"My Archie," said Lady Sanders with a sigh. "He simply adores me."
Closing her eyes, Alyssa tilted her head back. "I see..."
"... a husband who is most displeased with his new wife."
At the sound of Ian's voice, Alyssa sat upright. "Ian," she exclaimed, rising from her chair to press a kiss onto his cheek. "I thought you were enjoying a bit of archery with Peter."
"I was... until my grandfather informed me of your pastime." Looking around the room, Ian smiled at the ladies. "Would you mind if I had a moment alone with my bride?"
Within a matter of minutes, the room cleared, leaving Ian alone with Alyssa. "I thought you'd put away your crystal ball. After Covington became obsessed with your gift and then Jennings tried to use you for his advantage, I thought you understood why it is dangerous for you to tell fortunes," he said firmly.
"I fully understand, Ian. But this was different. The ladies and I were merely amusing ourselves."
"Let me assure you, Alyssa, I would not find it amusing at all if someone were to take your fortunes to heart and suddenly wish to claim you for their own personal seer."
"It's sweet of you to worry about me, Ian, but you must trust me, darling; my fortunes were quite ridiculous."
He looked skeptical.
Laughing, Alyssa sat down again and began to run her hands along the crystal ball. "Shall I tell your fortune, Ian?"
Taking the chair across from her, Ian lounged against the wooden seat. "I do hope my future holds many, many days spent with you."
"Ah, but you don't need magical powers to know that," she remarked lightly. "What do I see here?' Leaning closer, Alyssa peered into the crystal ball. "First there was Fortune's Lady, then there was Fortune's Bride,..." She met fan's gaze. "... and soon there will be Fortune's Baby."
The look upon her husband's face was priceless. "Fortune's Baby?" Ian rasped, before slipping onto his knees in front of her.
The reverent note in his voice touched her. "Yes," she whispered as she reached out to stroke Ian's hair back from his forehead. "I expect our child will arrive early next summer."
Enfolding her in his arms, Ian pressed his face against her still flat stomach. "I adore you, Alyssa, and I shall be a good rather to our child."
"I know that," she said without hesitation, running her fingers through his hair. For a long while, they sat wrapped around each other, rejoicing in the moment. "
Ian lifted his head. "I only have one request, Alyssa."
"Anything," she said softly.
"Don't tell my grandfather until he notices." Ian's grin was pure mischief.
"You do enjoy to torment that poor old man."
"Poor old man?" Ian asked. "Are we speaking about the same person?"
Alyssa began to chuckle. "You can be so very wicked at times, Ian."
"Ah, yes," he murmured, leaning forward to kiss her neck. "But you enjoy my wicked ways so very much."
Their laughter mingled together... and filled their home.
* * * THE END * * *
Fortune's Bride Page 23
