Free Ana Seymour by Father for Keeps Page B

instant acceptance. Perhaps her new surroundings would not be so alien after all, in spite of the intimidating luxury of them. She smiled again at the little woman. “I’ve thought that myself ever since she was born.”
    “Ah, but we’re keeping you here talking, my dear, when you’re swaying from exhaustion. Let me help you get this little angel to bed and you right behind her.”
    “Caroline will sleep in the nursery,” Sean clarified.
    Nonny looked sharply at Kate, whose smile had faded, then gently addressed Sean. “She’ll sleep where her mother says she sleeps.”
    Caroline was heavy, and Kate felt if she didn’t put her down and get to a bed herself soon, she might sink down on the Flahertys’ lush Persian carpet and spend the night there. “The nursery will be fine, if that’s the way Sean wants it,” she said.
    Nonny looked at her for another long moment, her bright gray eyes keen. “I’ll tell you what, for the wee one’s first night here in a strange house, I’ll just sleep by her in the nanny’s bed. If she wakes up, I’ll come to get you right away.”
    Kate nodded, her gratitude plain on her face.
    “In fact, if you trust me with her, I’ll put her down myself. You can go right on to bed.” Gently andsmoothly she reached for Caroline, who went into her arms without stirring. “She’ll be just fine,” Nonny whispered. “Now Sean, take this poor lass off to bed.”
    With a last look at Caroline, Kate let Sean take her elbow and lead her down the long hall. Her arms felt empty without the baby who had been like another appendage during the long trip. But Sean’s body brushed against hers as they walked and suddenly she realized that she was alone with her husband. The husband who had not kissed her since their wedding night. Her mouth felt dry.
    They reached a door at the end of the hall and he opened it. “Here’s your room,” he said.
    She looked at him in surprise. “My room?”
    He nodded. “Mine’s next door. There’s a connecting door inside. Just tap on it if you want anything. Do you need your trunk up here tonight?”
    Kate shook her head, feeling a bit dazed. Once again she tried to remind herself that she wasn’t in Vermillion anymore. Maybe in San Francisco fancy folk who were married didn’t share a bed, but it certainly seemed as if that was one custom that the poor folk had much better figured out than the rich.
    “Nonny’s right, you do look tired. I’ll leave you to get some rest,” he said.
    He leaned over and gave her a brief kiss on the cheek, and then he was gone. The door next to hers clicked shut. Kate stood in the doorway of her room looking down the long hallway at the twinkling gaslights. “Welcome home,” she said to herself softly with a rueful twist to her mouth. She was too tired to sort it all out now. No doubt tomorrow things wouldlook brighter. Then she turned to enter her bedroom alone.
    Thank heaven for Nonny, Sean thought as he lay wide-awake in his bed. At least some member of the family had been there to give Kate a welcome. He’d had the feeling the entire journey that his new bride was already regretting their hasty marriage. The trip had been hard on the baby, on all of them. And when they’d arrived at his home, he’d seen how she looked at it as if it were overly extravagant and pretentious. Which it was, he supposed. He’d never really thought much about it before.
    He couldn’t believe it when the new houseboy had told him that neither of his parents was home to receive them. What was the lad’s name? He couldn’t keep track, they came and went so fast. His mother was not the easiest mistress to work for.
    In spite of his exhaustion from the trip, he couldn’t seem to sleep. Part of his restlessness was undoubtedly due to the knowledge that his beautiful wife was this minute sleeping not fifty feet away from him. He’d hoped to have her sleeping next to him tonight, naked in his bed. But she’d looked so tired and so