Secrets of a Spinster (42 page)

She shook her head. “You would have worried far more than you already did, and what if I was wrong?”

“Did Doctor Durham suspect?”

She nodded. “Towards the end, when he saw my size, and when I explained how I seemed to be feeling kicks and movements in different areas. But we were not sure until… well, until I had delivered him and the pains didn’t subside.”

Geoff looked at Mary more carefully, taking in every aspect of her appearance.  “How are you?” he murmured with concern.

She smiled and put a hand on his cheek. “Perfect. Tired beyond belief, but I’m so happy at this moment, I can barely feel it.”

He doubted that, but smiled all the same. “I wanted to be here with you,” he whispered. “I could have been here.”

She stroked his cheek softly. “I know. I’m sorry, but I just… I wanted to be strong, and I knew immediately that I couldn’t be. I didn’t want you to see me like that.”

He leaned in quickly and kissed her hard. “Don’t protect me, Mary Harris,” he whispered. “I love you. For better or for worse, I am yours and I will support you. Let me.”

She sighed softly and brought her lips back to his.

He hummed with pleasure as she pulled back and she quirked her brows at him, then looked back down at their son.

“I suppose we should name them,” Geoff said with a light chuckle. “Though what names we could use that haven’t already been taken up by our siblings and friends…”

“I have been thinking about that, actually,” Mary replied. “For him, how do you feel about William?”

He nodded thoughtfully. “William is a good, strong name. I don’t know a single William that I don’t like.”

Mary snorted and shook her head. “High praise, indeed.”

He nudged her with his shoulder, but otherwise ignored the comment. “And this little angel?” he asked holding his daughter a little closer.

“I don’t know how you will feel about this,” Mary said slowly, “but I’ve always loved the name Julianna. I know it is a little grand for so small a person…”

“I love it,” Geoff interrupted. “It is perfect for her.”

Mary beamed at him and kissed his cheek, then rested her head on his shoulder with a sigh. “William and Julianna. Welcome to our family.”

Her voice squeaked with emotion, which made Geoff smile, and he pressed his lips to her hair. They sat together for some time, watching their children sleep.

Only when Mary yawned herself did Geoff come to his senses.

“You need sleep as well,” he told her, rising gently. “I’ll fetch Moira or Kate to take him.”

Mary sighed and looked at William. “I don’t want to let him go.”

Geoffrey chuckled. “Darling, he is ours forever. He won’t go anywhere, unless the girls run off with him, which I don’t believe their husbands will allow, as they have children at home. I can have them brought back to you the moment you are awake.”

“I suppose so,” Mary allowed with a frown.

“I insist that you rest,” he told her with a look. “Would you like me to go?”

She bit her lip, chewing thoughtfully. “If you don’t mind, I’d like you to stay. And hold me.”

He smiled, loving the warmth that he still felt when she asked such things of him. “I don’t mind at all.” He went into the sitting room and opened the door to the hall, calling for Moira and Kate, who were quick to respond. Kate eagerly took Julianna from him, and Moira rushed to Mary and claimed William.

Moments later, the room was quiet and still once more. Geoff returned to the bed and lay beside his wife, opening his arms for her. She nestled against his side and rested her head on his chest. “You know what I was thinking this morning before the babies came?” she asked softly.

He chuckled. “I haven’t a clue. What was going through that devious mind of yours?”

“You never told me what your favorite part of me was.”

He looked down at her in surprise. “What?”

She met his eyes. “Before we were married, when we were just friends, and then into that melee of a season, you always complimented a part of me, and I asked if it was your favorite, and…”

“And I never told you,” he finished, nodding thoughtfully. “Well, my dear, I suppose now is as good a time as any. Nothing has changed after all these years of marriage and your miraculous bearing of two children in one afternoon. My favorite part of you is and always will be… you.”

She frowned. “I don’t understand.”

He shrugged. “How could I ever have a favorite part of you? There are so many parts to love, but when it comes down to it, the combination of everything that you are and everything that makes you up is my favorite part. Your mind, your body, your heart, your wit, your lips, your laugh, your hands, your toes, that freckle on your back that looks like France…”

Mary burst out laughing, but clamped a hand over her mouth and beamed up at him.

He shook his head and pulled her in tight. “I just love you, Mary. You are my favorite part.”

She kissed his chest directly over his heart. “And you are mine.” She tilted her head up and kissed him, long, slow, and tender.

“None of that, Mrs. Harris,” he scolded as he broke off. “Your wiles must wait. You must rest now, and if I’m too distracting, I will leave.”

She giggled and wrapped her arms around him. “You are too distracting, but you can’t leave. I forbid it.”

He sighed a very long-suffering sigh. “Very well, if the lady demands. Shall I tell you a story to help you sleep?”

“Yes, please,” she said on a yawn.

He nodded with a smile. “Once upon a time, there was a girl who was vibrant, brilliant, beautiful, and clever, which is quite the combination to be proud of in a sensible girl. Her name was Mary, and she made even the most unruly flowers sing.”

Mary snorted, and he felt her shake her head against him.

“At any rate, Mary had this quite slow, rather stupid, and almost completely blind friend named Geoffrey, who really wasn’t good for very much, but he tried.”

“Oh, be nice,” she murmured.

“Shush,” he scolded. “I’m telling this story. Anyway, they became friends as children when Mary was found in a tree one day…”