"I'm not mad."
She peered up at him. "Don't be furious, either."
He didn't deny that one.
"Fine. But no more bruises on my husband's body or I'm going to have a very, very long wedding trip."
"You're having one?"
"He has his own estate in East Sussex. I was going to opt for a week or two alone with him there before we allow visitors-as long as there are no more bruises."
"You'll invite me. I'll make no promises."
She laughed. "One of us needs to give ground on this, Father."
"No, you already had your way. You married him. He hasn't realized yet what a prize he stole from us."
"My alone time with him has just doubled to a month."
"Jack," James said warningly.
"I should be pregnant by then," she said with a brilliant smile. "I'm certainly going to try to be!"
"Where do they keep the bloody brandy here?" he growled.