Page 50 of Jillian’s Wild Heart (Ladies of Munro #4)

J illy sat beside Lewis on a bench in the Trentons’ garden. It was the nearest semblance of privacy they could find. Neither the Kinsey family cottage nor the Trenton manor could provide a space for them to speak freely. And Lewis was far too worn out to walk and talk along a country path.

Jillian, on the other hand, was positively glowing.

“I believed you to be ill,” Lewis said a little reproachfully, though the sight of Jillian once more her radiant self made him happier than he could possibly have imagined.

“I have been,” she countered. “Maybe not bound to my bed all day, but certainly not well enough to seek the company of Mr. Trenton.” She scrunched up her face at the mention of his name.

Lewis understood all too well. Perhaps she had exaggerated her symptoms somewhat to escape the man’s unpleasant interference. Well, Lewis would cure that ailment easily enough.

“Are you well enough to come home with me?” He tucked her hand into his to show he meant it.

Jillian turned her head from him, the full measure of her delight at his arrival slipping from her face. “If I have been too ill to endure Mr. Trenton, I am certainly in no condition to return to London and be under your parents’ roof once more.”

“Ah,” said Lewis, carrying the secret knowledge of his plan and eager now to share it with Jilly, “but we would not be returning to London. I have excused myself for the last few weeks of session.”

Jillian shook her head. “Even if we were alone at Oakwoods, or in Penelope’s company, I would still prefer to remain with my mother. She knows what I need.”

Lewis tried to hide his disappointment. “And what do you need? You seem to be in excellent health.”

“It comes and goes.”

“Like a fever? Is it wise, then, to be walking about and tiring yourself?”

“No, not like a fever. Fits of queasiness.”

Lewis was not ready to give up yet. If Jillian was only experiencing a tummy ache, it should be easy enough to treat. “What brings it on? Do you know the cause?”

Jilly turned to face him once again, the rosy glow returning to her cheeks. “ You are the cause.”

The accusation startled Lewis. “ I make you sick?”

Why was she smiling? These were not humorous words.

“You make us a family.” Jillian took the hand that held hers and drew it to her belly. “I am only unwell in the mornings…”

Lewis remained confused. He knew Latin and Greek and could argue his case in court, but he had no knowledge at all about women’s bellies and why, if such a part of his wife was troubled, he should be to blame for it, especially when he had been all the way in London.

“I don’t understand,” he confessed after some thought and no success.

“Lewis, you ninny, you’re going to be a father!” Jillian laughed.

Realization dawned in his bone-weary mind. “A baby?” he asked, his voice cracking.

Jillian nodded. “I was going to write to you today. I first wanted to be sure. But here you are. Perhaps I should thank Mr. Trenton for his letter. It is so much better to tell you in person, to see your face, to… Lewis, are those tears?”

He brushed the moisture briskly from his eyes. Then he folded his wife into his arms, holding her as if she had been rescued from the edge of a cliff, where one misplaced step would have cost them everything.

“I’m going to keep you safe,” Lewis promised, his voice thick and rough. “You and this baby and any other children you may bless us with. You will see.”

Jillian stiffened in his embrace. “Your parents will work against your good intentions.”

Lewis leaned back so that she could see his face and know that he meant every word.

“We will not be returning to London. Not until next season. And then we will be sharing accommodation with our friend the viscount. And Ellena, of course, if she chooses to join him. He seldom stays for the whole season, using his proxy so that he may attend to matters back home in Munro instead. But he has granted us the use of his townhome regardless. You will see my parents only if and when it pleases you.”

“What about Oakwoods?” countered Jilly, though Lewis could see a flicker of hope in her eyes.

“Even the servants are not truly mine that I may build a relationship with them. All of them, including Wallace, were chosen for me. And the weekly Sunday dinner is enough for your mother and father to chisel away at our happiness and teach our innocent babes their way of thinking. The very thought of such a fate befalling our children, especially if there is a son who will be your heir, crushes the breath within my breast.”

“As it does mine, beloved,” answered Lewis. “Oakwood must receive us again, but only to collect our belongings. We will return to the estate one day when we are both ready. If that means waiting until I am the baron and can dictate the manner in which we live, so be it.”

Jillian now sat up straight, listening with rapt attention to her husband’s every word. “Are we to live in Ermenbrough?”

“We shall certainly visit. But I do not like to be observed by Mr. Trenton and have more of his wicked letters reach my father, only to disturb his already ill-managed peace. No, I have something much better in mind.”

Now Jillian leaned forward as if to draw the answer from Lewis with the force of her curiosity. “Where, then?”

“Do you remember a house on the outskirts of Munro? A shaded lawn? A private garden? We talked of chickens…”

“I thought you said…”

“Forget what I said. I acted in haste. Philip’s passing threw me off-balance and, in trying to right myself, I made a mess of things.

We had promised to find our own way, and I should have stayed the course.

For a while, I lost my bearing and thought our plans beyond our reach.

But they were always ours for the taking. I want them back. I want you back.”

Jillian was silent at these words. Her lack of response ate away at Lewis’s confidence. Did she not believe him? Was it too late? Had he done too much harm?

“I am still unsuited for the role of baron’s wife,” she said softly.

“No, my love, you are only unsuited for the role of the current Baron Bradford’s wife.

Mercifully, that position is already taken.

But you… ah, you …” Lewis gazed upon his wife, who inspired him to dream beyond his limitations once again.

“You will breathe life into that gray, old building and the musty norms by which it has been governed.”

“Perhaps…” Jillian looked shyly at the hand that held hers, “I might add a little dignity to my step. And not confuse the servants with too much friendship.”

