Page 89 of Inconvenient Honor
“What on earth has changed? What happened with Rais Hamidou? Did you convince him to let us go?”
“No. I can’t work wonders, Lily.” His bleak expression struck her in the heart. “I can only negotiate. At least I know how to do that much.” He avoided her eyes.
Lily sucked in the breath she didn’t know she held.The man is doing his best to fix things, Lily. He’ll hate himself if his best isn’t good enough. He’ll hate himself if harm comes to you.The realization roiled her emotions ever further, comfort warring with fear forhim. She swallowed hard and forced herself to stand straight, chin high.
“If you could negotiate, then all is well. No one does it better,” she said.
Richard looked at her then, gratitude clear in his expression.
“We did negotiate,” he said. “There is to be ransom.” He outlined Hamidou’s terms.
“Sixty days?” She asked breathlessly. “Do you think it will take that long?” She didn’t dare ask, “Do you think it will come in time?”
“We have to pray it doesn’t take longer,” he said as if reading her thoughts.
“The baby won’t wait that long,” she told him.
Anguish twisted his face. “I can’t help it. It may be faster if response comes from Gibraltar directly and word does not have to get to England. If the government responds quickly maybe, but there are no guarantees—” He looked as if he meant to say more.
No guarantees they would respond at all. Lily didn’t need to have him spell it out.
Lily put a hand over his mouth. “Listen to me, Richard. You can’t fix everything. Our daughter will be born when she is ready, here or on our way to England. We can’t possibly make it to London in time.”
His arms went around her, and he pulled her close. “I’m sorry I can’t do better. I have no idea about childbirth, but I’ll do my best to see to you.”
That statement and the image it conveyed made her chuckle, laughter bubbling up from deep inside. “Foolish man. I don’t believe childbirth is your expertise either. I will manage the thing.”
“So you like to say.” His worried frown didn’t lighten.
“In this case I’m right. I have to be. The women will help. That young woman’s grandmother is a midwife. You will remember my efforts to build a bridge to them.”
He jerked his head up. “I won’t have some village peasant assisting in the birth of my son!”
“What do you propose? You can’t transport some Mayfair accoucheur here on time, even if you could convince one to come.”
He opened his mouth to argue, and she shut it with a kiss. She snuggled her head against his shoulder. The words he spoke at Chadbourn Park came back to her. “There is nothing I can't manage if I have all the facts.” This must be killing him. “No one expects you to do the impossible,” she murmured.
“I do,” he growled.
She listened while his heart slowed.
“You kissed me,” he said moments later.
“I did.” Lily smiled against his shirt.
He took her face in his hands, sliding long fingers under her side curls. She waited for his kiss. When he paused, uncertain, she said, “I won’t break, Richard, as you discovered on the ship. Kiss me.”
He covered her lips with his and kissed her gently until she opened to allow his tongue to explore more deeply. When he tried to pull away, she held him close.
“There’s one thing I know you do very well. You did say we’re as good as married.”
His eyes widened.I’ve shocked him.
“You’re inviting me? What about the baby?”
“I learned many useful things in the Seraglio. One is that there is no reason to forego all lovemaking.” She looked at her expanded girth. “You just have to be careful.”
The poor man looks poleaxed. She watched emotion play across his face: desire, hope, and then caution.
