“I like that plan.” She sighed just before she drifted off.
They slept for several hours, made love and then slept for several hours more.
Chapter 70
“I’ll have my solicitor look into this. I’ll send word to him now.” Gilles said as he stood and excused himself from the table.
Breakfast was over and everyone was starting to rise from their seats. Alastair was about to follow Gilles when Giselle jerked as she was standing and grabbed the table. Alastair rounded the table and grabbed her elbow.
“What’s wrong?” He searched her face as he put his arm around her. She laughed as she looked up at him.
“I’m fine! The chair is on my dress.” Giselle looked down and his eyes followed. The leg of the chair was indeed on the skirt of her dress. Alastair lifted the chair and she pulled it free. “You need to stop fussing over me!” She insisted.
“No.” Alastair answered as his eyes held hers. They had been married for two months and she finally looked as if she was fully recovered from the month they had been apart. Her hair and eyes shone, her skin glowed, her curves were lush and she was vibrant and mischievous again. Giselle had also regained some use of her arm. She exercised it constantly, determined to be able to hold the baby on her own. Alastair was confidant that she would have full use of her arm one day.
He let his arms slide around Giselle and he pressed his hands to her stomach and felt the gentle swell that had just started to show when a loud crash shattered the peace. His head snapped toward the study at the same time Lucien’s did. They started to rush from the room when Gilles roared with rage. Mirabelle laughed softly.
“He’s fine.” She said as she popped a grape into her mouth and strode from the room. The Mothers and Elise groaned then went back to their conversation. Giselle giggled and patted Alastair’s hands.
“You should probably go and check on him. I’ll be in the music room with Mirabelle, we have a piano lesson this morning.” She said as she kissed his cheek and pulled away. She missed Lucien’s cringe.
Alastair and Lucien made their way to the study and found Gilles in the doorway. He was drenched and a bucket laid at his feet.
“Pardon me.” Lucien said as he stepped sideways through the door, careful to avoid touching Gilles as he passed. He went to his usual seat and reclined casually.
“Excuse me.” Alastair nodded at his brother as he slid by, stepping over the puddle at his feet. He took the seat next to Lucien and rested his boot on his knee. Gilles’ nostrils flared and his fists clenched.
“Would someone mind telling me what the hell this is?” Gilles growled as he gestured to his dripping body. Lucien chuckled.
“Your sister has settled your debt.” He said as he crossed his arms behind his head. Alastair nodded in agreement. And approval. It was stunning in its nostalgia and simplicity, really.
“You should consider yourself lucky.” Alastair said and Lucien nodded enthusiastically.
“Definitely.” He said. Gilles stared at them in shock.
“Lucky?” He yelled. Alastair grinned.
“It was much worse for us at Winthorpe. She covered me in syrup and hay and then she made me see Lucien naked.” He explained. Lucien grimaced.
“It was all quite dreadful.” He agreed. Gilles threw his arms up, flinging water across the room.
“You couldn’t have warned me?” He gasped. Alastair and Lucien shook their heads in unison.
“No.” Alastair said.
“Absolutely not.” Lucien concurred. “Just be glad that it’s over.” He advised. Gilles took a step forward and groaned as his boot sloshed.
“I really want to kill her.” He whispered. Lucien shook his head. Alastair frowned.
“No. You’d be better served if you just let it go. Do you really want to see this escalate? She’s quite barbaric.” Alastair advised. Gilles scowled.
“So, I should just do nothing?” He asked incredulously and Lucien smiled broadly.
“No. You should change into dry clothes while Alastair and I make sure we have enough spirits to get the three of us blind drunk.” Lucien looked at Alastair who nodded in agreement.
“It really is the only option.” Alastair said as he unbuttoned his coat. Gilles sighed as he rested his hands on his hips.
“Very well.” He said. He turned and squished down the hall toward the stairs. Once they thought he was far enough away, Alastair and Lucien exploded in laughter.
Epilogue:
Giselle rolled over and reached for Alastair but found the space next to her empty. She smiled softly as she slipped from the bed and pulled on her robe. She moved swiftly through the hallway and up the stairs. She pushed the nursery door open silently and let her head rest against the frame.
Her whole world was there, asleep on a child’s bed. Alastair’s knees were pulled up and he held four year old Evangeline to his chest as two year old Gregory curled against his side with his head on Alastair’s shoulder.
Evangeline was much like her papa. She didn’t have his sensitivity but her mind was often too active at night for her to sleep. She would tap at their bedroom door in the middle of the night and Alastair would carry her back to bed, gathering Gregory along the way and tell them stories until they fell asleep.
“Maman.” Gregory sighed drowsily, his silver eyes flashed briefly before he wrapped his arms around Giselle’s neck as she lifted him and carried him back to his bed. Both of her children had Alastair’s eyes and her raven black hair.
“Bonne nuit, mon cœur.” Giselle whispered as she kissed his cheek and pulled the covers to his chin. She crossed the room and gently lifted Evangeline and settled her on the pillow. Alastair’s eyes snapped open and he carefully slipped from the bed. He waited while Giselle tucked Evangeline in and held out his hand as she stood.
At the door, Giselle stopped him and turned, looking around the nursery. Alastair wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close. Giselle reached back and caressed his cheek.
“We’re going to need to decide where to put a third bed.” She whispered. Alastair became alert and straightened. His hands turned her.
“Are you sure?” His voice broke as his eyes searched hers. She nodded as joy flooded her. He looked down as his hand pressed to her stomach reverently. Giselle placed her hand over his.
“Promise me you won’t take it so badly this time.” She whispered. Alastair had hovered and doted through Giselle’s pregnancies and was almost distraught with worry by the time she was ready to deliver. He’d been sick and crippled with guilt during the deliveries and more exhausted and relieved than she was when they were over. It took her months to get him to behave normally when they made love, he treated her as if she was fragile and was afraid to be too demanding.
“I can’t do that.” Alastair admitted as he towed her away from the nursery. He scooped her into his arms when they reached the stairs and carried her to their bedroom. “I promise I’ll worship your body and pleasure you until we’re too exhausted to move.” He said as he set her on the bed.
“You already do that.” Giselle giggled as his finger stroked the back of her thigh. “Don’t do that! You’ll make me loud and I’ll wake up the whole house.” She gasped.
Alastair chuckled as he settled over her and molded her body to his.
“I love when you’re loud, mademoiselle.” He murmured against her lips. “And I love you.”
“I love you too.” Giselle whispered as she lost herself in his eyes. A moment later she felt his lips frown against hers. “What’s wrong?” She asked as he rose on his elbow and looked down at her.
“We’ve done this all wrong.” Alastair said as his hand cupped her cheek. Her brows rose in confusion. He shook his head softly. “I was supposed to give you everything you want. But you gave me everything. I have everything I could possibly ever want.” His voice was thick with emotion. Giselle felt as if everything within her had melted. Her vision blurred with tears as she reached for him.
“You’re wrong. You did give me everything, you gave me you. And then you gave me a life more perfect than I could have ever imagined.”
Alastair claimed her mouth as his body tangled with hers. Giselle let the world fall away as he fulfilled his promise, he worshiped her body and pleasured her until they were both exhausted.
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