“How do you know these things?”
“I grew up an orphan. I had no father figure in my life, just Aunt Janet.” He squeezed her in silent sympathy. “She was kind but strict, and very protective. She did everything she could to make me feel secure. It was only after she died that I fully realized how much she did to protect me. And how much she didn’t tell me about what was really going on, how much of my truth had been an illusion.” She looked up at him. “It destroyed my sense of trust in the world and people. I was an adult when that happened, but even so, it was difficult.”
He dropped a kiss on her hair and gave her another squeeze.
“Charlie is a child,” Annis continued. “It’s much harder for her. We need to be patient with her and as I said, consistent andreliable, but not overly indulgent. We shouldn’t pander to her fear—that will increase it. But we should show understanding of it. You did everything right last night. You were honest with her and reassuring, without making promises you can’t keep, like that you will never leave her side.”
He sighed. “How do you manage to always have the answers?”
“I don’t think I do in most situations. But in this particular case, I feel I’m on safe ground to recommend a path forward. Lizzie was a great help last night, too. Her faith in you was probably more effective than anything you could say or do.”
“Yes, she is splendid, isn’t she?” He grinned, pride wafting off him in waves.
“As I said last night, extraordinary. They all are.” Annis swallowed a sudden lump in her throat. “I feel very privileged to be their step-mama.”
“A wonderful one you are, too,” he said, kissing her hair again.
A warm flood of happiness washed through her at his praise, and she nuzzled her face into his chest. “Thank you.”
“No, thank you for your words of wisdom. Patience, consistency, and reliability—I can do that.”
She patted his chest. “Yes, you can, because you embody those traits absolutely.”
He grinned. “I do, don’t I? Who’d have thought that just being myself would be the right thing for once? Perhaps there is something to be said for being an ordinary fellow, after all.”
“You arenotordinary,” said Annis indignantly. “Like your children, you are quiteextraordinary. Kind and patient and reliable are rare traits to be prized.”
“You think so?”
“I do.” Annis said firmly, her heart thudding and spilling over with love for him. How she wished she could say whatshe was feeling. But his confusion and anger over Caroline just underlined how much further he had to go in that regard. She needed to keep her feelings to herself and not muddy the waters further. For now.
He rubbed her upper arm. “You’re the extraordinary one.” He tipped her chin up and kissed her. “Not sure what I’ve done to deserve you,” he said, husky voiced.
“Oh, Emrys!” she choked. “I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve you!”
“Now I’ve made you cry!” he said, dismayed.
“No, just happy tears, really!” she said wiping them away with her fingers and sniffing. “See? All gone.”
“Hm,” he kissed her again. “I’m convinced you’re the best wife a man ever had.”
“And you’re the best husband,” she said mistily. “And the best father.” she added.
He sighed. “If only that were true.”
“Back to Charlie,” she said firmly, dragging the conversation out of dangerous territory. She was in grave danger of spilling all her feelings out if they kept this up. “I shall speak to Mrs. Green about the approach we have agreed on. I’m sure she will concur; she is a sensible woman. We are lucky to have her.”
“Yes, I don’t know where Sarah found her, but she is a treasure,” agreed Emrys. He moved a hand lower to rest on her hip and squeezed. “I am tempted to drag you under the covers, but we should probably get up,” he said.
“Yes, we should. I have a lot to do today. The decorator is coming, to go over new designs for the house. Do you want to be consulted?”
“Good God, no! I trust your taste—it’s impeccable. Do what you think is fitting. Just send me the bills,” he said, throwing off the covers and rolling out of bed.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Emrys had beengiving some thought to trying to uncover the identity of Annis’s assailant. While everything had been quiet on that front, he was not so sanguine as to think the issue had gone away. He wanted to know who the damned devil was and do something concrete to protect her from any future attacks. Assuming she hadn’t killed the man, and he refused to accept that she had. She had certainly injured him, but he refused to think of his Annis as a murderess. In any case, even if she had killed the man, there might be others connected to him who would still come after her. The mystery needed to be solved.
Over breakfast that morning he said, “I’ve been thinking—your father’s ring is the only clue we have to his identity and that of your assailant. I’d like to take it to a jeweler, see if they can shed any light on it. What do you think?”
