‘It is,’ Drake replied.
‘Where are we going?’
‘To the country. I had Agnes pack a trunk for you. We’ll only be gone a few of days.’
‘Are we going to see the Duke and Duchess of Turnbill? I promised Rosemary that we would as soon as possible.’
‘We can stop and see them on the way home.’
They arrived at the coach, and she thanked the footman for holding the door open as she climbed inside. There were heavy throws and hot bricks on the floor to warm their feet. She waited until Drake was settled on the seat beside her, then covered both of their legs with a blanket and snuggled up against him.
‘You’re going to tell me now, aren’t you? You really aren’t going to make me wait.’
‘Have you ever seen a gold mine?’
Shocked and thrilled, she lifted her head. ‘No! Really?’
He nodded.
‘Archibald’s gold mine is real? They found gold?’
‘They did. We are going to Rayburn to see it.’
She was so happy for him, and Archibald, and she was extremely proud of both of them for how they had forgiven each other for the animosity they’d held towards each other as children. They were now cousins who were as close as brothers.
‘What about Blanche and Archibald? Have they seen it?’
‘They are on their way there, too.’
‘Wonderful! It will be fun to spend time with them, and I’m so happy that they found gold.’
‘So am I,’ he said. ‘Archibald needed that. He’d believed it was there for so long, and I’m extremely glad he found it.’
She twisted, looked at him. Just when she thought she couldn’t love him more, he proved her wrong. Made her love him more, or maybe she just kept falling deeper and deeper in love with him. ‘You wanted him to succeed.’
‘Of course I did. We’re partners.’
‘That’s not the only reason you wanted him to succeed. You wanted him to succeed for himself. You wanted him to accomplish his goal. You financially supported him so he could. You hired the new surveyors so it would happen.’
‘I like to see people happy.’ He smiled at her. Kissed her forehead. ‘Especially you.’
She slid her arm under the blanket and began unfastening the buttons on his coat. ‘You make me happy every moment of every day.’ Kissing the side of his chin, she knew she couldn’t keep her secret any longer and whispered, ‘I think he’ll be tall. Like you.’
‘Who?’
Touching the tiny dimple in his chin, she said, ‘Your son.’
He twisted and stared at her with questioning eyes, then as if it was an afterthought, his hand touched her stomach.
With happiness overflowing, she laid a hand atop his and nodded. ‘The doctor confirmed it this morning. Come fall, you’ll be a father.’
He let out a whoop, then shook his head at her. ‘You would tell me that while we’re in a coach, so I can’t jump up and down or twirl you around or—’
‘You can kiss me,’ she said.
He wrapped her in his arms. ‘Oh, yes, I can do that. I can always do that.’
And he did.
