A flood of embarrassment swept over her. What had she done? She had no wish to bind him to her, if he did not want to be bound. In shame, she buried her face against his shoulder. “I—I didn’t mean to say—”
The words died in her throat. Gently, he tilted her chin up so she had to look at him. His chest was still heaving, and his face was flushed but his gentle gaze met hers. “I love you too.”
Watching her, he smiled when she did, as relief took her. “I know it goes against everything we are supposed to think and know, but I do, Annie. In time, would you consider marrying me?”
The breath left her body in a great whoosh and she had to suck in more air before she could answer him. “Truly? How can I be a countess?”
“You’ll be a lovely countess. I will care for you, I swear it, but I cannot imagine marrying anyone else.”
“Was that why you disappointed Lady Elizabeth?”
“Partly. Mostly. I have to confess that my sisters were unhappy with my engagement, too. But I would not have asked you if I was not sure that you are the person I want to stand by my side. We can take our time, ease into life together, if you wish. We should, perhaps, do that. I can squire you to a few balls, test the waters. Should you like that, my love?”
“Say it again.”
“My love.”
They shared a long kiss of mutual adoration. His warmth flowed into her, and her questions receded. She suspected she would always be the most practical of the two. Already questions crowded into her mind. “I’m in trade. The sticklers won’t like that.”
“They will learn to live with it, or we will have nothing to do with them. My sisters and I did not take to society when we tried it the first time. That was why we lived here. When I inherited the title, I felt obliged to move west, but I confess, the house is a fine one and I like it. I have to visit the estates this summer, and see what I have. Will you come with me? Or shall you be tied up here?”
During her negotiations with Joseph, Annie had already explored the possibility of running the business at a distance. Aware her duties would be increased if she married Joseph. She would move up the social scale of the City. Facing the possibility of bearing his heirs, she had found a few likely men she would trust with the day to day running of Cathcart’s. “I will be with you. Wherever you are, I’ll be there.” Cupping his cheek, she pressed a kiss to his mouth.
He spoke to her softly. “Perhaps in time you will give me children as fine as the ones upstairs.”
“Sooner than you think.” She watched him carefully, to see how he would take her news.
Devastation had turned to delight, her future spinning full circle. “My love, I’m pregnant.”
***
Gerald heard her words with dull certainty and a growing sense of joy. Deep inside, where he could not mistake it, where he would never forget. “Sweetheart, are you sure?”
She shook her head, and then, with adorable confusion, nodded. “I know the signs. I feel queasy in the mornings. Nothing too extreme, but the sensation is unmistakable. My breasts feel heavier and my nipples have changed color.”
Heat rose to her cheeks when he drew back, and rolled her on to her back, so the light flooded over her. He nodded, trying to ignore the potent lure of her body. “Yes, I see it.” He covered her stomach with one hand. His child was in there, little more than a speck, but growing. “It’s only been a month.”
“Yes. I’m as regular as my mother’s clock, which has never missed an hour. I have not had my courses since the last time we lay together, and I should have had them the week after.”
He wanted to laugh, delight bubbling up inside him like champagne. “I should be dismayed, should I not?” He had not an ounce of dismay in him. “Tuesday.”
She blinked. “I’m sorry?”
“We’ll marry on Tuesday. I was planning for us to take our time, to give society a chance to accept us, but I’m not prepared to do that any longer. Tomorrow—or today, I’m not sure of the time—is Saturday. We cannot do anything today or tomorrow, but it will give us time to tell our astonished, and I expect, delighted families.” He kissed her, savoring her taste and the knowledge that he would be making her his next week. “How will Matilda take this?”
“She’ll be delighted. She knows.” She pressed her hand over his, indicating what, exactly, Matilda knew.
“She will astonish society. An older lady who is attractive, unashamed and intelligent? They will declare her an oddity, but there are in fact many such.” Unable to resist her a moment longer, he kissed her. She tasted sweet and perfect.