Page 111 of The Quiet Wife
“I most certainly would.”
He lifted his head. She could see his eyes were wet, so she kissed him.
***
The trip to the zoo the following week was a riotous success. Little Charlie Whistler was an absolute delight and charmed the entire family. Jumbo the elephant did not disappoint, nor did the hippo. They arrived back at the Prince’s Gate house for refreshment, and all concluded it had been the most wonderful day.
Frances stood to the side with Jemie watching the girls laugh as Freddie pretended to be an elephant and carried little Charlie on his back.
“What a remarkably funny family we have,” she whispered to him. It had been the most glorious day.
Jemie looked emotional and she wished she could wrap her arms about him.
“What is it?”
“I need to speak to you.”
“Of course.” She whispered to Lizzie that she wouldn’t be long and Jemie led her to the dining room. He closed the door, and they were engulfed by the green and gold.
“Is something wrong?” Frances asked, surprised by his sudden seriousness.
He opened his arms and, as always, she nestled into them. He held her tightly for a moment.
“The only thing that is wrong is what I haven’t told you. I was going to tell you later, but I must… I have to…”
Frances pulled back to look at his face. “Then you should tell me. Immediately.”
He nodded and swallowed, before studying her with an intensity that made her tremble.
“I want to tell you… Ineedto tell you… that I love you.”
Her heart stuttered. She pressed a hand to her mouth as her own eyes watered.
“Oh, my darling, I love you too. I’ve been wanting to tell you for so long.”
He let go of a breath and rested his forehead against hers. “I was afraid to say it out loud.”
Frances understood. She too had been afraid to jinx what was between them by speaking it out loud. “I’m afraid too, but I still love you. I always will. There could never be anyone for me but you.”
He kissed her softly. “You are my everything,” he said simply. “My friend, my lover, my life.” His eyes glistened. “You have my heart.”
They held each other as the truth of the words bound them together.
Jemie kissed her temple.
“Christmas will be upon us before we know it. We should plan our first Christmas. Our family Christmas,” he said.
CHAPTER 36
London – Kensington
Two days after the wonderful day at the zoo, Jemie was at work in the dining room of the Prince’s Gate house whilst Frances sat in the parlour considering penning a letter to Rosa. She hadn’t seen her for some time and felt that she perhaps should contact her. When she thought of how wonderful a lover Jemie was, she felt that Rosa had drawn a short straw with Frederick especially as she now found herself carrying his child. She was trying to work out how to word it, tapping the pen against her lips, when a commotion in the grand hallway startled her.
She had barely registered the long-legged stride when the door opened, and her heart sank to the floor.
Frederick.
It had been so long since she had seen him, months in truth, she was momentarily startled.
