Chapter Fifteen
The coach pulled up outside Jason's London townhouse a little before dark. Inside it, two newlyweds hurriedly pulled clothing back into place as the coachman jumped off of his perch to come and open the door.
"Welcome home, Your Graces," he said warmly as he pulled the steps out from under the coach.
"Thank you, Reeves," Jason said, stepping lithely down. He turned for Alyssa, helping her alight and then wrapping his arm around her waist. "It's good to be home, is it not, darling?"
"Yes," Alyssa said and then promptly yawned, belatedly covering her mouth. "It will be nice to sleep in our own bed tonight."
"Yes, and I think you should sleep, my love. It wasn't an easy ride for you and I haven't been the most indolent of husbands. I've kept you too busy in our hours alone," he whispered, his mouth near her ear, making her shiver.
"Indolence is a sin, husband," she quipped, making him laugh.
"Then I shall die and go to heaven, love, for you inspire me to ever more deeds of pleasure." His lips brushed her neck, his hand resting on her narrow waist. "But for now, love, perhaps a nap while I run around to see Teddy and harangue him on the terrors of married life?"
"Will you join me when you return?" she asked, her hand coming to his cheek to lie against the slightly beard-roughened skin.
"Ever the insatiable minx, aren't you?" he laughed again as she scowled at him, catching her to him. "It is definitely one of my most beloved of your many admirable traits, Alyssa," he growled, slipping his tongue over her ear before nibbling on her earlobe and feeling her melt against him. He reached to knock upon the door but it was opened before he could.
The staff greeted them warmly and his housekeeper assured her that all was in readiness for them. Jason walked Alyssa upstairs, playing lady's maid and helping her out of her gown and the loose corset she now wore. Her shift clung to her body, showing off the small fullness that had recently begun to grow, a testimony to the life she carried within her.
Jason tucked her in bed, watched her snuggle down into the covers and felt a strong impulse to join her. Reluctantly, he pushed it away, kissing her tenderly before pulling the covers down and kissing the flesh of her tummy over his child. With the brush of his knuckles against her cheek, he watched as she closed her eyes on a sigh and then walked from the room.
The past few months had been perfect, loving and wonderful. Alyssa was everything he'd thought she was and more. Witty and sweet, with an acerbic tongue that made him chuckle; she entertained him, made him think and kept him on his toes. He'd been incredibly lucky that day in the park, and he thanked God for it. Still, he couldn't help but feel the tiny niggle of doubt, of fear, that someday she would discover his duplicity. He could only hope that when and if that happened, she would be so old as to forgive him easily.
He skipped lightly down the long stairway and out the front doors, taking the reins of his horse, his groom having anticipated this trip through long experience.. With an easy hop, he seated himself and turned towards his club and to find Teddy. It was his turn to be razzed for a while, he thought with a huge grin.
* * *
Alyssa slept deeply for about an hour, waking with a start and wondering where she was. Then the familiar room came into view and she smiled, stretching her long body lazily. Except for the mornings, she felt wonderful; though she did tire easier than normal. But from what everyone had told her, this was to be expected while you were expecting.
As she was laying there, her hand softly caressing the small bulge just under her navel, a sudden fluttering startled her. It came again and she stared down at her stomach. Was that her baby? Was he moving? She waited, but the small movement didn't return.
She hadn't felt it with her hand. No, it had been inside, like the tiny beating of butterfly's wings caught in a spider web. A sense of awe flooded her, a sense of understanding. She carried life inside of her, life that was just making itself known.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, Alyssa felt a tear streak down her face. It wasn't for herself, or for the baby that she carried, but for Jamie and all that he was to miss. She couldn't help but wonder if the baby would look like him. And then she laughed.
"I don't even know what your poppa looks like, little one," she whispered.
That thought sent another tear down her cheek. This one she wiped away angrily. She would not cry for him, not again. She had Jason, her husband.
He loved her with everything he was. He told her that over and over. But she still had been unable to tell him back. It was Jamie; it was his fault, for he told her that also and she had believed him. And now, was she just scared?
She rose from the bed, going to her open trunk. Pulling out her dressing gown, she slipped it over her shoulders and tied the sash loosely at her waist. She went to Jason's desk, sitting on the chair and staring at his things scattered on the top. She picked up a tiny miniature, a woman's face and shoulders, her hair elaborately coiled around her head, her shoulders bare. It was done on a small disk of ivory, the painting small and delicate.
Did she love him? She wondered to herself. She liked him, he was hard not to like with that engaging grin and irresistible manner. But did she love him?
Her thoughts ranged over the past few months, thinking of the things he had done; to her, for her, with her. She thought about nights spent blissfully exhausting each other in their bed or on the floor in front of the fire. His touch was exquisite, his kisses fiery and passionate. He touched her and she burned for him. She loved being with him. She loved hearing him speak and arguing with him when his ideals butted up against hers.
But did she love him? Closing her eyes, she set down the miniature and listened to her heart.
Jason found her like that, eyes closed, her hands folded across a miniature of one of his ancestors.
"Love? Are you all right? It isn't the baby is it?" The questions flew from him as he hurried toward her.
"I'm fine," Alyssa said, smiling at him when he dropped to his knees in front of her, his hand going out to touch the soft mound of her stomach. "I was just thinking."
"Oh, a dangerous proposition indeed. Especially if it's me you're thinking about," he quipped, leaning forward to press a kiss upon her lips.
"Cad," she accused without any heat to her tone.
"Through and through," he agreed without hesitation, going back for another taste of her luscious lips. "Do I dare ask what you were thinking of?"
"You, actually," she said. "And the baby," she finished a slight pause between her words. She didn't often bring the baby up in conversation, worried that he might be upset hearing about another man's child.
"Well, now, I'm not sure I like the idea of you being so deeply in thought over me, but I'll ask anyway. What were you thinking?" His hands touched her, pulling her closer, as if he hated to be separated from her.
"I was in bed..." she began.
