by Tina Leonard
It damn well did. Alex stared at the baby doubt fully, receiving the full force of haunting Daphne eyes watching him. He sighed, almost frightened by the morning’s events. If Daphne did anything by convention it would be a first, and Sinclair knew it. He handed the baby to the valet with a shrug. “I’m going to see Daphne now.”
“I would take an heirloom from the vault, sir.”
Alex paused, thunder struck. “An heirloom?”
Sinclair kept his head turned stiffly forward. “It is generally looked upon favorably by the mother to receive a token from the father of her child, signifying his appreciation for her propagating his lineage.”
Alex’s brows raised. “Are you suggesting a tiara?” Did three babies require more of an appropriate gesture than one baby?
“Your mother’s pearls should do nicely, though I do believe Miss Daphne isn’t in a relenting mood.”
“I’ll stop by the vault on my way to her room.” Alex’s chest tightened as he left the nursery. If he owned a diamond mine in South Africa and signed it over in her name, Daphne would likely not care.
He wondered if she had ever loved him—the way he’d loved her.
Still loved her.
Chapter Two
Alex walked into the large bedroom he and Daphne had once shared. His heart thudded un com fort ably as he looked for the woman who’d sent him divorce papers. Receiving them had nearly killed him. He’d wanted to shred them and throw them into a fire place, but he’d filed them away in a cabinet. He couldn’t put her off forever. If she insisted on the divorce, he guessed he’d have to give it to her. It would be a hell of a one-year anniversary gift, one he didn’t want.
“Daphne? Are you in here?” he asked softly, glancing around the room.
She popped her head out from inside a closet. His heart stopped instantly, and his mouth dried out. Daphne was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. Not pop-culture beautiful, no. Classically beautiful, with beautiful, large green eyes. Bronze hair waved down over her shoulders.
“Alex.” She came from the closet and seemed to find it hard to look at him.
“I—I brought you this,” he said stiffly, holding out the velvet pouch that contained his mother’s pearls.
She shook her head. “I don’t want anything from you.”
He bit the inside of his jaw, wondering how to proceed. What should he say to this woman who’d just borne his children? “You look beautiful,” he said honestly.
“Thank you.”
Her voice was gentle and quiet—and somehow un convinced. Alex scratched his neck and cleared his throat. “I saw the babies.”
“Oh?” She briefly met his gaze before finding a place on the floor to stare at.
“I’m a bit over whelmed to find myself a father of three all at once.” He smiled to show her he was taking it well, but she kept her vision trained to the ground. “How are you? Being a mother of three…I can’t imagine what you’ve gone through,” he said helplessly.
“I’m fine.” Shrugging, she went back to sorting baby things. “Managing.”
“Is there any way I can help?” He really, really wanted to help her in any way she needed.
“Not pulling commando tactics on me would be nice. Just because you have half the world’s money doesn’t give you the right to drag me and the babies away from our home.” She stared at him belligerently.
He spread his hands in front of him, struggling to understand the hidden meaning behind her words. The tiny apartment she’d leased didn’t seem to be much of a home to him. Their home was here, at Green Forks, if he could only convince her of that. “You belong here, Daphne, no matter what our relationship is.”
“Even divorced? You would want me here?”
Swallowing tightly, he said, “Of course. Those are my children. You are my wife.”
Her eyes were wide. “Even if I’m not your wife?”
He couldn’t bear to think about it. As long as he could put it off, he wasn’t signing those papers. Daphne had married him for better or worse, and by heaven, he had to convince her that being his wife fell under the heading of better. “Let’s not talk about that right now.”
“We have to, Alex! We have to talk. You may not like to, but we probably should have done more talking before we got married.” She sank into a chair. “I’m so tired. Can we argue some other time?”
Instantly alarmed, he said, “I’ll call Nelly.”
“What for? I want to rest, not have to talk to one more person.”
Sudden tapping in the hall electrified her nerves. It sounded like a cane. It sounded like—
“Daphne. You’re back.” Aided by Sinclair, Alexander walked into the room.
She bristled at the tone in his voice, which seemed to imply that she’d returned of her own free will. She was amazed by the recovery he’d made. He looked like his old self again. “For the moment,” she said with a lift of her chin.
“Hmph.” He leaned on his cane. “Like your mama, birthing triplets. Where’s the boy?”
“Sorry to disappoint you, but apparently that’s one way I’m not like my mother.” She glanced at Alex purposefully.
“They’re beautiful girls,” Alex said. “Didn’t you think, Dad?”
“Hmph. Ugly names. Yoda. Miss Magoo. I do think you could give them proper names, Daphne.” He turned to stump out of the bedroom before turning his grizzled head to glance over his shoulder. “It’s not your fault, of course. It’s my boy who seems to be chock-full of feminine chromosomes.”
Daphne sucked in her breath and quickly glanced at Alex to see how he took his father’s criticism. To her surprise, he laughed out loud.
“See you at dinner, Dad,” he called.
“Didn’t he hurt your feelings?” Daphne still cringed from the visit.
