Ever After (Unfinished Fairy Tales #3)(78)
“Three months.” I sigh. “I can’t wait. Even though we’re living together, there’s something missing. You’re right, Edward, it’s not enough. I want to tell all those girls salivating over you…”
“Salivating?” He interrupts, and chokes down a laugh. “What do you take me for, a pot of beef stew?”
“You smell better,” I say with a flirtatious wink. Teenager Kat wouldn’t have dared to flirt like this, but Adult Kat could.
“Always you have the most amusing manners of speaking.” He tucks a wisp of my hair behind my ear. “I cannot wait until we are officially together, either. For now, let us be patient.”
* * *
I visit Poppy the very day after the decree nisi is granted, as I know she’ll want the details. We laugh and cry together; she’s excited for me, though we’re also busy minding the children. Sébastien has developed a liking for chewing bits of paper and cloth, and Poppy already had the doctor twice when he had a stomachache. She also misses Mr. Davenport, who rarely comes home until late night, and sometimes spends the night poring over material. Looks like lawyers in Athelia aren’t much different to those in our world.
“Doesn’t Mr. Davenport have any time off?”
“Not since I hired a maid to help me with the twins." Poppy snatches a dirty rag out of Sébastien's chubby hands. "He has a big case next week; I’ll try my best to convince him take a break after it.”
“You deserve a break as well,” I say firmly, as I watch Little Katherine tottering across the floor, making sure she doesn’t bang into a table leg. “Here is what we do in our world. Sometimes, when a couple grows apart when both of them are super busy, they will try to schedule a date night.”
Poppy stares at me, as though I am speaking in a foreign language. “Date… night? But Jonathan prefers to stay home at night.”
“It doesn’t have to be at night. Basically, it means you spend more time with your husband. Just the two of you. It means you should rediscover your attachment to each other. You can go out and have dinner, see a movie… I mean, a concert or play. Take a stroll in the park, or even challenge him to a croquet game. When was the last time you beat him in croquet?”
Poppy is bouncing Sébastien on her lap; now she pauses. “I...don’t know. We barely have enough time, and after I was pregnant with the twins, we’ve never had a single game.”
“Then you must take time off. Both of you.” Little Katherine has tripped on a ball and is sitting on the ground, but she doesn’t seem the least hurt. She’s gurgling with laughter and beating on the floor with her tiny fists. Really, she’s the cutest baby I’ve ever seen.
“I’ll try.” Poppy places Sébastien in the crib. “But what about the babies? I have to convince him to leave the babies with the maids first.”
“Bring them to Henry’s house. We’ll look after them, while you have fun with Mr. Davenport. Surely he can trust Sébastien and Little Katherine with us. Even if Edward isn’t home, there’ll be Bertram, Amelie, Cook, and Thomas around. The five of us will be able to handle the babies. I guarantee they will be completely spoiled.”
Poppy brightens. “That would be lovely, Kat. But aren’t you busy? You always have a full schedule.”
“That was when I was princess. No one is inviting me to dinners or balls because I’m a commoner, and Edward can’t let me help him with state affairs yet. Trust me, I’d love to have Sébastien and Little Katherine, and I know the others will also take excellent care of them.”
“I’ll talk to Jonathan, but I’m sure he won’t object.” Poppy seizes my hands, looking excited. Her hands are sticky from handling baby food, but I don’t pull away. “Kat, I’ve always wanted to say this: you are the best princess our country can ask for, and those who say His Highness is blind should be ashamed of themselves.”
“Thanks.” I smile at her, touched by her loyalty.
“When His Highness marries you again, let me know. I missed your first wedding; I want to be present for the second one.”
“Of course.” Last time at St. James Cathedral, half of the time I was trying to act happy when I knew I’d have to return to America, while the other half was spent in total confusion, due to my memory loss. This time, I’ll be sure to enjoy every minute of the ceremony.
38
Kat
The Hungry Boar is only about half-filled when I enter the main room. I used to squeeze past tables, but today I easily navigate across the room towards a corner where Miss Cavendish and Elle are sitting. Since the Education Act is passed, the Children’s Education League has been dissolved, but we, as the founders of Princess College, need to congregate and discuss how and when it’s best to re-open the school. The ownership is still under Katriona Bradshaw’s name, but it will be officially transferred to me when I marry Edward again.
On the wall hangs a blackboard on which prices of the drinks offered are written. I wince; a mug of their signature beer costs three times than its normal price. In the end, I decide on a glass of barley water. I can afford the beer (the pouch of gold that Edward gave me remains more than half-full), but I can’t justify the cost when it isn’t for basic necessities.