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The rest of the ceremony was a blur.
After a hastily eaten wedding breakfast, he whisked her away from the well-wishers and back to his—their—home.
Rivers hadn’t blinked an eye when, prior to their wedding, Timothy announced her as his betrothed. However, a certain twinkle of both amusement and awareness shone in Rivers’ eyes when he correctly addressed her as Miss Pratt. With Priscilla’s dowry, which was indeed more than generous, Timothy planned to make good on his promise to raise the man’s wages.
Finally, he had her alone and wrapped in his embrace. “Ashton’s given me leave from the clinic if you would like to travel anywhere?”
She shook her head, and the blond curls, freed from their pins, brushed against his chest. “I don’t want to move from this room or this bed.”
Nudging her chin with his finger, he met her gaze. “I knew there was a reason I married you.”
Her blue eyes widened. “You said it was because you loved me.”
“It is, and I do. But there is a decided benefit to marrying a woman of such passion.” He brought his lips to hers, brushing gently at first, then growing insistent.
Soon, they were both spent and satisfied—at least for the moment.
Trailing a finger over the hair on his chest, she sighed. “I have a confession.”
He waited for the tightening in his chest, but surprisingly, it didn’t come. Was that what trust felt like? “Continue.”
“On my wedding day to Mr. Netherborne, I thought I might be with child—your child.”
What?“Priscilla, it had only been a few days since we had made love. There would be no way to tell.” The implication of her statement registered. Over four weeks had passed. Excitement built in his chest. “Have you missed your menses?”
“No. My courses came the next week. I wasn’t going to tell you at all, but, Timothy, what if I can’t have children?”
He wanted to laugh at her notion that it would only take one time together to conceive, although it had been known to happen. However, her voice was so solemn he bit back his amusement. “Then we won’t have children. The world will continue on, and there are many other people to contribute to the population.”
“You won’t be angry, disappointed with me?”
“How can I be angry or disappointed in something you can’t control?” Still, something niggled at him. “When I proposed, why didn’t you tell me you thought you were pregnant?”
Her finger traversed a circular path around his nipple, making it more difficult for him to concentrate on her words. “I didn’t want you to feel obligated or think it was the reason I agreed to marry you.”
“Why don’t we make a pact? Rather than worrying about what the other may or may not think, why don’t we agree to be honest and open with each other from this point forward?”
A sly grin spread across her face. “Truly? Then I already have something to tell you.”
“Will I like it?”
She pursed her lips. “I’m not certain.”
“Then, before you tell me, let’s make love again.”
As things turned out, he liked both the lovemaking and what she had to say.
EPILOGUE
Ten Months Later
May I have your name?” Priscilla asked as she gazed up from her desk in the waiting area of the Hope Clinic.
“Maisie Hendricks,” the middle-aged woman said.
Priscilla jotted the information down on the paper before her, which listed patients’ names and ailments. “And what seems to be bothering you?”
The woman leaned forward. “Terrible pains, here.” She rubbed her abdomen.
