"You look different." Tomas came up behind her and wrapped his hands around her waist. They had been married for almost two months now and he was still head over heels in love with her. She fascinated him and he knew without a doubt that with her, he would never be bored. She did not put up with his "snits" as she termed it and called him out whenever he was wrong. She was certainly not afraid to speak her mind. As his princess, she handled her duties with aplomb and grace as if she had been born to it.
"Different, good or bad?" she asked. The argument they had yesterday was behind them.
"It might be the dress perhaps?" His eyes skimmed over the front of her as she stood in front of the full-length mirror. "The color, ripe peaches, is it? It gives your complexion this sheen." He kissed the top of her head and could not resist passing his hand over the shiny mass.
She had left it loose for him and he knew it took a great deal of her time and effort to brush until the strands were shiny and healthy looking. She had a personal stylist who came by whenever they were attending a function. He smiled as he recalled how she had balked at him hiring a social secretary.
"Or it might be that I'm over the moon happy." Her eyes met his teasingly in the mirror, but he took it to heart, his own eyes darkening with emotions. Turning her to face him, he searched her face anxiously.
"Are you happy, mi amor?"
Lifting one hand, she cupped his cheek, a smile hovering on her lips. "How can you ask me that?"
"We fight."
"We do. You happen to be Spanish with very volatile emotions and I'm American and black. We're very loud and veryaggressive. It makes for a very combustible situation." She went on her toes and brushed her lips on his. When she stepped back, he wrapped his arms around her and prolonged the kiss, leaving them both shaken.
"We're due for supper in precisely five minutes." His hands roamed up and down her back restlessly, his body already primed and ready for her. "We could call down to say..." His eyes brightened as an idea struck him. "That you're tired and not at all well."
Laughing, she kissed him again and moved away. "We're not doing that. You know if you send a message like that, it will have your mother coming up to see what was wrong. Besides, I'm starving."
Catching her around the waist, he brought her up against him. "Then promise we will make some excuse so that we can come to bed early."
"You're insatiable."
"Are you complaining?"
"Not at all. I happen to like it."
"Then let's hurry up and get the evening over and done with. I want to be alone with my wife."
*****
She waited until the dessert was served before imparting the news. All throughout dinner and the discussion about the Christmas gala that was going to take place on the eve of the holiday, she managed to make some contribution to the conversation. It occurred to her that she should have told her husband in the privacy of their suite and gauged his reaction. They had not really discussed having children even though it had been mentioned a few times. But she could not wait to be a mother.
"Querida?" She jolted slightly, belatedly realizing that the queen had posed a question and was waiting for her response. "Are you unwell?" the queen asked. The gleam in his eyes reminded her of the bargain they had made to escape earlier.
"Not unwell really." Taking a deep breath, she dabbed at her mouth with the snowy white napkin and turned her head to include her mother-in-law. "Just queasy and dizzy a little. I went to the doctor this morning."
Her husband's teasing manner fled instantly to be replaced by a concerned frown.
"You did not say anything to me. You went all on your own? Antoinette, I don't appreciate..."
"Madre de Dios!" The queen shoved back her chair and rushed around to her side of the table.
Definitely alarmed now, Tomas shoved back his own chair and bent down in front of her. "What is it? Mi amor, are you ill?" His eyes darkened. "Please tell me. What is happening?"
"I'm six weeks pregnant." Her eyes moistened as she took his hands in hers. "I know we never discussed it and I don't know if it's too soon, but..."
He hauled her up carefully, keeping his eyes on her face and ignoring the fact that his mother was there clapping her hands in delight.
"You're with child?"
"Are you happy?" she asked him anxiously.
"You're carrying my baby inside you?" His hand drifted to her flat stomach as emotions raged through his body like a hurricane.
"Yes. Are you happy?"
