Second Wedding Night

Ben & Liana

They spent their wedding night in their own home. After Charlie Prince had dropped them off at their front door and drove off in the carriage, Ben and Liana walked slowly up their front steps. For a few minutes, they stood looking around at their home and yard--all of the property they could see.

"I'm glad we came here, Ben," Liana sighed, leaning against his shoulder. "I'm very glad we came."

Ben slipped an arm around her. "So am I, darlin'. We've done a good job, so far."

After opening the door, he stopped and scooped her up into his arms. "I learned a few things since our first weddin'," he told her with a grin. "Seems I'm s'posed to be doin' this."

"I wouldn't say you have to." Liana smiled back at him, wrapping her arms around his neck to hold on. "But it's nice."

As he started toward the stairs with her, she stopped him. "I should get some ice and drinks," she said.

"Already taken care of, darlin'. There's champagne up there waitin' on us."

In their bedroom, he lowered her gently to the bed. "You want some champagne now, honey? Toast our marriage again?"

Her arms still around his neck, refusing to let go, Liana whispered to him, "Later. After we celebrate another way."

Loosening her hands, but holding her eyes intently with his, Ben whispered back, "A taste a' you sounds much better'n a drink anyway."

He removed the brooch from the collar of her dress, laying it gently on the bedside table. Then, his hands moved slowly, carefully, down the row of tiny buttons on the front of her dress. The dress he'd chosen for her.

As though reading his mind, she asked him, "Where'd you find this dress, Ben? It's so beautiful." As he worked at the dress, her hands were unfastening the buttons on his blue and black vest.

"Had it made, honey," he answered. "Found a picture of the original and knew it was just right for you."

Liana opened her mouth, intending to ask him how he could know so many things were just right for her, but he stopped her with a kiss.

"Shhh. Enough talkin' for right now, Mrs. Wade. Enough."

Her dress and his suit wound up in a pile on the floor, which she would very fondly sort through and hang up later. For now, though, they were intent on each other.

Several hours later, Liana slid out of bed and pulled on a robe.

"Where you goin, honey?" Ben was propped on one arm, watching her. Thinking that, later, he intended to sketch her, just the way she looked before she'd put on that robe.

Going to the door of his study across the room from the bed, she replied, "Just to get myself some water." He kept drinks in a small refrigerator there.

As she came back with a bottle, he teased, "You goin' on some health kick with me, darlin'? I noticed you weren't drinking any champagne today."

Liana sat on the edge of the bed beside him, running one hand up his thigh, over his chest, as she smiled. Ben saw her already dark eyes darken more with passion--reached for her again, but she evaded his hand.

Looking at the clock, she said, "It's almost midnight." Now, she seemed to be almost avoiding his eyes. "I said no more big surprises after today, and today's almost over. So, I guess I'd better give you my surprise.

Ben smiled and folded his arms behind his head. "You mean this wasn't it?" He indicated the bed and the tangled sheets.

It was Liana's turn to grin at him. "That was wonderful, Ben, but was it really a surprise? I don't know about you, but I had it in mind all day."

"Then, don't keep me in suspense any more, honey."

Liana reached out, pulled one of his hands from behind his head. "Ouch! You gettin' rough with me, darlin'? " he asked with a grin.

Taking his large right hand in hers, she looked at it for a moment. This hand had killed people. Now, it had a better purpose.

Laying it over her lower abdomen, with her own over it, she smiled up at him, tears in her eyes. "We're gonna have a baby, Ben. That's why I wasn't drinking champagne today. Can't do that while I'm pregnant."

For a long moment, Ben just looked at her, his eyes registering nothing, as though they had not absorbed what she said. Then, he sat up, his hand still on her abdomen, his eyes blazing intently. "You mean it, Liana? A baby?"

"Yes, Ben. A baby." For a moment, the look in his eyes made her nervous. He didn't want this? It was true they hadn't talked about it in the few months they'd known each other, but she'd thought he would be pleased, especially after seeing the look on his face today when he'd helped deliver Millie's baby.

Then, he gathered her in his arms, cradling her, kissing her hair. For the first time, she could see tears in his eyes, even though none ran down his cheeks.

In a moment, she pulled slightly away. "Ben? Aren't you going to say anything?" She looked at him anxiously.

"I don' know what to say, darlin'. 'Cept 'thank you'." But the look in his eyes said enough.