Читать книгу The Bird has got wings - Анна Морион - Страница 9

It seemed to Vivian that her words did not immediately reach Jeremy's mind, which was tired from the hunt and the hard day's work: his wife only looked at her, and not a word came out of his mouth for several minutes. The young gentleman's squinted eyes were thoughtful, as if he were considering whether the news he had just heard was true or not.

But the girl was mistaken: her husband's heart was filled with warmth. He was so glad that he could not at once find words to express the intensity of this feeling.

He's going to be a father. A father of a marvellous little heir, or maybe a marvellous little girl. The sex of the child had not been of much concern to him, though he had told his wife more than once that their first child should be a boy. But now, hearing the news and seeing the glow in the emerald eyes of his beautiful wife, Mr. Wington knew that he would be glad to have both a son and a daughter. And it would not be his last child. Vivian would bear him two more… Or three. He would be happy with every one of them. He'd take care of each one. His children would be the centre of his universe, felt, Jeremy, a man who had lost his loving, caring mother early and had never felt love from his father.

– My love… Aren't you glad? – Vivian asked in a deep voice and gently stroked her belly. – We are going to have a child and you are not happy about it?

The voice of his wife brought Jeremy out of the fog of his captivating thoughts, and, hastily rising from his chair, he fell on his knees in front of Vivian, took her palms in his hands and kissed them with feeling.

– 'Of course I am glad! It is the most wonderful news I have ever heard in my whole life! – he exclaimed with trembling in his soul. – My love, I am so glad that I am ready to go out into the most crowded street in London and shout that I am going to be a father!

Vivian laughed softly and ruffled her husband's thick and still damp hair with her palm.

– Don't, my dear love, or you'll get wet to the bone," she said, smiling.

– I'm going to be a father… I'm going to be a father! – Jeremy laughed happily and put his hands gently on her belly. – But are you sure about that? How can you know?

– Oh, a woman always feels that two hearts are beating inside her from now on. The blood hasn't come this month, and besides, I'm suddenly sick of the smell of the coffee you like to drink at breakfast," Vivian explained calmly, watching Jeremy's behaviour and the happy smile on his handsome face.

– 'Darling, you should have told me yesterday… I was so angry at you, at your disobedience… I beat your tender palms with a whip! I'm sorry… I'm sorry, my love! – Jeremy kissed his wife's palms again, and his soul was burning with remorse: what if his act had harmed the baby growing in Vivian's belly? – From now on I will sleep in a separate bedroom: I don't want the passion that has suddenly awakened in me to make me forget that you are now in your position.

It was exactly what Mrs. Wington was so desperate to hear. This child had saved her from her spouse, his excessive passion and too hot love. From now on, she would sleep alone and not fear his coming, not be chilled by his touch or disgusted by what he did to her in bed.

"Fine. Before you found out about our child, you used me like the last whore, were cruel to me and kept me quiet with your caresses, if you can call them that, of course. But now you will carry me in your arms and protect me like a fragile and most precious treasure!" – Vivian thought contentedly.

– Don't worry if it's a girl," Jeremy said in a solemn tone. – I will cherish her. She'll look like you and grow up to be just as beautiful. You know that our children will be fire-haired like you, don't you?

– I know, darling, how could I not know! I got my hair colour from my father, who someone even called "Red Cowell"! – Vivian chuckled at this and, gently stroking her spouse's cheek, quietly added: – I'm so happy. We are going to have a child… Our little one! Soon his laughter will fill this big house, and we will watch his awkward movements, smiles, pranks… You are right: we will not give him to a nurse and babysitters! We will care for him and raise him or her ourselves! It's such happiness!