When the door closed, Ryder said to his wife, "I saw the Virgin Bride last night."
Sophie stared at him. "You saw the ghost? Truly? But gentlemen don't believe in her, that's what Douglas and you are always saying."
"I was wrong," Ryder said. "She floated in our bedchamber last night, visiting, I imagine, for she supposedly never strays from Northcliffe Hall. Anyway, she smiled down at me, and said something, but not really, you know, but I heard her words clear and calm in my mind."
"Yes, that was exactly how it was with me. What did she tell you?"
"She said, even as she glittered and shimmered all over me, that we had the possibility of having fourteen children. She said it was all a matter of me stiffening my resolve if we were to have these children in this lifetime."
"You are going to suffer for that, Ryder, you surely are."
"You promise?" He kissed his wife, and knew such pleasure that he wanted to yell with it. He released her, and locked the door. He methodically stoked the fire, then turned back to his wife. "The Virgin Bride must know what she's about. The good Lord knows you women believe every supposed word she doesn't say. Very well then. Let's get to it, madam."