Page 217 of Snowbound Surrender

She frowned at her husband. “We were not, but continue.”

Maxim laughed. “Did I mention there are servants here? Lots of servants. I had no idea that renouncing my title wouldencourage my extended family to give me such a large stipend, but they have, and it includes servants. I do not want you to do a thing while we wait for this baby.”

“Servants?” Meredith said with a frown. “Will any of them want to play with me?”

“You said no more secrets!” Anne said with a laugh. She could not help it. The entire thing was so ridiculous! How was it possible that the only daughter of a Kentish baronet could end up living in a palace in Russia?

“I said none that matter,” corrected Maxim. “Now, kiss me.”

Anne glorified in the feeling of his lips on hers, but blushed and pulled away as her father coughed loudly.

“Can I pick my own room?”

She laughed at Meredith, and then placed a hand on her stomach as her second daughter – or perhaps, her first son – kicked along with its sibling.

“You most certainly can,” said Maxim. “But remember, the baby will need its own room!”

He raised his voice as she darted away from Sir Thomas and ran through the gatehouse excitedly.

Her father moved towards them, and said gruffly, “You never mentioned this, Maxim. A palace. Servants. After your rejection by the Prince Regent, I was under the impression that you would be forced to work to earn your keep.”

Anne looked at her husband quickly, but he was not offended.

“My dear Sir Thomas,” he said gently. “I know I could never have bought you, you are too honourable for that. This way, you can be assured that you permitted me to marry your daughter for who I am, not what I am.”

It was all the reassurance Sir Thomas needed. After cupping his daughter’s cheek and smiling, he followed his granddaughter’s footsteps in the snow.

Anne sighed happily. “You know, this is one of the best secrets you could ever have kept from me.”

Maxim wrapped his arms around her. “It will be Christmas again soon. I will have to think about what to get you.”

She laughed. “I do not think I will have to worry – I have your present right here!”

Placing one of his hands on her stomach, they waited and then both grinned as their child kicked out at the world.

“You know, no matter what the world says, you are a Czarina to me,” he whispered.

Anne nodded. “I know, and I am perfectly happy to keep secrets from the outside world, not from each other.”

Maxim nodded, and leaned forward for another kiss. “Except, maybe, what I have got for you for Christmas…”