Affairs of State(61)
“I suspect you can handle a lot more than one narrow-minded Limey, though I suppose I should stop calling them that if there’s going to be one in the family. Shall we invite him back in for dessert?”
“Yes.” She grinned. “Let’s do that.”
Ted opened the door to the balcony and called Simon back. He arrived with another woman on his arm—her mother.
Ariella gasped. “What kind of conspiracy is this?”
Ted Morrow kissed Ellie on both cheeks. “I asked Ellie to join us for coffee because I can’t stand to be away from her for more than a few minutes.”
Her mother was transformed from the pale and harried woman she’d first met in London. A soft jade-green dress hugged her girlish figure, and the light of passion shone in her green eyes. “And I feel the same way. It’s embarrassing for someone my age.” She blushed sweetly. Ted Morrow took her hand and led her to a chair right next to his. He seemed besotted with her. Ariella watched in astonishment.
“Did your father tell you how annoyed he was with me seeking his opinion before I asked for yours?” Simon slid his arm around her waist.
“Not really.” Heat rose through her as she felt his body through their clothing. “He told me not to blow what might be the love of a lifetime.”
“Excellent advice,” Simon murmured. His breath stirred the tiny hairs on her neck and sent shivers of desire running through her. “I hope you listened.”
“I did. Did someone mention dessert?” She pulled away from him and reached for the hand-written dessert menu. It felt embarrassing to be romantic in front of her parents.
Though come to think of it, they were getting rather romantic themselves. Ted held Ellie’s hands in his and they gazed into each other’s eyes as if the rest of the world didn’t exist.
“No, I don’t believe anyone did mention dessert, but we don’t want you starving, so let’s get the trolley brought in.” He smiled and looked at her belly.
Ariella’s eyes widened. Then she realized that everyone in the room knew her secret, so it wasn’t really a secret. “I am rather starving right now. Maybe there is something to the old wives’ tales.”
“Did you tell your dad whether you intend to marry me?”
“I did not.” Ariella scanned the menu. Then she looked up, trying to keep her expression neutral while her heart swelled with emotion. “Though I’m pretty close to making up my mind.”
“Torture is banned by the United Nations.” Simon’s imploring gaze made her want to laugh and touched her deeply at the same time.
She glanced at her parents, then tugged her eyes away quickly as they kissed each other softly on the lips, eyes closed in a rapture of togetherness. They’d lost twenty-eight years of happiness together, because they weren’t ready to commit all those years ago. Because the timing wasn’t right, they almost lost everything.
She drew in a long, slow breath, as conviction filled her heart, mind and lungs. “Yes, Simon Worth, I will marry you.”
Epilogue
Three months later
Ariella woke up to the familiar sight of Simon’s handsome face next to hers on the pillow in their shared bedroom in Whist Castle. He had scoffed at the notion that they should pretend to live apart until the wedding, and somehow the British public thought his honesty and disdain for tired etiquette was part of his charm. She’d been sharing his bed for a solid month now, since she’d finally packed up her D.C. apartment and her life in the States.
They hadn’t told anyone about the baby yet. Somehow it made sense to keep the secret until after the ceremony, so the wedding preparations had to be rushed. She still wasn’t showing, at least not in a way she couldn’t pass off as the aftereffects of a large meal.
Their bodies were pressed together almost from chin to ankle. Somehow she always wound up on his side of the bed in the morning. It would be embarrassing if he didn’t clearly enjoy it so much.
“Morning, gorgeous.” Simon’s husky voice sent a shiver of awareness through her.
“Same to you.” Helicopters buzzed outside the windows, sending adrenaline streaking through her veins. “Is it really our wedding day or is this just a long, fantastical dream?”
“I’m not sure.” He smiled, still resting on the pillow. “What do you think?”
She pretended to pinch herself. “I’m lying in a luxurious bed in a castle and getting ready to marry a prince. Sounds like a dream to me.”