The Devil's Good Intentions (46 page)

Ducking out of her dress, he pulled her to her knees and then skilfully found his mark and drove into her.

Three thrusts was all it took for him to explode inside her.

When his head stopped spinning, he cradled her to his chest and smoothed out her skirt.

She had a dreamy look on her face and a small smirk that he couldn’t help but kiss.

“
I should have probably eaten supper before I had my dessert - but I just couldn’t help myself.” He murmured as he rested his cheek against hers.

“
Oh my” was all she could utter as she snuggled into him.

God he loved her. So much so that it hurt. Just the thought of leaving her for a whole month tormented him, but he reasoned with himself that it was for the greater good. He didn’t know how he had survived all these years without her or even found ecstasy in another woman’s arms. Since he had been married, he had been approached by several beautiful women while in town and it surprised him that he didn’t have one sensual thought about any of them. It was always Katherine’s image that haunted him wherever he went. Sometimes he would be reminded of some silly thing she had said and would break into a grin, leaving others to wonder at his behaviour.

They had been married now for over two months and in that time it had been the happiest time of his life. He was determined not to let anything disturb what they had and was even more determined to make her as happy as she made him.

“
Go get washed up love and we’ll head downstairs.” He commanded as he lifted her out of his lap and stood up.

“
As you wish” She said with a wicked grin on her face and gave him a mock bow.

“
Witch” he returned with his own wicked grin.

A week had passed since he had confirmed with Sarah that Katherine was with child. At the Brotherhood gaming night, they broke the news to the women that all of the men would be going on an extended men’s only hunting trip. The women were disappointed that they had decided to be gone for so long, but in the end there was nothing they could say to make them change their minds. Another announcement was made that Simon had found a suitor for his betrothed and that the final paperwork relieving him of his duty had been finalized the night before. In addition to that news he had admitted that he had not been around as much as of late because he had met a woman that he was serious about. They all chastised him for not introducing her to them but he assured her that he would, once he was certain that she was indeed the one. He also confessed that he didn’t want his brothers to scare her away. They all got a good chuckle from that and sympathetic looks from the women.

Salvador was in the library watching Katherine in the garden. She had bent down to pick a daisy and when she straightened herself up, he flew to his feet as he watched her sway and then crumble to the ground.

The gardener had reached her before Salvador did. When he finally got to her, he mindlessly pushed the gardener away and scooped her up in his arms.

She was so pale and her body was lifeless. Feeling helpless, he quickly carried her upstairs and laid her in the bed.

“
My Lord?” He heard Sarah exclaim as she rushed into his chamber.

“
She’s fainted” Salvador explained as he turned her to the side to loosen the latches on her dress.

He heard some splashing from within the bath chamber and then Sarah was beside him giving him a cold damp cloth to place on her brow.

As he did so, Katherine’s eyelids fluttered open and then the look of confusion crossed her face.

“
Its ok Love, rest your eyes while I take care of you.” He said gently as he took her hand into his.

“
What happened?” She asked as her lids closed once again.

“
You fainted in the garden.” He explained. “Sarah, prepare some tea with a small dose of laudanum please.”

“
Yes My Lord”.

He expected Katherine to protest but she didn’t. She looked weak and helpless as she lay upon the pillow.

“
I’m sorry” She breathed out as she scowled at herself. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.” She stated weakly.

He couldn’t keep her precarious state from her any longer.

“
I do Love and it’s a good thing.” He assured her.

Her eyes weakly fluttered open again and she looked upon him curiously.

“
What do you mean?” She breathed out weakly.

“
Darling, surely you must have suspected that you were with child.” He informed her lovingly, bringing her knuckles to his mouth to brush a gentle kiss upon them.

Her eyes widened and her breath caught.

“
Truly!” She gasped out.

He chuckled at her innocence and kissed her knuckles again.

“
Truly.” He assured her.

With his free hand, he placed it over her stomach and smiled.

“
I didn’t know” she whispered to herself as she glanced down at his hand. “I swear.” She whispered more adamantly as though she was defending herself to him.

“
I know Love. But now you do and you must promise me you will be more conscious of your condition. Our child is depending on you.” He cooed to her lovingly.

Her eyes met his and he could see that she was holding back tears.

“
Our child” she repeated out loud as though she was testing the sound of it on her tongue.

“
Does that make you happy?” He asked her cautiously.

Her eyes widened again.

“
Of course! Yes Salvador! I am with Child!” She suddenly brightened up as though she finally grasped what he was trying to tell her.

She let out a cry of happiness as she sat up quickly and threw her arms around his neck.

He quickly returned her embrace and rocked her in his arms as she cried her tears of joy.

Finally he was able to share his excitement with her and her reaction was exactly what he had been hoping for.

She suddenly leaned back and looked at him.

“
Are you truly as happy as I am?” She asked hopefully with an uncertain look on her face.

“
More than happy.” He assured her as he wiped the tears from her cheeks with his thumbs.

