"You're not perfect, but I don't want perfection." She heaved out a breath. "I'm pregnant."
"That's great, isn't it?" He was puzzled by her apprehensive look, and then it dawned on him.
"How pregnant? Multiples?"
She nodded, her fingers gripping the stem of the glass. "I don't want you to freak out."
He stiffened and slowly put his glass down.
"How many, Eliza?"
"Four," she whispered. "Isn't that amazing?" She rushed on before he could make a comment. "It means we will have all our children in one go. After this..."
"What are the risks?" He could feel the cold fingers of fear already slicing through his body.
"It's a lot to take in at first." She leaned forward, her expression pleading. "I know it sounds like a lot, but the doctors are going to be with me all the way. Every step of the process. And I will make certain I follow their orders to the letter. This is a good thing, darling..." She reached out to grasp his hand with both of hers. "Please tell me you're happy."
"Tell me the risks," he repeated tightly. But oh, Christ, he already knew. "Say it, Eliza."
She reluctantly told him and watched as his expression turned ominous.
"I promise to be very careful..."
"And the risks to the fetuses? Low birth weight, naturally. All of them might not make it, and underdeveloped organs. Am I right?"
She nodded miserably.
"This was a mistake."
Her heart turned cold as he spoke the words.
"You don't mean that."
"This was a mistake, and we both know it. You're risking your life, and we should..." His voice trailed off at the anguished look on her beautiful face. Shoving back his chair, he forced her to release his hand.
"I need something stronger than wine," he muttered. Striding to the recessed cabinet, he jabbed at the button and had it swinging forward. Selecting a bottle of aged whiskey, he poured a generous amount in a highball glass and took it with him to stand in front of the fire. Suddenly, he was feeling awfully cold on the inside.
"Samuel..."
"I can't do this," he told her without turning around. "I can't lose you."
He had been so immersed in his thoughts and the mesmerizing flames that he had not heard her get up from the table or notice that she was right behind him. The sigh was torn from his chest when he felt her arms wrapping around his waist.
"That's not going to work," he warned her gruffly. But he was already softening. The feel of her breasts pressing into his back was making him weak with desire. Gripping the edge of the mantel, he continued to fight her. If he turned around, he would be weakened even further, and they needed to have a serious discussion.
How the hell had he agreed to something like this? he wondered furiously. But he already knew the answer. He could not deny her anything. It was not only the fact that he was so in love with her, but it was also due to her wretched past. He wanted to give her everything she was denied.
"I promise that I will be a model pregnant woman," she said softly. "I won't complain about the symptoms or anything at all. Please be happy. That's all I'm asking, for you to be happy."
Putting his glass on the edge of the mantel, he turned around and felt his heart doing the usual slide and dance as he looked at her.
"You're putting yourself at risk."
"I'm aware." Her hands slid up his ribcage and pressed on his chest, where she could feel the unsteady rhythm of his heart. Her gaze turned luminous. "When Dr. Forsythe first told me the news, I was scared. I had hoped for twins, or, if I'mlucky, triplets. Two boys and a girl. When I heard the word, quadruplets, I was scared." She lifted her hands to frame his face. "Then I felt a certain peace settling inside me. I have faith, darling. I believe that this will work out. Yes, there will be challenges, but I'm no longer working, which means I can dedicate the next few months to making certain I get through this. All I need from you is your support. I know you're in the middle of a major project and that shooting will be starting soon, but I have a team of doctors who're willing to make house calls if necessary." Her eyes turned pleading. "I just want this for us."
"You ask the impossible," he bit out.
"Please be happy," she repeated.
