Chapter 17

It was dark by the time she got home. The house was eerily quiet.. She was ready to be assaulted by Louisa and Margaret. But nothing like that came. It also seemed like the servants had called it a night.

She beelined to the girls' room and saw the light on in the library.

Colin.

Her heart danced with mirth. He was home and awake.

As she got closer to the library, she peeped through the slightly opened door. Colin's head was bowed, and his dark hair, now in need of a trim, covered his face. Jane watched as he flipped through some papers, muttering words she couldn't decipher as he went on.

Silently, she blessed the heaven for that day in the garden. It would have been Graham, not him. She shuddered at the thought and pushed it to the far reach of her mind.

Colin was busy and needed to be alone. But, she couldn't move from where she stood.

A brief greeting cannot be considered a disturbance, right?

As she pondered on this, the door gave a creak as a result of her weight on it. Colin's head snapped up. His beautiful green eyes went wide, startled. Then he smiled sweetly when he saw her.

Jane could give all her possessions away for that smile "Greetings," she greeted with a sweet smile of hers.

Colin placed a finger on his mouth, shushing her.

Jane's smile fell. She was a disturbance after all. She was about to leave when he beckoned her in with a wave of his hand.

"Come in," he mouthed

Her smile returned. He wasn't pursuing her away. She walked into the library beelining for the table Colin stood at. She blushed as Colin watched her with a coy smile.

She was almost close to his table when he pointed to his corner. Without hesitation, she turned to see the girls sleeping peacefully on the settee. Her heart warmed.

So that why was he had hushed me.

She turned to look at Colin. He shrugged when she gave him a questioning look.

This was the first time the girls and Colin were together without her. He was one of the first person to warn her of their peculiarities. It was not from a good standpoint when he did. And it was for this reason he had taken to marrying her. So, she had not expected him to be here with them without her.

"How long have they been sleeping here?" she quietly asked him. She considered their small bodies on the settee. It wasn't a comfortable place to sleep on for a long time.

"Give or take one hour," he promptly replied.

Their necks will hurt them by morning. She squatted down and caressed their faces.

"Hope they were not a handful." She hoped they had behaved themselves like they did in the morning. But one doesn't look a gift horse in the mouth.

"When have they not been?" he smirked at her "We had no problems if that's what you are concerned about." He stood up from his chair and walked to her

"Where have you been all day?" he asked, avoiding her gaze.

Jane couldn't figure out the emotion she heard in his voice.

"Prudence and I went shopping. It took the whole day." She offered a brief explanation.

"What did you get?" he asked, eyes lit up.

"Just a couple of things," she replied.

By this time, a couple of servants walked past them with some boxes from the store.

Colin glanced at them and went quiet.

Margaret coughed, stealing Jane's attention from Colin.

They had to get them up their rooms "Let's take them to their rooms first," she suggested. Colin nodded and bent to carry Louisa.

But, Louisa's eyes came open. She squinted as they adjusted to the room's light.

"Aunt Jane," she squealed, stirring Margaret from her sleep.

Colin and Jane groaned as Margaret yawned and scrubbed at her eyes.

"Where have you been all day?" Louisa accused.Colin snorted and earned a glare from Jane.

"You told us you would be back soon. And you took a whole day. We waited for you." Margaret was better at her accusation.

Jane let out a rather faint grin, as she knew she already had something to help pacify their agitation.

"Why are you smiling?" Margaret inquired with an offended expression.

Jane bent over to her level, still grinning.

"Because, I got beautiful gowns for my girls," she proudly announced.

The smiles that lit their faces were proof she had succeeded in distracting them.

Colin seemed to have caught up with her ploy. He shook his head in mock disapproval.

"Did you?" Louisa asked in excitement

"Let me see," Margaret shouted.

"Yes, let's see them." Colin gave a small laugh. The sound of it filled Jane's stomach with butterflies. She flushed when she caught the linger on his face.

"Okay, then." She raised her hands in mock surrender. "How about we go over to your room and we'll find out, hmm?"

Screams filled the night as Louisa started jumping on the seat, filled with joy while Margaret stood there, smirking to herself.

Colin groaned at Louisa's cheerfulness. "Stop with that fooling around and jumping," he commanded.

Immediately Louisa sat down back on the settee, smiling sweetly at Colin as if to disarm him.

"What are we waiting for, then?" Margaret asked impatiently, "Shall we go try them on?"

"Yes, we shall," came Jane's response and as Margaret was about to take a step forward, she added. "However…"

"Oh, what now?" Margaret grouched.

"Now, we have to know if any of the maids are awake."

"That's not a problem, we'll wake them up even if they're asleep!" Margaret frowned. Jane gave a disapproving shake of her head.

"Lanny is up." Louisa provided. "She promised to read a bedtime story to me. So, she will be in my room waiting."

Jane could tell that the girl was fond of her maid. Unlike Margaret who always got into a fight at every chance she got with almost everyone in the house.

"That's good," said Jane. "Now go up to Lanny and let her help you try them on." She finished.

