would’ve been that much faster.” He traced the outline of her cheek with his fingertips. She sighed, leaning into his touch.
“I want to be with you,” he continued. “For the rest of my life. I love you so much.”
“I love you, too.” She wrapped her arms around him and rested her head on his shoulder. “Although I should tell you that I’m terrified of being a parent, even though I wanted to be one eventually.”
“So am I. I’m sure our baby will be, too. We’ll be terrified together.” He liked how the words “our baby” sounded, just as much as “together.”
“Promise me one thing,” Arabella said.
“Anything.”
“Let it stay a secret between us that I asked you to marry me.”
Xavier stepped out of the water to the beach and picked her up. She squealed and grabbed his shoulders. “I’ll do one better.” His teeth grazed her ear, sending a shudder of pleasure through her body. “I’ll propose to you properly instead.”
“When?”
“Let me look through my hoard.” He started walking back to the house with her in his arms. “And I’ll find a ring.”
8 November 1888
My dearest Arabella,
While we were disappointed to hear that you and your husband decided against a proper wedding and eloped instead, I’m still delighted to see you settled down. At least, your idea of settling down.
I hope you and Xavier enjoy your honeymoon at Greaves Manor. I’m flummoxed that you would choose such a place to start your married life, but if it makes you happy, then I’m pleased for you.
Our invitation still stands to visit us in Torquay whenever you want.
Love always,
Your father
20 November 1888
Dear Father,
I cannot imagine how our ancestors fared in this godawful place the villagers call Gull’s End, but at least Greaves Manor is interesting. Xavier has been keeping busy looking for fossils of ancient ferns or some such long-extant plant.
Speaking of ancestors, I suppose all of us will be such people to our next generation. Xavier and I anticipate meeting ours in the early spring.
Much love,
Arabella