Page 95 of The Duke's Scottish Spinster
“That defeats the purpose of a surprise,” he whispered back. They were alone in the carriage, but he reveled in the intimacy.
“I don’t want to be surprised. I want to know.”
“Why don’t you just relax and enjoy it?”
She pecked him lightly on the lips, and he felt her smile rather than saw it. “If it involves my sisters, I won’t relax until I know everything in great detail. It is quite terrifying when they put their heads together, you know.”
“Even though I am involved?”
“That eases my mind a bit, but I still want to know.” She kissed him again. “Please?”
He was already a goner. “We have planned a birthday dinner for you.”
She pulled away, surprise coloring her eyes. “Truly?”
“It will be held at Heaton Manor,” he explained. “Your uncle is there right now ensuring that everything is in order though judging by how long it took us leave, I’m sure he has been waiting for some time. And then…”
“Then? There’s more?”
“The dinner will only be family. But later in the evening, the ton will arrive for an evening ball.”
“A ball?” Catriona scrunched her nose. “I am not very keen on balls, but if was planned in my honor, then I’m sure I will enjoy it.”
“You will.” This time, it was he who kissed her. “Because it not like normal balls.”
“It isn’t?”
“For one, it will be a masquerade ball. But after the toast, you, Dorothea, and I will be taking our leave.”
“Will we?”
“And we will be going to Scotland, back to your home before you had to leave.”
She pulled away from him, eyes wide. “Truly?”
“Yes, truly. We own it now. I thought you would like to return and?—”
He didn’t get the chance to finish because she was launching herself at him, raining kisses all over his face. It was so overwhelming that he could hardly breathe, and he couldn’t think of a better way to go.
When she finally pulled away, she was winded and grinning from ear to ear. “I have a surprise as well. I was going to tell you later as we prepared for bed but seeing that that is a long ways ahead of us, I think it is best to say it now.”
“What is it?”
“I am with child.”
Joseph could only blink. They had been trying for some time now to no avail. He’d never given up hope, thought it quite possible, but it still took him by surprise.
“I only just discovered it myself,” Catriona went on. “But it would explain why I have been so on edge lately, so unlike myself. And I cannot keep down fish anymore, nor can I stand the smell of candles and?—”
“You’re with child.”
She nodded at his dazed look, smiling. “I’m with child.”
“God, I didn’t think it possible to love you more.” He pulled her into his arms again.
“Does that mean that the more children I bear for you, the more your love will grow?”
“It seems rather likely.”
She giggled at that. “Then perhaps I should bear a few more after this one. Just to test your theory, of course.”
“I have no qualms with that.” He kissed her. “I love you, Catriona. More than I can ever express.”
“I love you too.” They stayed like that, her wrapped in his arms, all the way to Heaton Manor, and Joseph was tempted to forget about the dinner and ball and take her straight to Scotland, just to keep her to himself. But that could wait.
He could wait a lifetime for her because, he promised himself, they would have a lifetime together.
The End?
