Page 211 of Lovers' Dance: Vol. 2

“Your mother who doesn’t have one maternal bone in her body.” Bella drawled.

“Now look here,” Nathan hissed. “That’s quite unfair of you to say, Bella. Mum is, well, she’s,”

“Cold?” Bella suggested. “Physically incapable of showing any emotion that barely resembles affection?”

Nathan narrowed his eyes in anger. “Right. I won’t sit here and allow you to malign my mother. Wedding anniversary be damned! You’re crossing a line and I want you to stop it.”

“Fine,” Bella took a dainty sip from the flute she still held. “Shall I malign your father? Is that acceptable?”

“What on earth has gotten into you?” Nathan ran a hand through his blond hair in agitation. “Why are you acting this way? You’ve not been yourself for weeks.”

“Because I’m up every night with our son-”

“I wanted to add a live-in nanny to our current staff,” Nathan interjected tersely. “You categorically said no, and Idohelp out at nights.” When his wife glared daggers at him, he hastened to add, “Sometimes, not as often as you would like, but I have to be up earlyfor work in the mornings.”

It was the wrong thing to say. Bella’s features underwent a transformation, the kind of transformation which caused Nathan’s guard to fly up.

“And I’m just swanning around all day, yes?” she asked in a deceptively pleasant voice. “Do you have any idea what I spend my days doing?”

Nathan wisely kept quiet, trying his best to think of a way to escape his wife’s temper unscathed. She was the only person who could make him feel like a naughty child.

“Richard is a little over five months now,” she stated.

Nathan pinched his nose bridge and took a calming breath. “I know how old our son is.”

“And I feel pressured all the time, Nathan,” she admitted, her mouth dipped at the corners and her eyes glinted with moisture. “They need me back in the office, even though I’ve resumed working at least 2 hours each day from home,”

“Bella,” Nathan began but she cut him off.

“Everyone thinks-”

“Forget everyone else,” Nathan interrupted her this time and called her over with a crook of finger.

Reluctantly she rose from her seat. The lines of her evening gown swished in a complimentary manner around her figure as she made her way over to settle on his lap as per his desire.

“Tell me,” he said, tilting her head in order to see her eyes. “Tell me what you want.”

“I don’t want our son raised by nannies like you were. I know it’s the expected thing within our circles, but I’m not sure it is for me. My parents didn’t start out ridiculously wealthy, I wasn’t brought up by strangers as a young child, but once my parents were in a higher earning bracket and I started boarding school, well holidays were the only family time I got. We had so much money to do all these things, yet I felt alone.” Bella sighed with a shrug. “I want to spend all my time with him but I also want to return to work. It’s terrible handing over control of my company while I’m on maternity leave. I’m tired, Nate, and lost, and,”

When her words faltered, Nathan pulled her further into his arms and manoeuvred her head onto his shoulder as he reassured her. “Listen, whatever you want to do I’ll support you. We’re lucky inpart that money is not a problem. Work, don’t work, the decision is entirely up to you. These concerns you have about Richard’s care, we don’t have to make a permanent decision now, sweetheart. If you’re not happy with his nanny, we can find someone better. Take all the time you need.”

Bella raised her head, a mutinous set to her face. “I don’twantto take all the time I need. My creativity is non-existent at the moment. I can barely draw a thing with any semblance to a workable design. I’m not a top-notch architect anymore…I’m a mother and it’s terrible. I love it, I love him, but it’s terrible and wonderful at the same time. Do you understand?”

Nathan didn’t fully understand, but he nodded in a show of solidarity. “Of course I do, darling.” He leaned in to kiss her cheek. “It’s completely understandable you feel overwhelmed-”

“I am certainly not overwhelmed.” Bella glowered at him. “Did your mother say something? I’m perfectly capable of balancing my life. I’m a Humphrey, damn it, and we can handle anything.”

Nathan blinked a few times while his wife bristled on his lap in a perfect example of contradictory emotions. She had only this minute complained about being tired and battling with making the right decision concerning her work/life balance. As adorable as she was, her behaviour since the birth of their son had been trying for him. Although they had made a life and family together, she was their son’s primary constant. His life, though changed, had not undergone the complete upheaval Bella was currently experiencing. Nathan peered at her. The expression on her features was one of open challenge, practically daring him to say something. Nathan knew anything he said in this moment would be the wrong thing, but he had to say something.

“Ah,” He licked his lips and gave her a sheepish smile. “You’re a Walthamstow now, sweetheart, it’s been a year…hence this romantic trip to your favourite restaurant in Paris.”

“You insolent bastard.” she grumbled.

Nathan slid a hand under her loose brunette waves, slowly caressing her nape. “Happy First Anniversary.”

Begrudgingly, she gave him a small smile. “Happy First Anniversary.”

“Looking forward to the next?” he teased, hoping to lighten the mood.

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