She did as she was told. The breezes off the shores wafted through her hair and refreshed her face. "Ready."
"You remember the Dominicans?"
"Of course."
"And the Templars?"
"I do."
"Hmmm. Well, then. I saw old man Dunwoody today."
"All right." When Killian had purchased the land, he had Carruthers tell the old fisherman that he would not be dispossessed of his home. In fact, Killian had arranged it with the land agent that the plot on which Dunwoody's cottage stood was his, free and clear in perpetuity. They saw him each morning as he walked the beach. A happy man because Killian had made him so. "And what? Have you given him something more?"
"No. He came up to talk soon after you took the carriage down to town. And he has given us a gift."
"Wonderful! I like gifts. What is it and can I open my eyes now please?"
"I know you do. And yes, you can look at this."
Killian stood before her with his palms up, hands open. Nestled in each was one gold coin. Their edges frayed, the inscriptions ragged, they looked ancient.
"Dear heavens." She breathed. "You don't think that they're...?"
He gave her a lopsided grin. "I do."
"Noooo." She put a fingertip to the inscriptions and leaned over to try to read them. "Old French?"
His long dark brows shot high. "Your guess is better than mine."
"How did he find them? Where?"
"When they leveled the land over there at the eastern edge of the cliff, the landscapers moved tons of earth. Dunwoody said he walked the beach one morning last week, and saw a glint in the sun. He went to investigate and here are two of twenty-five gold florins. Or, as he would say modestly, we think they are."
Liv threw back her head to laugh and clap her hands. "Dear me. We must have them appraised. Take them to London. An expert in the British Museum. A medievalist, don't you think? Or a lecturer at Oxford or...or...someone!" She hugged him. "This is marvelous. And just what we need."
"We do?" He threw her a frown laced with a smile.
"We do. Have you told anyone else?"
"No, only you. You deserved to hear it first."
"I did. Why?"
"Because you've brought me this treasure."
"No, I didn't. Dunwoody did!" She chuckled.
"I say you did. You forgave me."
"As you did me," she said with assurance.
Killian wrapped her in arms and kissed her with a big smack on the lips. "You bring me treasure every day you smile at me and kiss me and make love to me."
She giggled. "I do believe you're right!"
He snorted in laughter. "Humility thy name is woman!"
"You encourage me in such silliness. Now," she said with firmness, "you must be quiet and let me talk to you. I have news for you."
"What?"
"Put those coins in your pockets and look at me."
He jerked back an inch. "What? You look alternately like you will die laughing or you'll swallow a pigeon whole."
She strolled away from him, collecting her giddiness like golden coins for a horde of happiness.
"What is it?" He followed her to the edge of the wall. "You have another commission? Camille is coming down from that new school? She hates this one as much as that last one we sent her to and—"
"No." She was chuckling as she turned to him in the sunlight and saw that she had terrified him.
He captured her face between his hands. His gaze was dark with dread, his body rigid. "Don't do this to me. To yourself. You've not been well. I know it. You won't talk about it and I've let you have your time to decipher what it is. Now I'm not waiting any longer. Tell me. You went to a doctor, didn't you?"
Damn. This man could outwit her at the drop of a hat. "No."
"No?" He sagged. He hauled her into the vise of his arms, his lips buried against her ear. "What then?"
"I went to consult a midwife. A woman I met when I lived up on the Parade." She pulled away to view him as he dropped his jaw. "My darling husband, I'm so glad we have this very large house. You see, we're going to fill it up. I am expecting a baby."
Shock turned him white. Then he threw back his head to laugh and capture her up in his arms. With tears in his eyes, he smiled at her. "A child of forgiveness."
"A child of love."
THE END
Who is Cerise DeLand?
Cerise DeLand loves to write about dashing heroes and the sassy women they adore. Whether she’s penning historical romances or contemporaries, she has received praise for her poetic elegance and accuracy of detail.
An award-winning author of more than 50 novels, she’s been published since 1991 by Pocket Books, St. Martin’s Press, Kensington and independent presses. Her books have been monthly selections of the Doubleday Book Club and the Mystery Guild. Plus she’s won nominations and awards for Best Historical of the Year, Best Regency and scores of rave reviews from Romantic Times, Affair de Coeur, Publisher’s Weekly and more.
To research, she’s dived into the oldest texts and dustiest library shelves. She’s also traveled abroad, trusty notebook and pen in hand, to visit the chateaux and country homes she loves to people with her own imaginary characters.
And at home every day? She loves to cook, hates to dust, goes swimming at least once a week and tries (desperately) to grow vegetables in her arid backyard in south Texas!
www.cerisedeland.com
[email protected]
Also by Cerise DeLand
Regencies
Lady Starling’s Stockings
The Stanhope Challenge,
Regency Quartet, box set
Regency Romp Series:
Lady Varney’s Risque Business, #1
Rendezvous with a Duke, #2
Masquerade with a Marquess, #3
Interlude with a Baron, #4
Delightful Doings in Dudley Crescent Series:
Her Beguiling Butler, #1
His Tempting Governess, #2, debuts 2018
His Naughty Maid, #3,
debuts 2018
Erotic Regencies:
His Delectable Cook
Sense and Sensibility
Victorian Romances
Those Notorious Americans,
Series:
Wild Lily, #1
Daring Widow, #2
Sweet Siren, #3
Luring Miss Hanniford, #4, 2018
Miss Bereston’s Last Beau, #5, late 2018
Medievals
Swords of Passion Series:
At Her Service, #1
For Her Honor, #2
With Her Kiss, #3
* * *
Military Romances
7 Brides for 7 SEALs Series:
You Were Always Mine, #1
No Getting Over You, #2
SEALs Going Hot, box set
Burning for Nero
Conquering Zeus
A Long Time Comin’
Hard Drivin’ Man
Contemporaries
Tall, Hard and Trouble, box set
Tall, Hard and Mine, box set,
Coming Soon!
Tall, Hard and Fierce, box set,
Coming Soon!
***
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Sweet Siren: Those Notorious Americans, Book 3 Page 19