Christmas, two years later
“Dad!”
William Darcy stretched and frowned. How were they capable of yelling in unison without planning or practice?
He picked up his phone from the nightstand and grimaced. Five-forty-five? “Bugger off!”
A bubbling laugh came from behind him, and he couldn’t help but grin as he rolled over and wrapped an arm around his wife of one year. “What’s so funny, Elizabeth?”
“You. As if you don’t wake up every day at this time.”
His hand ran over the swell of her stomach and settled just below her belly button.
A jab to his palm made him sigh into her neck.
“That’s because I run the company. I have to set a good example, even if I would prefer to laze about in this bed all day with you.
” He would prefer to be doing just about anything with her.
“However, Darcy Publishing is closed for the holiday, and I would like my lie-in. They turned seven this year and obviously, need to learn patience. They can wait for an hour to open their gifts. Besides, I would love to open mine first.”
“Would you?” She rolled over to face him. “But you don’t even know what I’ve gotten you.” Lord, but she was the most beautiful sight he had ever seen, her eyes soft and her curls tousled from sleep. He would never tire of waking to such a vision.
He pulled her to him, drawing her leg over his hip, before his fingers began to tug at the buttons of her candy cane pijama top. “The most perfect gifts are not under the tree. They’re right here in my arms and probably waking up Mrs. R. as we speak.”
“Poor Mrs. R. We’ll have to give her a raise between this and another child to mind.”
“Don’t let her fool you. She loves it. She can’t wait for this one to be born.
” It was another girl, and he couldn’t have been more excited.
A little Elizabeth running up and down the halls with her auburn curls trailing behind her.
He was more than ready for the sleepless nights and nappies to go with the baby giggles and toothless grins.
Elizabeth pulled him in for a long kiss before she released him. “Happy Anniversary, Mr. Darcy.”
“Happy Christmas, Mrs. Darcy.”