“Absolutely not. Dad may be fixated on boys, but the minute he found out you were pregnant, he made a recovery even the doctors couldn’t believe. You gave him three grandchildren, Daphne,” he said huskily, “and he’ll consider them an honor.”
“What a good liar you are.” Daphne moved away. “He’s made no bones about the fact that only boys will do for him.”
“True. But he’ll have to get over his hierarchical delusions.” He stood, preparing to leave the room. Daphne did look tired, and he wanted her to rest. “There could be other children, anyway, Daphne, not that it’s some thing either one of us want to think about right now.”
“No. There can’t be.” She folded her arms, suddenly chilled.
“I mean, once we’ve talked about this divorce thing,” he said hastily. The last thing he wanted her to think was that he was patronizing her. “I don’t want a divorce. I want to have a hand in raising my children. It’s best if we stay married.”
Her insides felt like cement. “I can’t have any more children.” Guiltily, she looked at Alex.
His mouth fell open. “What?”
Sadly, she shook her head. “The doctor says I can’t.”
“Why not? Your mother had eight.”
It was impossible not to see the fear and disappointment in her husband’s eyes. Daphne knew she might as well lay all her cards on the table. Alex had a right to know. “I’m not sure what happened. It all went so fast! There were nurses and doctors and babies crying and tubes—” She shivered, stepping away from Alex when he held his arms out to her. “All I know is that, the next morning, when the doctor came in to see me, he said that I had a rare disorder where the uterus prolapses. He felt it would be dangerous to my health to have more children.”
“I see.” All the blood leached from Alex’s normally tan skin.
Daphne’s heart dropped into her shoes. “Now you see that the divorce is necessary.”
“No, I don’t.” He shook his head slowly. “I’m sorry you had to go through all of that alone.”
“What about not having a son?”
He shrugged. “It’s not the end of the world.”
“Your father will b
e unhappy.”
“I don’t live my life to make my father happy.”
True, Daphne conceded. But he had made a promise to the old man, which at the time had been a deathbed vow. His father would still want a Banning heir. And she knew how bad he wanted it.
Bad enough to buy all her father’s cattle at top prices during a drought. Alexander Senior and her father had called it a business arrangement. It had really been a dowry.
“You might not live your life to make your father happy,” she said softly, “but he lives because he thinks you’re going to give him what he wants. And to be honest, it’s a huge strain to live under, Alex. I don’t mind staying here for a week or two until I get a little stronger, but then I want to go back to my apartment. I hope you’ll under stand.”
“Our anniversary’s coming up,” he reminded her. “One year of marriage. We can’t throw that away, even if it hasn’t been conventional, especially now that there are children involved.”
She shook her head. “I’m sorry. There’s just too much in our way. I’d like to celebrate our anniversary by finalizing our divorce.”
“Very well. If I can’t change your mind.” His face appeared carved from stone. “However, I think you should factor in a com promise, since I’m prepared to give you the divorce you want.”
Daphne was instantly wary. If he asked her to leave her babies behind, she would refuse. “What?”
“Since it’s two weeks until our anniversary, I suggest that you allow me that time to see you and the babies and to do my best to change your mind about a divorce.”
“I won’t.” Her blood raced as she thought about Alex trying to change her mind. He was a handsome man, tall and distinguished. Dark, well-trimmed hair and black eyebrows, which were fixed in a scowl right now. Such blue, blue eyes…and a good heart. That’s what she loved the most about him. He was a good man through and through. When he said some thing, he meant it. She admired that—even when he’d made the promise to his father. But she couldn’t with stand two weeks of him trying to change her mind. Because she would, especially in her weakened condition. She wanted to right now….
“You say you won’t, but I think for the babies’ sakes, we should give our marriage a second chance.” He ran a hand through his hair, ruffling it so it sprayed out in different directions, very un-Alex. “I married you, Daphne, and I’m not interested in letting you go.”
“You sound so possessive,” she murmured.
“I don’t mean to come on too strong.” He walked over and put the velvet pouch in her hand, clasping her fingers around it. “Please think about it.”
“I don’t know, Alex. I’m really exhausted, and it would be too easy to give in. I know in my heart that’s the wrong thing to do.” She was ready to give in now—if only she hadn’t over heard their conversation. If only the doctor hadn’t advised against more children. How could she stay with him knowing that she’d cheated him of the thing he’d married her for?
“Let’s not talk anymore. You lie down,” he said, helping her toward the bed. “I’m going to prove to you that I’m husband material you shouldn’t throw out.”
She sighed, allowing him to lead her to the bed. For a second, when his hands touched her shoulders through the thin material of her night gown, she wished things could be different. “Two weeks, Alex. That’s all. On our anniversary, we sign divorce papers.”
Was two weeks long enough to find out if they should stay married? Could she ever be convinced that she belonged with Alex, especially knowing her father had sold her along with his live stock?
A sudden wail pierced her thoughts.
“Where do you want this crib, ma’am?”
Alex’s jaw dropped. Daphne, suddenly very business like, pointed to a section of the room near her bed. “Line all three up in a row right there at the foot of the bed, please.”
“Wait a minute!” he thundered.
The staff paused instantly.
