Chapter Seven. #2
Benedict ran a hand over my back as I shuffled backwards and leaned my head back against the bath.
“I hate being sick,” I complained.
“I don’t blame you; it’s not pleasant,” Benedict replied as he picked me up from the floor and carried me back into the bedroom. After tucking me in, he headed downstairs to do the morning routine.
This bug needed to do one, and as soon as possible.
Benedict
“Is Mariah okay?” Rina asked, concerned, on seeing me enter the bar.
“She’s picked up a bug,” I replied. “She’ll be fine.”
“A bug that only makes her ill in the morning?” Rina asked with a note in her voice. I snapped my head towards her, wondering what she was getting at.
“Pardon?” I asked a little icily. I didn’t like people questioning my care towards my wife.
“Benedict, Mariah is sick in the mornings,” Rina said pointedly and was distracted when a child shouted. “Excuse me.” She hurried away.
Stunned, I stared after her. Sick in the mornings. Morning sickness!
“Cat!” I roared as I headed towards the office.
“Benedict, one does not bellow at a lady like that!” Cat scolded, appearing.
“Is Mariah expecting?” I demanded.
“How rude!” Cat exclaimed and began to fade.
I ground my teeth and took a deep breath. “How are you today, Cat?”
“I am fine. However, The Black Cat has a blocked gutter.”
Momentarily, I was distracted. The upkeep of the inn was something I took very seriously. “Where?”
“The side wall where the sign hangs.”
“I’ll get a ladder later. Now, would you happen to know if Mariah is with child?” I asked patiently. Cat would know; she knew everything within these walls.
“There is life within her,” Cat said obliquely and disappeared.
I sat down heavily in my chair. Mariah was pregnant.
This would mean the world to her. I was going to be a father.
A wealth of emotions rushed through me. I felt weak as a sudden rush of love washed over me.
A smile crossed my lips as I finally felt the emotion my brothers had.
The joy and fear of suddenly being responsible for a child.
The Norton line would continue through my bloodline, which was incredibly amazing.
Now I just had to get Mariah to do a test without upsetting her, especially after I informed her not to do any more. That had come back to bite me.
I heard laughter and saw our guests outside having a snowball fight and building a snowman.
Cat watched them from the shadows, a smile on her face as she took in their joy.
I smiled in return. Cat loved having happy guests, and this would strengthen her.
Now I had to face my own and get Mariah to take a pregnancy test.
◆◆◆
“No.”
I winced. That had been adamant. Mariah crossed her arms in bed and glowered at me.
“Darling—”
“No.”
Mariah’s bottom lip jutted out, and she looked so adorable I almost laughed. The pain in her eyes stopped me.
“Mariah, I wouldn’t ask this unless I was convinced,” I said.
“I won’t do it, Benedict. I’ve been disappointed too many times.”
With that, Mariah rolled over and presented her back. Well, now, this was a dilemma.
Mariah
“Stop being so stubborn, girl. It’s Christmas Eve, a time for miracles.”
“I don’t believe in miracles,” I retorted.
Lady Catherine let out an unladylike snort. “Yes, you do, or Benedict wouldn’t be here.”
I opened my mouth to argue and snapped it shut. Damn her! That was a good argument. I settled for glowering at her.
“That won’t work on me; better men than you have tried. Take a leap of faith,” Lady Catherine ordered.
“I don’t have any.”
“Should I tell Lucifer that? Maybe inform him that everything he did was a waste of time?”
I snapped upright. Most of the world believed Lucifer to be the devil. I’d learned that he wasn’t a fallen angel, nor was he the devil. I rather liked him.
“That’s mean.”
“I don’t care. Get up and be the woman worthy of a Norton. It’s been a week. How long can you stick your head in the sand?” Lady Catherine demanded.
“It’s a bug,” I insisted.
Another unladylike snort echoed through the air. “That’s some virus. Take the test.”
“No.”
“Mariah Norton, you are not worthy of your name. No spouse of a Norton would ever willingly be a coward. I know you’ve suffered pain and disappointment, but I can guarantee you won’t this time. Benedict is turning himself inside out. I refuse to let my descendent suffer.”
Shame hit me, but grief from my previous hopes swamped me. Deep down, I knew this wasn’t a virus. But I couldn’t allow myself to hope again. Lady Catherine made a disappointed noise and shook her head.
“Where has your courage gone, girl? Never believed you’d allow Benedict to experience such uncertainty and stress. You are a disappointment to my lineage.”
With that stinging remark, Lady Catherine blinked out.
Well, damn, I got told.
Benedict
I entered the apartment, trying to figure out how to get Mariah to take the damn test. She had completely dug her heels in, not willing to risk her heart.
This was something I’d not foreseen. Her fear of not being pregnant was causing a rift between us.
Cat was adamant that Mariah was carrying a new life, but I couldn’t convince her.
Over twelve months of being let down had crippled her.
Mariah wasn’t in the kitchen or the living room. I frowned. Surely she wasn’t still in bed. I checked the other rooms and couldn’t find her. Where the hell was she?
“Mariah!” I called.
She wasn’t downstairs in the bar, as I’d just walked through it. I heard a faint rustle and headed for the bathroom. I opened the door and saw Mariah sitting on the toilet.
“Oh God!” I exclaimed and began shutting the door.
“Don’t,” Mariah whispered.
Averting my eyes, I spoke, “Mariah, this isn’t appropriate.”
“I’m dressed, Benedict,” she replied with a hint of humour.
“Thank heavens.” I turned back to her. “Why are you hiding in here?” I asked.
“Um.”
I waited and finally spoke. “Mariah?”
“I took a test,” Mariah finally said and held her hand out. I reached out and took the item. A long, thin white plastic tube. In it was a pink word. ‘Pregnant.’
“You took the test,” I finally said as a sense of relief swept through me.
“Yes, it’s positive.”
“That’s good news, isn’t it?” I asked. Mariah wasn’t reacting as I’d thought she would. Surely, she should be excited?
“I’m pregnant,” she muttered.
“Yes, we’re going to have a baby. Have you changed your mind?” I demanded as a cold feeling settled in my stomach.
“I’m pregnant. A tiny Benedict is growing inside me,” Mariah whispered.
I finally realised Mariah was in shock. She wasn’t disappointed or upset; she was over the moon but didn’t know how to express it. Gently, I pulled Mariah to her feet and moved her out of the bathroom. Once free, I picked her up and swung her around.
Mariah threw her head back and laughed. “We’re going to have a baby.”
“Yes, we are!” I exclaimed and placed her back on her feet. Kissing her soundly, I poured my joy and love into the kiss.
“This is going to be a perfect Christmas,” I said.
Mariah beamed at me. “You’ve no idea.”
I frowned at her. “What have you done?”
There was a commotion outside, which surprised me. Mariah nodded toward the window.
“I realised how selfish I was being. All those years of being apart and over three hundred Christmases lost. How could I force you to miss another with your family?”
Down below, I gaped as my brothers and Cee climbed out of Terry’s wagon. Lucian stared up at me and bent down. With a wicked grin, the Earl of Castleton threw a snowball at me. It splattered on the window as my siblings and their spouses laughed.
“I love you. Let’s go tell them the good news!” I said, grabbing Mariah’s hand and hurrying down to greet them.