“They will love you, anyway,” Lewis promised her. “For you cannot help but be kind and generous and selfless. And if our children’s mama likes to gambol with them on the lawn, so much the better. They shall learn to laugh as well as run an estate.”

“Will your parents not be angry?”

“If that is how they wish to fill their time, they may do as they like. We shall not allow their chagrin in our home. They will soon choose whether to keep company with us or not. As for Penelope, I hope we can have her stay with us if she wishes. She would make an excellent aunt, and a valuable companion for you.”

“I should like that very much. Especially when we are in London.”

“Ah, but you will be very busy in London.” Lewis closed an eye in an exaggerated wink.

“I will?”

“Oh, yes, my dear. Our children, if they take after you, will run you ragged. And if you have energy to spare, you will be occupied with your personal project.”

“My what?”

“I have arranged for you to serve on the board of trustees for St. Giles Asylum for Orphans. All it took was a small donation and their knowledge of your sincere devotion to their cause. You shall throw your natural passion into helping them change the children’s lives for the better.

You have told me over and over that your life lacks purpose.

I am sorry it took me so long to hear you. ”

Jillian threw her arms about her husband’s neck as she smothered him in kisses. He laughed and fended her off playfully. “Stop! Stop! What will people think?”

Jilly stopped abruptly. “So, that still matters so much?”

Lewis grinned. “Only if they think I really want you to stop.”

Jilly relaxed a little, but her expression remained serious. “I thought I had lost you.”

“I had lost myself,” Lewis whispered. He leaned in and kissed her left cheek.

“But I have been reminded why I loved you in the first place.” He placed a kiss on her right cheek.

“And I will never forget again.” Now his lips found hers.

Her mouth grew slack and wet as Lewis pressed against it with his own.

Pulling back gently, he caught his breath and tilted forward again, their lips colliding, separating and bearing down on each other with feverish, heady relish.

Jilly ran her fingers through the back of his hair and drew him even closer, her own locks falling from her shoulders as she tilted her head back and offered him the soft nape of her neck.

With nimble fingers, Lewis loosed the ribbon of her bonnet and freed her golden mane, the bonnet dropping to the end of the bench behind her.

His teeth nipped the lobe of her ear. The tip of his tongue ran…

“Whoa, don’t let Mr. Trenton see you at it in his garden,” came Sam’s voice across the sweet briar behind them. “He won’t have the stomach for it. Probably chase you out as soon as look at you. Besides, I’ve got to prune this shrub and you’ll get thorny cuttings all over you.”

“Or you could be our lookout.” Jillian grinned at the lanky twelve-year-old.

“No, thanks. Da won’t like me shirking my duties. Anyway, aren’t you too old for such antics? You’re not a blushing bride anymore, Sis.”

Sam ducked as Jillian jumped up and aimed a playful tap in his direction.

“Get her away from me!” he cried, laughing and bobbing to evade another swipe from his sister.

“Not before you pay for calling me old,” puffed Jilly, lunging at the nimble sprite who easily maneuvered himself beyond her reach. After two more attempts, she gave up. “Our children are going to run circles around me,” she complained to Lewis.

“I would expect nothing less if they’re to take after you,” said Lewis.

“Hmm, perhaps I should start walking more sedately, after all.”

Lewis grabbed Jilly by her waist and tugged her toward him.

He tucked the knuckle of his forefinger under her chin and lifted it so that they might look at each other, eye to eye.

“You have a wild heart, my love. I would not see it tamed. You will teach our children all they need to know to manage in society. But, more importantly, you will show them what it is to be truly alive. And I would not have it any other way.”

Jillian buried her face in her husband’s warm embrace. “What am I going to do with all those copious notes I took for you about farming?” she murmured into his jacket.

“When we reach Oakwoods, you and I shall meet with Mr. Cooper, Father’s land steward, and you will amaze him with the wealth of your knowledge.”

“Really?” Jillian perked up at once.

“Really. And you shall choose your own cook and lady’s maid, unless you have grown fond of Wallace. Choose whomever you like, someone who matches your personality and who has not been selected for you by my parents. Perhaps Ellena can make a recommendation.”

“Oh! Do you think Ellena will mind if I leave after little more than a week? I haven’t really spent that much time with her and I only seemed to have made things worse for her with her father.”

“I was actually meaning to have a word with the fellow before we leave. Set him straight, as it were.”

Jillian lowered her gaze. “You don’t have to do that for me. I know I have your trust.”

“I am glad of it. But my father, as you know, is easily perturbed. I would prefer to avoid unnecessary correspondence from this quarter in future. As for Ellena, she will not begrudge you a happy resolution to your troubles.”

“Are our troubles resolved, though? Your parents will resent every decision you have made in this regard.”

“My parents have chosen their path and we have chosen ours. If these diverge beyond what they can tolerate, then that, too, is their choice. I will no longer be hamstrung by their expectations of us. You are my future, Jilly. You and our children. That is enough for me.”

Jilly subsided into his arms once more. Lewis savored the heat of her body against his.

“Ahem.” Sam raised the shears and made a clipping motion in the air. “This shrub ain’t going to trim itself.”

“Oh, all right !” Jillian huffed. “We’ll just have to take the carriage to the inn and continue our conversation there.”

“I can think of other things I’d like to do rather than talk.” Lewis’s words breathed hotly into Jillian’s ear.

“Ah, yes,” she agreed, winking coyly at him, “I supposed you’d like to sleep. You must be very tired.”

“You know,” Lewis answered, “I seem to have found my second wind…”