The week that followed was one of the oddest of her life. Garret spent every night with her, holding her in his arms. They made love gently. He kissed and caressed her body as if he was worshiping every inch. But during the day, she saw him seldom.
He sent her little treats.
Flowers, chocolates, cups of tea that had flowers that bloomed in them once the hot water was added from the pot. All sorts of diversions were arranged for her. She understood that he was trying to keep her happy, to find that contentment he was clearly not sure that she proclaimed to possess.
In the evening, when the sun went down and the drawing room was lit only by the golden glow of candles and firelight, he read to her.
Her eyes were tired, as was her whole body by that hour.
And he read to her novel after novel. His favorite was by an anonymous author he was certain was a lady! She was too witty, he said, to be anything but.
She’d laughed at that, knowing that he longed to please her.
When he spun those words into the air, he used all the voices, and she’d been astonished at how good he was. She’d laughed so many times at the antics of the couples and the characters and the parents on those pages that she’d begun to feel relief from her fears.
Yes, as she listened and chortled, she let her hands rest on her middle, but she had not grown at all. Only the slightest swelling. No one would be able to know yet, though she guessed she was over two months now, according to what the doctor had said.
She bathed in his attention when she had it and felt it keenly when he was not there.
The pregnancy, she realized, had made her more in tune with herself. She knew that some ladies might not feel that way, but she felt as if she understood herself better than she ever had.
Shecaredabout him. Dear God, after all his care… Shelovedhim.
Not only did her heart ache for the pain that he had suffered, but she wanted him to find happiness. But he had to choose to allow it to be so.
She often mused over it as the days passed into weeks.
So, when she went out alone for another walk, her sister still deep in her study of French poets, Catherine wandered down to the lake until she came to a small building tucked away under a weeping willow.
The willow danced in the breeze. Its leaves had already fallen, leaving finger-like branches to trail over the earth and protest and groan.
Underneath it was a small ivory-colored house of marble, and she knew immediately what it was.
Her heart caught in her throat.
It was a crypt.
Tears filled her eyes as she examined it from her discreet place.
Angels stood at the entrance. Their wings bent, pearl teardrops filled the eyes of the angels and they each bore in an arm the body of one beautiful, small child who was wrapped in a blanket. Each child had a hand outstretched up towards the angel’s face as if they could soothe the angel’s suffering.
At the feet of both angels was a young woman.
She reached up with her arms as if offering the babes to the angels, and yet the young woman did not look sad. She looked joyous and the angels, with their free arm, were embracing her. A trio embracing the infants.
Her heart leapt into her throat, and she could not breathe. Suddenly, her heart was pounding so hard that she longed to turn and run. Because she also realized that her husband was sitting before that crypt, staring up at the marble figures and his shoulders were shaking.
She had never seen him cry.
Of course, he was capable of it, but she did not think she would everseehim cry. The sounds that came out of him were harsh and guttural and intense. She wanted to go forward, and yet she was afraid.
Would he hate her in this moment for seeing him thus? She took a step back and a branch cracked beneath her feet. She winced, horrified that he might catch her.
His whole body tightened, and he whipped around. “Catherine,” he called, “what are you doing here?”
“I was going on a walk,” she rushed. “Forgive me. I did not mean to invade your privacy.”
“Don’t apologize,” he said, trying to hide the tear stains on his face by quickly wiping them away. “This place is as much yours as mine. This whole estate is yours. But I was not expecting anyone. I thought I had this place to myself.”