Laszlo shook his head. ‘No. They were delighted. In fact, I think they thought I was quite lucky to catch you. And they love you already. Almost as much as I do.’ His face tightened, grew suddenly strained. ‘I just wish my grandmother was here. She so wanted to see me married and with a family of my own.’
He gave her an unsteady smile.
‘I’m warning you now. You think my grandfather was pushy about you taking the curator’s job? Just wait until my aunts hear that I’m married!’
‘Never mind your aunts. What about you? Do you want children?’
He grinned. ‘Yeah, I do. Loads. At least seven.’
‘Seven?’ she squeaked.
He nodded, suddenly serious. ‘One for every year we were apart,’ he murmured, tightening his grip around her waist.
She smiled. ‘I see. I suppose we should get started, then?’
He grinned. ‘Definitely! I’d like to be a father as soon as possible. Like in about nine months. Do you think that’s possible?’
She kissed him gently on the lips. ‘I can do it in seven.’
He looked at her blankly. ‘Seven? You mean nine.’
In reply, she took his hand and put it gently on her stomach. ‘No. I mean seven.’
He stared down at the slight bump of her belly. ‘Really?’
She nodded. ‘Really!’
Pulling her gently into his arms, he closed his eyes, too choked to speak. ‘Only another six to go,’ he whispered against her cheek—and then abruptly, he released her and took a step back, his face clouding over.
‘What is it?’ She stared at him anxiously.
He let out a long breath. ‘Everything moved pretty fast after you left. Papi and Rosa have moved into the cottage, but...’ He frowned. ‘As of tomorrow I’m going to be homeless.’
‘Oh,’ she said slowly. ‘Actually, this really is my last day at work. So, as of now, I’m unemployed.’
They stared at each other in silence, and then both of them burst out laughing.
‘For better for worse,’ he said softly.
She felt his gaze drift over her face. ‘For richer for poorer!’ she murmured.
He grinned, and then his smile faded. ‘Don’t worry. I’m not going to make you live in a trailer.’
‘I don’t mind—’ she began, but he shook his head, grimacing.
‘No. But I do.’ A faint flush coloured his cheeks. ‘I know I shouldn’t really say it, but I don’t really like living in trailers.’ He shivered. ‘They’re even draughtier than the castle!’
Prudence giggled.
Reaching down, he picked up her hand and fiddled with the ring on her finger. ‘I guess, with the pregnancy and everything, you’d like to live near your family?’
Frowning, she nodded slowly. ‘Actually, I am living w
ith them. They wanted to be there to help me when the baby comes.’
He stared at her anxiously. ‘And that’s what you still want, is it?’
Smiling weakly, Prudence leant against him and rubbed her cheek against his. ‘No. I want to live with my husband. But I do want to be near them.’ She sighed. ‘It’s such a shame. The cottage next door came up for sale and that would have been perfect. But it never even went on the open market. Apparently the buyer offered twice the asking price. I’m not sure why...’