“My dear?”

Arthur smiled and reached out one hand for his wife, setting down his quill immediately. “My love. You brighten my day just by walking into the room.”

“Then I shall seek to do so all the more now that winter is upon us,” she murmured, as Arthur wrapped one arm around her waist and pulled her close, though he himself remained seated. “How is business?”

“Business is doing very well,” he told her, looking up into her eyes. “Have you had news?” His eyes went to the two letters she held in her hand and Abigail smiled at once, turning so she might sit on the edge of his desk. “I have two letters though I have three things to tell you. The first is from Isabella.”

“My sister wrote to you instead of to her own brother?” he asked, in mock disappointment. “Very well, I suppose you should tell me what it is she is saying.”

“She says that her honeymoon is delightful and Captain Harrington and she are very happy. They look forward to visiting us once the honeymoon is at an end.”

Arthur smiled. “That does make me happy. I am glad that she is so contented.”

“And Captain Harrington is an excellent gentleman.”

He smiled at her. “You will, no doubt, wish to share your letter with my mother?”

“Though I am sure Isabella will have written to her as well, of course I should want to.” Abigail smiled back. “She is coming to tea tomorrow, so I will tell her all then.”

“Very good.” He gestured to the other letter. “And the second piece of news?”

“Is that Charlotte has decided to wait until next Season to find herself a husband. She says that there are many gentlemen eager to court her but her heart was not fixed upon any of them and thus, she has decided to return to London next Season.”

“A capital idea.” Arthur reached out and pressed Abigail’s hand. “One should always listen to one’s heart.”

“Quite so.” Her eyes sparkled and Arthur tipped his head, studying her. Her expression seemed a good deal brighter than usual, though, to his eyes, she was always the most beautiful lady he had ever known. “What is this third piece of news you are to impart to me?”

“It is the most important of the three,” she said, reaching out to take his hand and, with the other, setting the letters aside. “Something that I hope your heart will fill with delight over, something that will steal away your breath as it has stolen away mine.”

Arthur did not for a moment fear that this news was to be dark or serious given the way that his wife was smiling, though he did not know what it was that she spoke of. The way her eyes danced made him frown and he turned himself a little more toward her. “What is it, my dear?”

Abigail took in a deep breath, pressed his fingers and then spoke quietly. “I am with child, Arthur.”

Abigail had been quite right to hope that his breath would be stolen from him for that is precisely what took place. Arthur could not take in even the smallest amount of air, staring back at her as he fought to try and make sense of what she had said. It was only when she laughed and pressed his hand again that he found his voice, though the exclamation he made came out in a whoosh, somewhere between delight and astonishment.

Abigail only laughed again and then, Arthur was on his feet, his arms around her, pulling her close to him as he breathed her in, his eyes prickling with heat, his heart pounding and his happiness growing like a wave, crashing over him with such force that his heart seemed to stop completely.

“I – I am to be a father?”

“You are, my dear.” Laughing softly, Abigail looked up at him, her eyes shining. “We are soon to have a baby! Son or daughter, I do not know but – ”

“I do not care if it be boy or girl, I will be overjoyed at either,” he swore, heat pouring into his face, a smile breaking out as he looked down into his beautiful wife’s face and saw his own happiness reflected back in hers. “Oh, my darling! What wonderful news. What joyous news! I – I am truly overwhelmed.”

“But are you happy, Arthur?” she asked, softly. “Truly?”

Smiling, he leaned back, caught her hands in his and held her gaze. “My darling Abigail, you have brought more happiness into my life than I ever thought possible – and now, when I believe that there can be nothing greater, nothing more overwhelming, this news takes my feet from under me! I cannot express to you the sheer joy within me for it is so great, it cannot be expressed! I do not think I could find sufficient words nor expressions to tell you all that is within my heart. Yes, my love, I am happy. I am fulfilled. I am contented – but most of all, I am grateful.”

Her smile was wonderful. “Grateful?”

“For you,” he said, leaning closer to her again. “I am always grateful for you, my darling. I am grateful for what you have brought into my life, for what you have offered me by the joy you share with me every day and with this beautiful, wondrous news that fills my heart even more. I love you with all of my heart, Abigail and I shall love this child of ours too.”

Sighing gently, she leaned into his arms and Arthur took her into his embrace and, after a moment, kissed her. Her kiss spoke of love, of happiness and of hope – and Arthur’s heart cried out the same. What a wonderful, glorious future for the Beast of Crestwood Hall!

THE END