Chapter 31
Until they were married, Lady Catherine would not give permission for them to share the same room, but she did place Angelina in a room connected directly to Richard’s through a single door.
She ignored the fact that they spent every night together and only separated in the morning to return to their own rooms.
A wedding was planned for the New Year and Angelina and Lady Catherine were kept busy making preparations for the event.
Invitations had been hand delivered to all their family and friends.
Angelina and Lady Catherine had been to the village together on more than one occasion, and Angelina felt certain Lady Catherine told Richard about some of the lovely items they saw, because they always seemed to end up in her possession before another day or two had passed.
Richard had bought her a beautiful pendant with matching earrings, and a bolt of the finest silk in a deep purple, along with ribbons and trim to match.
He’d purchased a hand carved wooden box for her to keep her trinkets in, and he smiled proudly when he saw how touched she was by his gifts.
Angelina was settling in perfectly to the Jefford household, having learned a lot from Lady Catherine about what was expected of her. Richard and Angelina also sat his mother down one afternoon and explained how they’d met. Her eyes grew wide at their amazing tale.
“The city of San Francisco sounds like a place that I’d like to see,” Lady Catherine announced, after hearing descriptions of the city’s beauty and all the wondrous things that could be found there.
“You’d like to time travel?” Angelina asked in surprise.
“Yes. I believe it would be a great adventure.” Lady Catherine sat up straighter in her chair, gazing up at the ceiling as if she could spy San Francisco up there. “Anything is possible, as you always say, my dear.”
Angelina giggled. The more she’d gotten to know her, the more Angelina appreciated the strength Lady Catherine must have shown to deal with her husband Matthew for all those years.
She was as much a free spirit as Angelina, but they both had to keep that secret when they were around anyone who didn’t know them well.
They had talked long into the night, discussing San Francisco, time travel, the wedding and many other topics.
Lady Catherine must have been exhausted, as she began to yawn heavily.
“I’m off to bed, my dears. I will see you in the morning. ”
She left them alone by the fire. Richard placed some cushions on the floor, and they abandoned their chairs to wrap themselves in each other’s arms on the floor. Angelina rested her head on Richard’s shoulder and sighed contentedly.
“Happy?” he asked.
“Very,” she replied.
“Angelina, I don’t think I have ever properly asked you to marry me. I just assumed we would be together.” He lifted her chin so he could see her face.
“I always assumed we’d be together too. It seemed only natural that we would be married.”
Richard tucked a finger beneath her chin and turned her face gently to his. His dark eyes were filled with love. “Angelina, will you marry me?”
“There was never a need to ask, but now that you have, my answer is yes.” She kissed him soundly, which stretched into another kiss and then another.
“We should go upstairs, my love,” Richard said, his voice husky with desire. He took her hand and helped her up from the floor.
“You know, it’s a good thing we’re getting married soon, Richard.” She had started up the stairs and turned to face him.
He gazed up at her expectantly. “And why is that, love?”
“Because there’s going to be a little baby Jefford joining the family in about eight months.”
Richard stopped on the bottom stair, his mouth agape. “What?”
Angelina smiled happily. “I’m pregnant.”
Richard lifted her from the stairs and twirled her around. Angelina had never seen him so animated. “I’m going to be a father!” he shouted.
“Shhh … We can’t tell anyone yet. Remember, we’re not married.
It has to be our little secret for the time being.
” Angelina touched her finger to his nose and giggled.
“I never believed this would happen for me. I always thought I would live my life alone and now I’ve got you and your family, and our baby to be. I’m a lucky girl.”
Richard swept her up into his arms and began to walk up the stairs. “No, my love, ’tis I who am the lucky one.”