Robert stretched his fingers out, spreading them across Jane’s stomach.
He watched his hand. “I cannot wait to see you,” he whispered, then looked up. “Having Edward’s family here only makes me more desperate for our own, Jane.”
“Patience,” she whispered.
“Was always something I lacked.” He gave her another smile. He’d expended enough. They’d had to endure Ellen’s announcement, then Violet’s, before Jane had finally followed suit.
It had turned out that Violet’s disappearance from London at the time he’d married Jane had been due to an unforeseen circumstance. She’d disappeared into the country to hide her condition, even from Geoff. But Geoff had followed, brought her back and married her. The child had been born only three and a half months later.
Jane had been glad for Violet, but there had also been jealousy. Jane had longed for children; Robert had, too.
It was happening now.
Jane slipped her fingers about Robert’s midriff beneath his morning coat and smiled. His head bowed and his mouth claimed hers. They’d not once been at odds since they’d come back to Farnborough.
She broke the kiss, caught up his fingers, and tugged. “Come on, come to bed.”
“An offer I cannot refuse,” he stated. “But do you think we should?” His gaze dropped to her bulging stomach; he didn’t wish to hurt the child.
“Yes, absolutely. Ellen said it does no harm.” Stepping backward, she tugged on his hand again. “And if you think I would make my impatient, rake of a husband wait—” she teased.
“I could wait, if I must. Did I not wait long enough for you?”
Lifting one eyebrow, she chided, “That, my Lord, does not persuade, for as I recall, waiting was not what you did.”
“You injure me. I have said a dozen times I wish that undone.”
Jane smiled. She knew how desperately he longed to be able to change the past; he’d made sure she did. Yet he could not.
“A rake, known for deserting woman, with regrets and a tender heart. Who’d have known,” she mocked. “Violet will be exclaiming over how domesticated you have become when she arrives tomorrow. I keep telling her you have not changed at all. You are the real Robert. The rakehell was the fraud. I know how much you love me, Robert. I was only teasing.”
He nodded, but he still felt emotion welling in his chest, guilt and pain as well as love.
She gripped his nape, pulled him down, and kissed him, cherishing him, he could feel her love. Then she whispered, “Come on,” tugging his hand once more and stepping back.
He smiled. “Do you know, I think you’re worse than me now, woman.”
“That is impossible,” she threw back.