Chapter 8
Reese woke to find Jem washing up for the day, already in his breeches but shirtless. She rolled over to enjoy the view and gave a satisfied hum.
At the noise, he turned to face her. Seeing she was awake, Jem smirked and held out his arms from his sides, his head tilted, waiting for her approval.
“You know I love watching you dress,” she said.
“Which is why I’m a dedicated gym attendee.” Then he picked up the small box from the dresser. “Isn’t morning the best time to take this?”
Reese sat up, fully awake now. She must have moved too fast, because the room swirled for a moment, followed by nausea. Before she could move to retrieve a bowl, though, it passed as quickly as it had come.
“You okay?” Jem asked, sitting on the edge of the bed.
“Just nervous.” She leaned against his shoulder. “I know we haven’t planned for this to happen yet.”
“You say that, but I can tell you’re excited.” He pressed his head to hers. “I am too. Life with you is always an adventure, and if we’re being blessed with a baby now, we’ll face it together like we have everything else.”
Dang, how she loved this man. Reese pulled back and kissed him, savoring the taste and feel of him, loving the racing of his heart against her own. But then the pressure of her full bladder reminded her of what they were supposed to do, and she released him.
“Let’s find out.”
He helped her into her robe and peeked out the door. They hurried to the floor’s water closet.
Reese slipped in but poked her head out. “Just know this is going to be awkward.”
“Well, if you need any help...” Jem teased.
Reese burst out laughing. “There’s hardly room in here for me.” She made sure the gown was all inside before closing the door.
She was glad about the improvements to the sewer system since her last visit. Catherine must be responsible for that too. After some maneuvering, Reese finally got the job done. Waiting for the test results, she washed her hands and adjusted her clothes.
Jem gave an impatient rap. “Sweetheart, I’m dying out here.”
She grabbed the tube and stepped into the hallway. “Me too, but the box said it takes three to five minutes.”
His shoulders slumped. “I guess it could be worse.” Jem glanced up at the hallway’s gas lamps. “Can we even see it in here?”
“The light from our bedroom window would be better,” Reese said.
Once inside their room again, Jem pulled her into his arms.
“Distract me while we wait,” she pleaded, her trembling hands cold.
Jem hummed the song they had danced to at their wedding. As they rocked slowly back and forth, her nerves eased. She counted the seconds until she reached one hundred and eighty.
“Can we check it now?” she asked, and Jem stopped.
“Heck, yeah.”
They moved to stand directly beside the window. When she lifted her hand, he cupped it, and they turned the test over together. Reese could hardly breathe, and she felt a little dizzy.
But they had their answer in two unmistakable lines.
“Yes!” Jem cried and kissed her, but Reese’s knees turned wobbly. He placed a supporting arm around her. “Hey, it’s okay. You are happy, aren’t you?”
“Yes.” She leaned into him, resting a hand over her abdomen. “Can you believe it? You’re going to be a daddy.”
“Oh, no!” Jem dramatically placed a palm to his forehead. “That means I’ll be married to a mother.”
Laughing, Reese jabbed him in the ribs and returned the test to her pocket. “Ellen will wig out for us.”
They had spent the morning in a kind of stunned, happy mood, catching each other’s eye at breakfast and looking quickly aside before their faces gave them away.
Following lunch, Reese found herself at loose ends.
The men went out shooting with Gareth to provide game birds for Christmas baskets being prepared for the tenants.
While Reese appreciated the need, she had no desire to witness the actual hunting.
Ellen had gone down for a nap, so when Catherine mentioned checking on Beatrice, Reese offered to go.
She climbed the stairs to Beatrice’s room, contemplating their odd connection. Why had she watched Reese? Nellie had a fair number of time travelers each year, so what about Reese had drawn Beatrice’s attention? It seemed important to check in on the older woman and get to know her better.
As Reese approached the door, she heard a male voice. She hesitated, not sure about intruding, but the door stood slightly ajar, so she peeked through the gap.
George was seated in a chair beside Beatrice’s bed, a book in his hands. A maid sat discreetly in the corner with her needlework, providing propriety. The portrait rested against the wall nearby, but Beatrice’s attention was entirely on George.
“...and the hero realized,” he said, his voice warm and surprisingly rich for a man his age, “that what he had been seeking had been there all along.”
