“I’m not sure, to be honest. Probably not. But I wanted you to know before we got married.”
She burst out laughing. “Why on earth would I mind?”
“Well, now that you put it like this, I don’t know.” His ears went red.
She stopped and mashed her lips together, trying to look serious. “I’m truly not making fun. I’m surprised. Did you think I was going to use this marriage as an opportunity to have a baby?”
“No, but I still wanted you to have the information before commitment.”
“You are very dear, Tucker Taylor. I must say this before we go any further. While I adore children, there is no part of me, and I mean none, that has a maternal bent. I quite like the notion of being an amusing aunt, but the idea of having my own?” She shook her head. “When I see my future, my great desire is for freedom. I have not had the opportunity to taste it yet. But that’s what you are giving me. And that’s what is precious.” A dark look crossed her face. “You might think I’m a monster for that. Many would.”
“Not wanting to have kids? Nah. Not at all. Where I come from, I know quite a few couples who don’t have children. Most by choice. It’s one of those things that is personal. I would never judge you for not wanting them. I only wanted to ensure you had the ability to choose, just in case.”
“In case of what?”
“If I can’t find my way home again. You must have thought of that too. It’s a possibility.”
She set her jaw, a fierce determination on her face. “We can’t think like that. You got here. There must be a way to get you back. We simply need to find the path. And now, knowing about thiscancer, I am even more committed. You will get home and have access to the doctors you need.”
“Lizzy...”
“And if we can’t find a way back, we will make one,” she said resolutely. “I’m very resourceful, you know.”
“I do.” If anyone could tear through the fabric of the universe, it would be her.
“I have some questions of my own.” She folded her arms. “You have been avoiding me. You promised I could ask questions and I have not had an ability to do so. When you say you cannot have children, does it mean that your... I’m not quite sure what to call it... What do you prefer?”
“What do I call it?” He glanced at his crotch. “My cock, I guess. Or dick. I don’t know.”
Her smile was slow, catlike, even. “From the speed of your answer, it appears you do in fact know quite well. And so I will usecock. It feels somewhat violent, but Dick is the name of a man who is a servant in my London home, so I refuse that term wholeheartedly.”
“Reasonable.” This woman had the ability to skate past his defenses and shoot to score.
“Well, we were discussing your cock and how it doesn’t work and—”
“Hang on, Pocket Rocket. I said I probably can’t have kids.”
“Right. Because of your broken cock.”
If she saidcockin that uptight British manner of speaking one more time, he was going to throw her onto his lap and teach her a thing or two about using her pretty mouth in such a way. But he fought off the impulse. “Whoa, whoa, whoa. I never said a single word about my cock being broken. It works fine, by the way. Better than fine.”
“But you said...”
“I didn’t say I was impotent. Jesus. Look, it means my swimmers don’t swim quite—”
“Who is swimming where?” She looked alarmed. “There was nothing about swimming in my book.”
What a mess.
“Let me rephrase.” As he swallowed, trying to figure out a way not to confuse her more, the coach halted.
“We’re picking up more people?” Lizzy asked blankly as the door swung open. Inside stepped a narrow-shouldered slip of a woman, followed by a man with a neat low ponytail and the telltale red coat of a British soldier.
“Oh, Jameson. We have company.” Tuck looked closer and saw the new woman couldn’t be over twenty, buried in a dress and bonnet that were so large she was almost lost in them. “How do you do? I’m Mrs.Jameson Horatio Darling.”
The man—Jameson Horatio Darling, presumably—gave a short nod before refocusing the entirety of his attention on the young woman.
“We are newly married.” The new Mrs.Darling passed over her bags and allowed herself to be arranged on the bench as if she were a mannequin or something.
