Page 347 of Historical Hotties
Bastian didn’t say a word but, abruptly, Gisella was being lifted off the ground and gently planted on the dressing table stool. Bastian had picked her up as easily as one would have lifted a child. Silently, he bent down and put the lastof his possessions into his saddlebags. Gisella watched him apprehensively.
“I am sorry,” she said. “It was not my intention to handle your things but I could not very well leave them on the floor. I meant no harm.”
Bastian swung the bags back onto the bed. “I know,” he said, meeting her eye. “I am not offended. But, at this moment, everyone is waiting for you in the great hall to see you once more before we leave for London. I went to find my aunts to ask them about fabric and found everyone in the hall, so I have been sent to fetch you.”
Gisella pulled on her other slipper and the maid fled the room, leaving her alone with Bastian. Her thoughts were lingering on his quick departure a few minutes prior and she watched him closely for any signs of displeasure in his manner. Displeasure still that he was married to a woman who expected emotion from him right away, or soft feelings at the very least. But she saw nothing in his expression that would indicate discontentment and she stood up from the stool just as Moggy the cat jumped back on the bed and began sniffing around. Bastian hissed at the cat to scare it, a plan that worked– Moggy jumped off the bed and ran off as Bastian turned to Gisella.
“If you are ready, we shall have a final meal with my family,” he said, holding out an elbow which she gladly took. “Be aware that they are already asking me when they can expect grandsons and grand nephews, so be prepared with an answer.”
Gisella tried not to flush brightly as he led her from the chamber. “I… I am not entirely sure one can plan exactly for that event,” she said. “I would presume it will happen when God deems it so.”
Bastian eyed her lowered head as they began to descend the staircase. “You do want children, don’t you?”
Gisella nodded quickly. “Of course.”
“How many?”
“As many as God will give us.”
“What if He gives us twenty?”
She looked up at him, then. “Then God and I are going to have a serious discussion about what is, and what is not, a reasonable number of children.”
Bastian fought off a grin. “What ifIwant to have twenty children?”
Gisella snorted. “Then it shall not be with me,” she said. “Find yourself another foolish woman who will bear children for you in great numbers.”
“You will not do it?”
“I will not be a dog giving birth to litters of puppies.”
He laughed as they came to the bottom of the steps. “We have plenty of time to decide on a number,” he said. “Meanwhile, let us bid my family farewell and commence with our journey into London.”
He seemed pleasant and attentive again, just as he had been before she made mention of being separated just as they were coming to know one another. Since Gisella was one of those people who generally felt the need to always make sure the situation around her was pleasant and without tension, she thought perhaps that it might be wise to assure Bastian her comment from earlier wasn’t meant to be leading. She hadn’t expected him to mirror her feelings but she certainly hadn’t meant to send him running off. Quietly, she cleared her throat and came to a halt at the threshold to the great hall. She took her arm off his elbow and faced him.
“May I speak freely, my lord?” she said.
Bastian cocked a dark eyebrow at her. “You may, but first I must tell you something.”
“What is that?”
“You will address me as Bastian in private,” he told her. “Addressing me so formally in conversation like this seems awkward at best.”
Gisella smiled faintly. “Very well,” she said. “I would be honored if you would call me Gisella. My friends and family call me Gigi, if you prefer.”
“I will prefer whatever you would like for me to call you.”
Her grin broadened. “Either name will suffice.”
His blue eyes glittered at her. “As you say, Gigi,” he said. “Now, what did you wish to say?”
The smile faded from Gisella’s lips as she thought on how to phrase her statement. She didn’t want to send him off running again but she felt the need to clear the air between them. Again, she cleared her throat softly.
“A few minutes ago whilst we were in the bedchamber, I fear I may have upset you,” she said hesitantly. “Please know that I did not mean to imply that there was something more between us than a marital contract, for that was clearly not what I meant. I simply meant that we appear to be getting along much better since our rather difficult beginning and I am pleased that we can be pleasant with one another. That is truly all that I meant.”
Bastian was looking at her with confusion at her somewhat rambling statement. “Forgive me for asking, but what are you talking about?”
Gisella could feel her cheeks growing warm, something that inevitably happened when she was embarrassed or nervous. “I said it would be a sad thing to be separated now that we are coming to know one another,” she said. “You left the chamber so quickly… I thought I might have offended you and I would like to apologize.”