“That was lovely.” Beatrice looked better, with more color in her cheeks as she sat against the pillows. She was actually smiling. “I must confess I lost track of the plot, though, as I was distracted by the fine reader.”
Her face colored, and George’s ears went pink to match. Reese fanned herself at the charming romance happening in front of her.
He coughed. “It’s a wonderful story. Would you like me to begin the chapter over?”
“Perhaps tomorrow.” Beatrice gave him a soft smile. “I’m afraid I am a bit tired.”
“Of course.” George closed the book but didn’t rise immediately. “You look much better, and I hear you even ate some luncheon.”
“I did. And I could taste it properly too. After the incident...” Beatrice’s breath caught. “Everything was so muted, but today I feel almost normal.”
“I’m so glad to hear it. I’ve been worried about you.”
At the deep concern in his tone, Beatrice’s hand shifted on the coverlet, and George met hers halfway. Their fingertips barely touched.
“You have shown me such kindness,” Beatrice whispered.
“Let me assure you, my dear, that there is nowhere else I would rather be.”
Not wanting to intrude further into what was obviously a private moment, Reese stepped away from the door.
Maybe it was her own joy about the baby, but seeing Beatrice and George together was making Reese emotional.
She hoped these two people, who had both gone through so much, could find something precious with each other.
As she headed downstairs, she nearly collided with Evangeline.
“Goodness, Clarisse, you startled me!” the older woman said, putting a hand over her heart. “I was about to visit my sister. Have you seen her?”
“I have.” Reese grinned. “She looks great today. George was reading to her.”
“This makes me so happy.” Evangeline blinked rapidly. “He has been wonderful with her. So patient.”
“More than patient, I think...” Reese trailed off, wondering if she was overstepping.
“I must say,” Evangeline said, the corner of her mouth curving up, her expression turning pleased, “I believe, with the help of God, that my sister may yet find happiness.”
“I pray you’re right,” Reese said. “Beatrice mentioned being tired, so if you wish to see her, you may want to do it before she naps.”
“Excellent suggestion.” The older woman patted Reese’s arm. “I will join you in a few minutes in the parlor for tea while we wait for the men to return. I would love to speak to you about the future.”
She swept away with grace Reese could never hope to duplicate.
With Beatrice’s improvement, they were all in a good mood that evening. When everyone left the dining table together, rather than the gentlemen staying behind to have drinks and discuss important things that “simple-minded” women wouldn’t understand, Jem glanced at Reese.
She and Catherine both wore satisfied smiles. It was a tradition Gareth had broken after Catherine came into his life. Surprisingly, the Colonel didn’t complain, so he must have taken enough meals at Kellworth to be used to the earl’s peculiarities now that he was married.
They gathered in the drawing room, and Jem pulled Reese over to a loveseat. He wondered if they would spend the evening playing cards, something the guests at Twickenham had done a lot. But Ellen had other things in mind.
“Shall we start with Forfeits?” she asked, clapping her hands in excitement. “It’s a lovely game for learning each other’s secrets.”
Jem exchanged a wary glance with Reese, but she tilted her head and arched a brow. There was something catching in Ellen’s enthusiasm.
“Brilliant.” Michael leaned forward, his eyes bright with mischief. “The rules are simple.”
“Simple indeed,” Ellen agreed, then glanced at Evangeline.
“Grandmama, I am most sorry your sister is not well enough to join us. Perhaps tomorrow.” Ellen turned to the group.
“Each player must offer a small item as their forfeit. We will take turns drawing one and assign a challenge to the owner of the item. It could be anything: recite a poem, sing a song, or perform a silly task.”
Gareth groaned, but Catherine slid her arm through his. “This is a game that builds humility.” He merely responded with a flat look.
Jem chuckled. “So, it’s about forcing top-lofty people to do embarrassing tasks. This should be fun.”
“Until it’s you,” Reese teased.
The guests placed items into the basket Ellen held. Jem slipped in his pocketknife, while Reese pulled a silver hairpin from her updo.
“It’s giving me a headache anyway,” she said, rubbing the back of her head and letting some curls cascade down her back. Jem massaged her neck.
Ellen held the basket out to her brother. Gareth added a monogrammed handkerchief.
“Grandmama,” Ellen said, “you will choose our first forfeit.”
Evangeline immediately selected the Colonel’s and turned to him. “Your task shall be to... recite a favorite verse of poetry.”
