He smiled softly and went back to looking out the window, that same expression of deep contemplation crossing his face. Florentia decided not to push, figuring she needed to be in the best frame of mind possible if she was to survive today. Still, she could not escape the feeling that something was wrong...
It’s always the way, isn’t it? When things are too good to be true, fate decides to step in and remind one of the realities that is life itself. Surely, whatever is wrong, it cannot be too much of a concern. By now, Hudson must know he can tell me anything.
Soon, the carriage began to slow, and Florentia looked through the window, sighing to see that they had finally arrived at their destination. Her parents’ house.
She had seen her parents often since her illness, but this was the first time she was seeing them since she was fully recovered and now that she was, she was certain they would barrage her with questions concerning when she and Hudson planned on starting a family.
Florentia had been careful not to raise this topic with Hudson, mostly because she too was worried about the likelihood that she might not be able to fall pregnant. Having wanted a family of her own for as long as she could remember, the possibility that she might never have one was not something she was able to simply move on from.
She and Hudson would try when they were ready. They would hope for the best, and if it didn’t happen...at least she would still have her husband, a man whom she loved with all her heart. And she knew he felt the same.
Nonetheless, this was not an answer her parents were likely to accept and if she was to face them today, she needed her husband on her side.
“Hudson...” The carriage had come to a stop, and he moved to climb out, but she reached across and stopped him. “Before we brave the terrible two, we need to talk.”
“Oh?”
“You are not telling me something,” she said, looking right at him so he could not deflect. “And do not lie to me. Do not pretend it is in my head. I know you by now, well enough that I know something is on your mind. Whatever it is, I would think that by this point in our marriage, you would feel comfortable telling me.”
“Florentia...” he grimaced.
“I do not care how bad it is,” she pressed. “I do not care how you think I might react. Whatever it is, not only do I deserve to know, but I want to know. So, are you going to tell me, or am I going to have to force it out of you?” She cocked an eyebrow at him.
“And how would you force it out of me exactly?”
“Let us hope I do not have to show you.”
Surprisingly, he smiled. “You are right. There is something that I have been meaning to bring up. Nothing bad,” he hurried to assure her. “I just know that with your parents today, you might wish to have your mind focused on what is in front of you. I did not wish to distract you, is my meaning.”
“Distract me with what?”
He sighed and took her hand, making sure to be looking right at her. “We never had a honeymoon. You did not expect one, and I did not want one. And while it might be a bit late, with everything that has happened...” He kissed her hand. “I wish for you to know that I still want to start a family. I still want to try for one. My thinking is that until you have your strength back—all of it,” he cut her off before she could tell him otherwise. “That we should take advantage of what we have.”
“And what do we have?”
“Freedom,” he said. “We have freedom. For how much longer...” He shrugged. “I suppose we will find that out when we do.”
Florentia frowned at her husband, caught completely by surprise. “Are you saying that you wish to take me on a honeymoon?”
“That is exactly what I am saying.”
She laughed, unable to help herself. “You! Do you have any idea how worried I have been!”
“Worried? Whatever for?”
“The way you have been behaving! I thought something was wrong. I thought—” She caught her tongue and shook her head. “I do not even know what I thought. The worst, as is my way.”
He smiled. “Sorry to disappoint.”
“You never could.”
“So, is that a yes?”
Just then, through the window, she spied her parents exiting their house and rushing toward the carriage. What she had predicated to be a painfully long day suddenly didn’t seem so bad. Not with her husband by her side.
“On one condition.”
“Name it.”
