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‘I know, but you fulfilled your side of the bargain when you brought me back. So...’ she kissed him again ‘...I choose Wintercott.’
‘Are you sure you can bear to leave?’
‘Yes.’ She nodded decisively. ‘You know, all the time I lived in Lincoln, I never felt like I belonged. I loved my cousins, but I felt different, as if I didn’t truly fit in. I thought that if I just came home then that feeling would go away and I’d feel whole again, the way I did when my parents were alive.’
‘Constance...’ He started to speak, but she pressed a hand to his lips.
‘Now I do feel that way, but it wasn’t Lacelby that did it. Yes, it helped me to come to terms with the past, but you’re the one who made me feel as if I really belonged, not somewhere, but in my own skin. You made me feel happy about being me. So as much as I love it here, it’s just a place. Now that I’ve come back, I’m able to leave again.’ She traced her fingers along the line of his mouth. ‘I suppose what I’m trying to say is that if I belong anywhere then it’s with you. Besides, Lacelby will still be ours. We can come back and visit.’
‘We will. Often.’
‘Then I call that a compromise, don’t you? We’ll go to Wintercott and Adelaide can either go home with her father or stay here until she knows what she wants.’
‘Thank you, Constance.’ His arms tightened around her. ‘I’ll thank you properly later.’
‘Promise?’
‘I promise. If you’re really feeling better, that is? These past few weeks have felt like an eternity. I never want us to be apart for so long ever again.’
‘Neither do I.’ She gave a coy smile and then looked at him seriously. ‘Did you hear any more news about the King in Lincoln?’
‘Only rumours that he’s trying to hire mercenaries. Nothing we didn’t expect.’
‘So he’s planning for war?’
‘Probably. He’s trying to hold on to power for as long as he can, but he can’t fight the whole country on his own. He’ll have to come to terms with the barons sooner or later.’
‘Sooner, I hope. Do you think there might still be fighting?’
‘I’m afraid so. I don’t want to fight, but at least it’s for a cause I believe in.’
‘Ahem.’ She poked him in the ribs. ‘That we believe in.’
‘That we believe in,’ he corrected himself. ‘But he’ll have to sign the charter eventually and then we can get on with the rest of our lives, just the two of us and no more secrets. What?’ He lifted his eyebrows as she laughed.
‘Just one more secret. And not just the two of us.’
‘What do you mean?’ A worried look passed over his face. ‘I told you, I’m not going anywhere, not unless lives are at stake.’
‘Good. Because I want you beside me, especially in another seven to eight months.’
‘Seven to eight...?’ He stared at her blankly for a few seconds before dropping his eyes to her stomach. ‘You mean...?’
‘I mean there are three of us to consider now.’
‘We’re having a child?’ He looked stunned. ‘How long have you known?’
‘Since just after you left for London. I’ve been waiting for a good time to tell you, only it took me a while to find one.’
‘A good time...’ he repeated, swinging her up off her feet and around in a circle barely before she’d finished speaking, his whole face breaking into a smile. ‘You know, after five years of marriage, I think it’s about time we had some of those.’
‘You do realise what this means, though?’ She gave him a teasing look as he placed her back on her feet. ‘Soon I’ll be growing even more.’
He chuckled and gathered her into his arms. ‘You, my love, can grow as much as you like. I believe I’ve mentioned it before, but for the avoidance of doubt, I’ll say it again. I love you and everything about you, Constance Wintour.’
‘And I love you, too, Matthew Wintour. It seems we made a good marriage, after all.’
* * *