“What is going on here?” he demanded of Daphne.
“I’m setting up the nursery.” She lifted her chin to meet his gaze without any sign of retreat in her eyes.
“The nursery is on the third floor of the house, where it’s always been,” he said care fully. Maybe she thought she was confined to this small wing of rooms, and that the babies had to stay with her.
“I know where it is, Alex. But my children need to be with me. Carry on, please,” she said to Nelly and a few puffing young boys.
Alex stared as an insurmountable wall of baby cribs went up between him and Daphne. “Daphne, the babies have always stayed in the nursery.”
“How do you know?” She cocked her head at him. “You were the only baby from your parents’ marriage.”
“I’ve seen pictures! I’ve heard Nelly talk about it. I was raised in the nursery!” Yes, their lives were different, but even Daphne should be able to comprehend that being married to him meant luxuries she should enjoy.
“My children aren’t going to sleep in an attic, Alex,” she said briskly. “They stay with me.”
“But you’re exhausted! You’d sleep better with them upstairs.”
She gave him a wicked smile. “You said you’d help me. I’m assuming that also means with the babies. We’ll be just fine.”
With a regal nod, she dismissed Nelly and the other help. Three crying babies wiggled on the king-size bed, all wanting some thing. He had no idea what.
“Here now,” she cooed. Swiftly, she let down her nightgown top and lifted a baby to her breast.
Cold prickles ran over the back of Alex’s neck as he watched the baby latch on to the rose-colored nipple. His mouth dried out. Whoa. Out of my element with that one. Shifting from boot to boot, he wondered what he should do with the other two squalling babies.
“You can hold them and rock them in that chair,” Daphne instructed. “They’ll calm down long enough for me to feed this one.”
With trepidation, he went to pick up one baby, very delicately. She fit into his arm like a well-wrapped package, instantly quieting at being picked up. With some difficulty, he hoisted the other one and fit her into the other arm as he sat. With his boot, he set the rocker to moving, but the babies seemed more interested in sticking their fists in their mouths. “I kind of like this,” he said, pride growing in him.
“Good. If you’re going to help me for two weeks, you’d better.”
“Now, wait a minute. I said I wanted the chance to convince you that our marriage was worth saving. I didn’t say I wanted to be a—”
“Father?” Daphne supplied. “Maybe you don’t.”
“I do,” he cried, stung. “It’s just that maybe you’re deliberately going about this the hard way!”
She bristled before his eyes. “Meaning?”
“Meaning that the babies could be upstairs with the proper help they need, and we could get on with working our marriage out!” He glowered at her.
“I’m sorry, Alex. But I’m not going to have these babies and then toss them aside for someone else to raise. I know your definition of saving our marriage probably meant getting back into my bed, but as you can see, it is occupied. And will stay that way until the babies are older.”
“How much older?” he demanded, frowning.
“I don’t know how long I’ll be able to nurse,” she said honestly. “Though it’s going very smoothly for me now, I’ve been told that the more tired I get, the more difficult it is, particularly with three. The milk supply may not be enough for what the babies need. They’re so new right now, they don’t need much, mainly just the comfort of suckling. I’ll have to see.”
He obviously wasn’t going to be allowed that same comfort, Alex realized, with Daphne’s bed full of his off spring. Despite the generous size of the bed, that left very little room for his six-two frame. Making love wasn’t what he had in mind. But he did want to hold his wife, lie with her, be able to reach out in the night to assure himself she was where she belonged.
He
had a sneaking suspicion Daphne didn’t want him there, though. Briefly, he wondered if she’d insist on nursing just long enough to get past the two weeks they’d agreed upon.
A knock sounded peremptorily at the door. “Your mother has arrived, Miss Daphne,” Sinclair said. “Where shall I put her suit cases?”
Great. Alex braced himself and his load by putting a boot against the bed rail and settled down as com fort ably as possible with the babies waiting for their turn to nurse. Three babies, a wife who didn’t want to be married to him and a mother-in-law in residence.
Bad odds for a man who’d drawn a supposedly lucky three of a kind.
Chapter Three
“Hello, Mrs. Way,” Alex said congenially.
Daphne could tell by the look on his face that he wasn’t pleased her mother had come to stay. But she needed her help, needed someone on her side.
“Hello, Alex,” Danita Way replied warily.
“Put Mother’s things in the room down the hall, please, Sinclair,” she instructed.
He nodded and left the room. Daphne continued to nurse, trying to stay relaxed so her milk would flow. Her mother reached to take one of the babies from Alex and sat down, cooing to it.
“I think I’m ready to switch,” Daphne told Alex. She handed him a nicely soothed baby, noting how swift he was to hand off the agitated, hungry child.
“Is there enough left for the other two?” Alex asked.
Daphne smiled tightly. “For now, yes. In the next couple of days, we’ll know.”
“Daphne’s gotta be relaxed,” Danita Way stated, with a meaningful look at him. “She needs six full weeks to recover just from having the babies, and then probably a whole year to get back up to strength. She doesn’t need to be upset.”
“Mother,” Daphne protested mildly.
“I don’t want to upset her, Mrs. Way,” Alex began.