Looking thoughtful, he rose to his feet. “I believe I will share with you a verse by Lord Byron which always made me think of Lady Evangeline.”
There be none of Beauty’s daughters
With a magic like thee;
And like music on the waters
Is thy sweet voice to me:
When, as if its sound were causing
The charmed ocean’s pausing,
The waves lie still and gleaming,
And the lulled winds seem dreaming.
“Oh, my.” Evangeline’s eyes glistened, her hands fluttering around her throat.
“Those two really should get married,” Jem whispered to Reese.
“Yes. They’re adorable, and they’ve waited long enough for each other.”
The Colonel chose George’s forfeit and had him imitate an animal. Michael’s grandfather had everyone laughing at his monkey antics. Evangeline also had to recite a poem that appeared to have meaning for the Colonel.
Jem caught Gareth’s eye and shot the older couple a questioning glance. The earl merely arched his brows. Jem decided they needed encouragement. They were well into their sixties, after all.
When Ellen had to sing, it took a moment for Jem to recognize it as Home, Sweet Home. And then Reese was harmonizing with her. By the time Ellen finished, everyone had joined in.
“Wonderful. You know it too!” Ellen said happily.
“And Clarisse, you have a lovely singing voice.” Evangeline studied Reese thoughtfully.
She squirmed beside Jem, and he wondered what the older woman had in mind. Some other form of entertainment?
“Your challenge is to sing a song from America,” Evangeline finally said.
“Fine, but I don’t have a solo voice like Ellen. I’m better at singing in groups.” Reese shifted on the loveseat, giving Jem a sly grin, and he knew what she wanted to do.
“No, my love,” he pleaded.
But she turned to the others. “Jem has a decent singing voice too, as I’m sure you noticed.
” When he tried to argue, Reese shook her head and held up a finger.
“He’s just shy about singing alone, but he won’t be if he sings with me.
” She leaned over and pressed her lips to his, lingering, then whispered, “Please?”
To the side, the Colonel grumbled, “Evidently, all Americans dispense with propriety and decorum. It is so unbecoming.”
“If you only knew, old friend.” Gareth chuckled but said nothing more. Was the earl thinking of how surprised he had been during his trip to the future? Modern London was full of public displays of affection. It must have been quite a shock at first, but Catherine had obviously modernized him.
For Reese, Jem wore his best martyred expression and heaved out a sigh. “Anything for the love of my life.”
She put on a pleased smile before singing the opening line of Yankee Doodle. Jem jumped in with enthusiasm. Catherine laughed and joined them.
“What was that song?” the Colonel asked.
“I believe it was from the American Revolution.” Gareth narrowed his eyes and tried to look disapproving, but he was fighting back a smile.
Ellen turned to the earl and gave him a challenge to imitate the most pretentious member of the House of Lords, which Gareth did well enough to have the locals roaring. He then called upon Catherine to tell a ghost story, reminding Jem that it used to be a Christmas practice.
“Maybe we should bring back ghost stories in our Christmas traditions,” he whispered to Reese.
“I think it would be fun,” she said.
Jem was about to ask, but Catherine began her story, which had a lame ending and had all of them groaning. She then passed it off to Michael with a charades forfeit and gave him a word. He turned out to be good at it, and Jem guessed it first.
“Excellent,” Michael said. “And now it’s your turn. With your history, I think your forfeit should be to give us a sample of the different accents you can do.”
Jem hadn’t expected that, but he rose to his feet. In his various roles, he had needed to learn several, plus he had practiced his British accent during visits here. It was fun to use them after so long.
“We must do this again,” Ellen said.
Catherine signaled the maid to bring in refreshments. The Colonel started a game of whist with Evangeline. George readily joined them and convinced Gareth to partner him.
Later, when everyone moved to disperse for the night, Ellen said, “I nearly forgot. As you know, Clarisse, we will make a visit to the cottiers. Tomorrow, we plan to prepare baskets for them.”
“Yay!” Reese’s face lit up. “I’m excited to see everyone again.”
As they climbed the stairs to their room, her hand drifted unconsciously to her abdomen.
“Hard to believe, isn’t it?” Jem murmured.
“That we’re going to be parents? That Beatrice is recovering?” Reese gave a soft laugh. “It’s all a bit much.”
Jem tilted his head. “A good much, though.”
“The best much.” She sighed and squeezed his arm as they entered their room.