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“Well?” Jordan demanded. “Out with it. Where were ye last night that ye fibbed to my Da?”
Caladora had expected the interrogation. Her focus was on Patrick, cradled in her arms. “Where do you think?”
Jemma crowed. “Ye were with him!” she said. “Did he bed ye, then?”
Caladora flushed. “It wasna like that,” she insisted weakly. “He was very kind and gentle and….”
“Did he bed ye or not?”
Caladora looked up at Jemma, frowning. “You make it sound so… so cheap.”
Jordan and Jemma passed glances. Jordan was fighting off a grin. “I am happy for ye, Callie, truly,” she said somewhat gently. “When William and I first coupled, it was miraculous. I had never felt such… such love or passion. Was it like that for ye?”
Caladora looked at the baby again, her frown turning to a smile. “He is a truly wonderful and giving man,” she murmured. “I… I love him very much.”
Jordan and Jemma grinned at the expression on their cousin’s face. They were both thrilled for her.
“Did he speak of marriage?” Jordan asked.
Caladora nodded. “He did. He says I will marry no one but him, when he is damn good and ready.”
Her cousins scowled at that less-than-romantic remark. “That sounds like him, the arrogant pig,” Jemma said firmly.
Jordan cocked a knowing eyebrow. “My husband has certain influences over Paris. I will work on him.”
Caladora shrugged. “ ’Tis of no matter, really. Mayhap I will conceive and he will have to marry me.”
Jemma began to rock Alec as he let out a little mew. “I am curious, Callie. Ye and Paris have known each other for months now and this was the first time he bedded ye?”
Caladora thrust up her chin. “Aye, it is, but it wasn’t for the lack of trying on his part. I simply wasna ready to give in to him.”
“But ye did,” Jordan said softly, pushing her cousin’s hair over her shoulder. “I know he cares for ye a great deal.”
“He loves me,” Caladora insisted. “He tells me that every day.”
“Well, he better marry ye if he knows what’s good for him,” Jemma said threateningly, “or he will have to deal with me.”
Caladora nodded. “He knows that. But marriage frightens him, even though he has seen it do remarkable things for William and Kieran,” she sighed patiently. “I will simply have to wait, ’tis all.”
As if on cue, four huge destriers came barreling in through the open gate of Northwood and the women turned, immediately recognizing the riders.
Jordan’s heart swelled with pride and love. She had seen him riding hundreds of times, sitting proud and tall in the saddle, but the sight still brought a giddy feeling to her every time as if it were the first. No one in the world looked as good as her William in armor.
The horses headed straight for them, kicking up dirt as they went. People scampered to clear the way as they came to a halt a several feet away. Jordan smiled, approaching her husband as he dismounted his dark gray steed.
He pulled off his helmet and gave her a big kiss. “Hello, love,” he said. “We saw your father and the boys out by the lake.”
She nodded. “I know. Where have ye been?”
“At Questing.” He was fussing with his armor and his saddle, not looking at her. She lifted her eyebrows expectantly.
“And?” she bade him continue.
He looked at her, propping his helmet on the saddle. Then he smiled. “When can you be ready to leave?”
She smiled gleefully. “Today?”
He shrugged, pleased at her delight. “Whenever you are ready.”
