Page 114 of The School Mistress (Emerson Pass Historicals 1)

“You’ll each take one of my arms, like this.” I tucked their small hands inside my elbows. “And then we just walk toward your father.”

“And no one will be looking at anyone but Quinn,” Alexander said. “You can trust me on that.”

The little boys each nodded their heads and exchanged proud looks with each other. “We will do it,” Flynn said.

Cymbeline stomped her foot. “What about us? We want a job.”

“You and your sisters are to wait at the front of the church with Papa,” I said. “Make sure he doesn’t run away at the last minute.”

Both Fiona and Cymbeline giggled.

“He won’t run away,” Josephine said. “And you can trust me on that.”

Chapter 36

Quinn

* * *

That night of our wedding, I lay in Alexander’s arms for the first time. Given my inexperience, I’d been surprisingly calm about the expected coupling. I’d wanted only to be with him. He’d taken his time with me, gentle and courteous, and had promised that it would be better the second time. He was right.

Nearing 3:00 a.m. and physically spent, I nestled into the crook of his arm.

“I had no idea it would be like this,” I said as I breathed in the scent of his skin.

“We’ll have many more nights like this one. My only desire is to give you everything you ever dreamed of.”

“You already have.” I ran my hand over his broad chest, marveling at the feel of him. It occurred to me that I was now allowed to touch him any time I wanted. I was his wife.

“Will you want a child of your own?” he asked.

“I already have five of them. They’re mine in here.” I tapped my chest. “They’ve owned my heart since the very first time I saw them.”

He chuckled and pulled me tighter against his hard frame. “I can only imagine what you must’ve thought—all of us staring at you like that.”

“I thought I’d died and gone to heaven with the angels. And I was right.”

“I’m not sure I’d describe them as angels,” he said.

“Won’t it be wonderful to watch them grow up? I wonder what kind of remarkable lives they’ll have.”

“They have more of a chance now,” he said. “With a mother to love them and nurture them.”

“Someday, they’ll have weddings and babies. Think of it, Alexander. All the fun we’ll have.”

“We might have more children, Quinn. You should prepare yourself for that.”

I smiled into the darkness. “I’d be pleased. But we’ll see what plans God has for us. He might think we have more than enough for one couple.”

“I’m a blessed man,” he said.

“And my mother and sister are here. I can’t imagine how any person could be happier than I am.”

“Did you see how Clive looked at your sister at dinner?” he asked. “I had to remind him she’s only sixteen.”

“Well, if he can wait a few years, who knows? Clive’s a good man.”

“I was thinking as I looked around our table tonight about the children Harley and Merry and Jasper and Lizzie will surely have. The thought of them all growing up together on my land warmed my heart. Someday our children and the others will have children of their own. Do you think our descendants will be as happy here as we are?”