Something Old Rebecca Connolly (ink ebook reader .TXT) 📖

Lily shook her head slowly, more in wonder than in resignation. “Are you certain I am not living in a dream?”

He grinned at the question. “No, but I’m equally certain I don’t want to know the reality if this is one.” His grin faded into a thoughtful smile, his fingers still tracing absent patterns against her skin. “I would love to give you a child, you know. Several of them, if you wish. I’ve a great desire to be a father, though I would not compare my feelings with the beauty of your own. I would like to be the father who plays with his children on the floor rather than always demand they continue their studies. I’d like to explore tidepools with them and collect peculiar rocks or shells, perhaps. Read them stories in the nursery before bed, sing them silly songs that will never put them to sleep…”

Snickering at the idea, Lily rubbed the hand she held tenderly. “It sounds perfect.”

“I never had that,” he admitted as a furrow appeared in his brow. “My father was distant, which suited him. And us, I suppose, for we knew no better.”

“As was mine,” Lily whispered, though he would already know it.

Thomas’s eyes found hers once more, a new light entering in them. “We’ll do it differently, Lily. Our children will never want for our attention or our affection.”

She nodded eagerly. “They will always feel wanted for who they are, not simply that they exist.”

“They will marry for love,” he insisted. “Not connection.”

“We will ensure that they love their home and find comfort in their family.”

“They will laugh, and laugh often. And we will laugh with them.”

Silence settled between them, lingered as they stared at each other, as these new dreams rose between them, the brilliance of their unity something rare and unknown. Such sweet visions of their future, unlike anything Lily had foreseen but had always longed to attain. Could it be possible now? Could they love each other enough to bring it about, to build that family, and to bring those dreams into their lives? Could they live up to their new expectations?

“I never thought I’d have any of that,” Thomas admitted softly. “Or this. Or you.”

Lily could only shake her head, a faint trembling beginning within her chest.

Thomas rose from the table slowly, keeping a hold on her hand, and moved around the table to her. She turned toward him expectantly, though what she anticipated was slightly less clear.

He stood there a moment, looking down at her, expression unreadable. “Might I escort you back to bed, Mrs. Granger?”

A deep shiver cascaded down her spine, ending in the smallest toe of her left foot, which began to tingle. “I would like that very much, Mr. Granger,” she breathed, hardly able to give voice to the words.

He nodded, then bent to scoop her into his arms, making her gasp a startled laugh and link her arms around his neck.

“This is carrying me to bed,” she pointed out, “not escorting.”

He shrugged, making a face. “I didn’t care enough about the details to be particular. Besides, I’d like to carry my bride across the threshold of her room. I’ve been remiss in that duty.”

Lily smiled softly and leaned in to kiss him, her fingers toying with his hair a little. “Your bride would very much enjoy that, sir.”

“Good,” he exhaled roughly. “It would be deuced awkward if she didn’t.”

She rolled her eyes, leaning her head on his shoulder as they moved into the bedroom. “How did we go from such a beautiful moment to this ridiculousness?”

“I don’t find this ridiculous,” he protested, the hand at her waist beginning to tickle her sides. “What are you talking about?”

“Don’t you dare!” Lily cried as helpless giggles escaped, trying to writhe away from the hand, which only drew her closer to him. “Thomas, don’t!”

“No? Hmm.” He narrowed his eyes in speculation, pausing before the bed. “Then I suppose some other ridiculousness will have to do.”

Lily tried to catch her breath, relieved for a moment. “Oh?”

He nodded once. “Yes.” Without a word, he set her on the bed then scrambled up himself, trapping her within the cage of his body. “But what sort will I choose?”

Lily’s pulse began to gallop as she looked up at the most handsome, loving, charming man she had ever met. “What if I wish to choose, hmm?”

His eyes darkened, and his expression turned to one of interest. “Then I will, of course, defer to you, madam. I am a gentleman, after all.”

“So you are,” she agreed, sliding a hand back into his hair and drawing him closer without any resistance on his part. “Of that, there can be no question.”

And then her lips met his, and only ridiculousness transpired for quite some time.

Chapter Eighteen

The temptation to whistle like a sailor had never been so strong, and the occasion was entirely inappropriate for such a thing.

Down in a mine, one rarely whistled.

At least, that was the case at Wheal Dandrea, and Thomas did not feel the need to break tradition. But the temptation was there, nevertheless, along with a ridiculous smile that refused to abate. Anyone seeing him would have thought he had found his life’s mission and pleasure in mining, which was certainly not the case. He found satisfaction in the work, it was true, but the smile was for another reason entirely.

He had never known bliss such as this in his life with Lily. It had been nearly a week since the ball at Helwithin, and the intimacy and familiarity he had enjoyed with his wife since that night had become something that humbled him. Something he would forever treasure. Something he would never take for granted.

He knew what it was like to be distant and remote from his wife. He knew what a miracle it was to now feel as though she was the only person on earth who knew him best and