Page 90 of The Defiant One
"Because you, madam, asked me to bring it up."
"Oh."
"It really does belong in the kitchen," he added.
Her face fell, though she tried not to let it show. "Let me guess . . . It's an iron cook pot for the hearth," she said, trying not to sound too deflated.
"No, it is not an iron cook pot. Now, go get my present and we'll open them right here," he said, leaning against the elegantly carved balustrade and crossing his arms. "Unless it's even bigger than this thing?"
"It is much bigger than that. And I couldn't presume to carry it even if I wanted to. You'll have to come with me."
"You would say that . . . I suppose you want me to bring this, then, too."
"Of course. Would you like me to help you carry it?"
He merely shot her an exasperated look. Celsie's eyes sparkled above her grin. She watched as he crouched down and lifted the heavy crate, hoisting it even though Celsie hadn't been able to lift it an inch off the floor.
Now that she knew how impossibly heavy the thing was, Celsie couldn't help but stand transfixed. Very well, then, so her gifted husband had brawn as well as brains. Why, her side of this marital bargain was getting better and better! She watched him balancing the box, and felt a thrill of expectation at the thought of touching those strong, defined muscles . . .
"Stop staring, girl, and start walking. This isn't the lightest thing I've ever carried!"
Celsie laughed and continued on. She was well aware that his appreciative gaze was on the sway of her hips and the narrowness of her waist as she preceded him down the hall, and the thought only made her all the more eager to finally get her husband into bed where he belonged.
She led him past the state bedrooms, past the apartments they would call their own, and into a rich, masculine room that had once been her papa's library but was now empty of books and all signs of recent habitation. Dark mahogany bookcases lined an entire wall. A case clock dominated one corner of the room. Tall, south-facing windows let in the thin autumn sun and overlooked the ornamental pond, its surface now peppered with yellow and brown leaves, in the near distance. The walls were panelled with fine English oak, the doors carved and heavy, the polished floor devoid of furniture save for three long tables, all of them spotlessly bare. All of them, that is, except the middle one, upon which stood a decanter of wine and two crystal goblets.
Celsie stopped, turned, and hands on her hips, regarded him happily.
"Well, here you are, husband. My wedding present to you."
Andrew set down his burden with a grunt and straightened. He looked around and frowned, his expression much the same as Celsie's had been upon learning that his present to her had been a monstrous piece of iron.
"So, what do you think?" Celsie asked excitedly, feigning innocence. "Isn't it wonderful?"
"Uh . . . isn't what wonderful?"
"Why, this room, of course."
"Sorry?"
"It's yours," she said gaily, unable to stop grinning. "Oh Andrew, don't look so baffled! There was a real reason why I didn't want you to have the downstairs ballroom for your laboratory . . . I had this room all picked out and ready for you. I thought you'd like it so much better . . . It gets lovely sunshine all day, is away from commotion and the sound of the kennels outside, and was once the domain of my father, the master of the house. Now, as the new master of the house, it is your domain. Yours to do with, whatever you wish."
He stared about him, blinking and amazed, his expression softening into one of sheer, unfettered rapture. A broad, boyish smile overtook his mouth, and he shook his head in disbelief, his eyes glowing with happiness. "Oh, Celsie . . . you couldn't have chosen a nicer gift!"
"There's more," she said.
"More?"
"Yes. Since you are so hopelessly disorganized, Andrew, and since I'm beginning to think that your dislike of paperwork and the meticulous recording of information is one of the reasons you jump from one idea to the next before seeing things through, I have determined to do something about it. This chamber not only comes with all the furniture you see — also part of my wedding present, of course — it comes with its own laboratory assistant." She grinned. "Me."
"You?"
"Me." She flew into his arms, hugging him tightly. "Oh, Andrew, I just know you're going to change the world, and best of all, you're going to start right here! I can't wait!"
Overwhelmed, he lifted her high and swung her around once, twice, her petticoats flying. "Celsie — dearest, most delightful Celsie — nothing you could have given me, save for yourself, could have made me so happy!"
"Well since you get me as well as the room, then you should never have reason to be in a bad mood, ever again!"
He bent his head and kissed her, his heart so full of joy and adoration he thought he was going to burst. It was a long time before he finally set her back, tenderly gripping her upper arms as he gazed down into her eyes.