Helping her take off her dress, he laid her back in the bed with just her petticoats.

By the time she was settled underneath the covers, Sarah had returned with her tea.

“
Sarah, I am with child! Isn’t that wonderful news!” She exclaimed happily as she accepted her tea.

“
Indeed it is.” Sarah smiled knowingly as she fluffed the pillows behind her.

Suddenly Katherine looked at him with speculation on her face. He knew what was coming.

“
Salvador…how long have you known?”

He grinned at her and kissed her forehead.

“
For sometime now.” He admitted without hesitating.

“
How do you know I am with child?”

“
I could tell by the changes in your body…that and your lack of monthly flow and lack of appetite was a sure sign.”

“
My body?” She asked, confused as her hand flew down to her stomach. She scowled when she didn’t notice a change and looked up to him in silent question.

“
I told you, your body is mine, of course I would notice any slight change.” He grinned.

She shook her head in confusion and decided to let it go.

“
When did you plan on telling me?” She asked again, this time sounding annoyed, now that her initial shock had passed.

“
I had hoped that you would come to the conclusion on your own, however after what just happened I felt it important that you were informed without further delay – for yours and the baby’s safety of course.”

“
Oh. How could I have not known?” She scolded herself.

“
No worries, there are more women than not who are informed of their condition by their maids or husbands, it’s nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed about love.” Sarah shot over her shoulder before she exited the room to give them some alone time.

Katherine watched Sarah leave with a look of relief on her face.

“
Drink up.” Salvador instructed her, bringing her attention back to him.

She did as he instructed and then laid the teacup on the side table and then lowered herself deeper into the covers.

“
I have interviewed and hired a physician and a live in mid-wife. I’ll call him to come see you tomorrow and inform the mid-wife to expect to move in next week.” He informed her with an air of authority that left no room for argument.

“
You’ve thought of everything” She commented sleepily as the laudanum started to take effect.

“
Of course. I told you I would always take care of you and I meant what I said.” He informed her as though he was informing her that the sun was in the sky.

“
Now sleep my love and we will speak of this when you’ve had more rest.” He commanded her as he kissed her forehead once again and stood up.

She mumbled something in return but he couldn’t quite make it out as she quickly fell into a deep slumber.

Rather than leaving her alone to sleep, he stirred the coals in the hearth and sat in front of the fire. Staring into the flames, he finally allowed himself to remember watching her face as she crumbled to the ground and the fear that he felt at that moment. Some women needed more rest and care than others when they were with child and knowing Katherine, she would not be an easy patient to contend with.

He chuckled at her stubbornness and then prayed that she would get over these fainting spells before he left on his trip.

~

When Katherine opened her eyes next, she felt her husband’s body wrapped around her and his breath even and steady against her shoulder. It was well into the night and it horrified her that she had slept right through dinner and into most of the evening. When she tried to lift his arm from her, he instinctively tightened his grip. She had a desperate need to use the facilities and had no wish to wake him up to do so. Salvador had been working long hours in his study lately and had been conducting many meetings on his estate. She was grateful that he spent more time at home than in the city, but even still he was locked away most of the time. She had begun to worry for him when she started seeing the lines of fatigue on his handsome features but whenever night time came, he would be a vigorous lover and show no signs that his body wished to be sated with slumber.

Katherine tried once again to free herself to no avail. She reached around and lightly tickled Salvador’s nose. His arm hastily flew from her to wipe away her tickle, giving her the chance to free herself.

After she had relieved herself in the bathing chamber, she decided to make her way downstairs and see what she could stir up in the kitchen.

Wearing only a robe over her petticoats, she quietly made her way downstairs. The kitchen for the most part was locked up and all that she was able to find without having to tear through the cupboards was stale bread and some cheese.

After fixing herself a snack, she carried her burden outside and seated herself on the steps of the patio, staring off at the moon and stars above.

She couldn’t believe her naivety over her current state. But rather than focusing on that, she decided to thank her maker for blessing her with a child. Even more than pleasant was her husband’s reaction. The way he had looked at her made her heart swell. She had felt adored and worshiped. Any concern that she may have had was instantly replaced with joy when he held her in his arms and rocked her back and forth. She had seen so many sides to her husband, that she had lost track of his many personalities. She had seen a glimpse of what others saw that earned him his nickname “The Devil” while at the ball. She could see that men looked at him with fear and respect while women looked at him with lustful eyes. He exerted power wherever he went and just his mere presence demanded attention. She had not seen Salvador look upon any female in the ballroom except for her and when one brave woman had attempted to approach him, he quickly brushed her off and walked away from her mid-sentence as though she wasn’t worth the air that he breathed. She also noticed that Charles and Alex were the same way with their wives. They truly were a tight nit family and there really wasn’t room for outsiders. For that she felt protected and part of. Now she would bring a baby into the family and her heart warmed again. She remembered sitting around Rachel’s game room that first night that she had met the entire brotherhood and thinking that a child would complete the picture. If only she knew then that at that time she had a baby growing within her.