"Then you'll come down and show us," Colin added.

The girls ran out of the study, not even bothering to look back. Jane and Colin could hear their heavy steps as they ran and shouted at each other till they got to Louisa's room. At this rate, they'd wake up the whole household.

"For someone who spent the whole day at the dressmaker's, you don't seem to have a bag of yours." Colin pointed out once the girls' noise subsided.

"Who said I didn't?" Jane smirked. She sat on the settee and yawned heavily. Her whole body ached. She needed a bath, food, and sleep

"You seem fatigued," he observed

"Yes, yes I am," she admitted "but the girls will have my head if I disappear to my room, after all, they waited all day for me."

"Sadly," his eyes warmed, "Not to be an uncaring husband but I'd love to see you try on your dresses too."

"I'd love to show them to you, the boxed are just outside…." She stood mid-speech as Colin walked towards the door as if to retrieve them.

"Where are you going?" She pointedly asked.

"To get the clothes for you, of course." He stopped in his tracks and turned to look at her.

Jane's face flushed furiously as she remembered the nightgown Prudence had convinced her to get made when she went to the modiste a few days ago.

"Colin will love you in this," the dowager's voice resounded in her mind. Originally she had gone to get clothes for the girls, but she had given in and done as the older woman suggested.

She covered her face with her hands, but Colin had already seen her blush. He tilted his head and watched her curiously.

"No, you don't have to go get it," Jane vehemently spoke. "I'll get it." She painfully stood up and retrieved the rest of the boxes.

He kept watching her as she kept them by the side of the settee and sat down back.

Jane saw the look on Colin's face and knew she was up for some interrogation. She knew that look oh too well. Colin would try to push her till she showed him what she bought. There was no way she was going to let that happen. She steeled her mind, ready for his mental assault.

"So, would you change into them here or would you go up to your room?" he pushed.

"I won't be changing into them." She answered

"But why? I know you are tired, but it will be a better use of our time if you let me see you in them." He said with a smirk on his face and Jane was certain he was doing this on purpose.

"Colin. I'd rather not," She sternly replied

"Why not? I'm your husband, I should be the first to see you in them." He said in exasperation.

Her cheeks burned again. He didn't have to say that. It only made her remember the nightgown. He shouldn't just be the first to see them. He should be the only one to see them.

Colin seemed amused by her reaction. He sat on his table, hands crossed on his chest, and pointedly look down at her. She fidgeted with his gaze on her.

"If you won't wear them. I would love to just see them, bring them out from the bag," he commanded.

She wished she had hidden them before coming to meet him. But she couldn't do anything about that now. She couldn't bear the embarrassment if he saw her nightgowns among the dresses.

"You won't speak, you won't try on the gowns neither do you want to show them to me." He acted offended. "It's only making me more curious,"

But Jane was resolved. She feared he would grab the bag and go through them but she was saved by the girls.

Thundering noise filled the house as they ran down the stairs. Soon, they floated into the room like little princesses.

"Uncle, look at me, I'm a princess!" Louisa exclaimed as she danced around Colin who was beaming like the sun. Her gown was a beautiful green with puffed sleeves and a flowing skirt. It had a beautiful white ribbon bow attached at the back. It complemented Louisa's skin perfectly. Jane was pleased with her selection.

Margaret stood tall in a similar gown but in a dashing purple. She threw around her skirt and soaked in her uncle's admiration.

"You both look so beautiful," Colin cooed. He held their hands and played around in circles with them, making their long skirts flow beautifully.

Jane clapped and smiled. They danced for a while and blessed Jane with kisses and thanks. Shortly after, they ran back up the stairs to change into their nightgown and prepare for bed.

"They would stay up all night if we let them," Colin joked

Jane was so overjoyed with Colin's behavior, she couldn't help but voice it. "I am so impressed with how gentle you've become with the girls."

"Well, I now live with three menaces. It was either I get with the program or I suffer for it." He grinned.

"I'm glad we could change you," came her soft reply.

"So, will I get to see you in your new gown?" he abruptly changed the conversation.

"No." she shot back.

"Why? My money paid for them."

"Just because your money paid for them doesn't give you the right to see them." Jane argued and picked up the bag ready to flee the room.

"That's a silly stance Jane." He clouded her space.

"No, it is not." She puffed.

Yet again, she feared he would pull the bag from her grip. But he didn't. He just stood still and stared deep into her eyes. He was so close, she could feel his body's warmth and her heart sped up when he licked his lips.

He leaned in. She prayed it was for a kiss, but he stepped back and smiled.

"I hope you picked a blue gown, they'd complement your beautiful eyes," he said as he strolled out of the library.

Jane held her chest as her heart drummed fast. She could still feel his lingering warmth. He could set her on fire faster than anyone she knew. He knew where to push and didn't hesitate.

She knew she had feelings for him. But she had not known how deep it ran. Standing there, staring at where he just walked she realized she was falling in love with her husband.

What a great way to end a day, Jane.