Page 76 of Everything But the Earl
“I think he will come around. Give him some time.”
“You just met him. You cannot possibly know how this will go.”
Catrin shrugged. “I have a good feeling about him.”
After Catrin left, Grace climbed the stairs to check on Dafydd. She was surprised to find the door to her bedchamber open ajar. She opened it slightly farther so she could see what was happening.
Owen sat on the bed with Dafydd in his lap. The two of them were looking intently at each other, and Owen was speaking so softly, Grace couldn’t hear him.
She felt her heart squeeze. Here was Owen interacting with his son, which most aristocratic fathers would not have done. Grace was moved that Owen would take the time. Tears stung her eyes, as they had so often since Dafydd’s birth. Her midwife had told her to expect this, but she still hated how little control she had over her emotions.
She must have made a sound, because Owen’s head suddenly jerked toward her.
“Grace,” he said softly.
“Sorry, I did not mean to interrupt. Catrin just left and I wanted to check on Dafydd.”
“I was just—”
“There’s no need to explain.” She walked into the room. “You should spend time with him. Talk to him. I love that you are doing that.”
Owen’s expression softened. “Are you crying?”
She wiped at her eyes. “I do a lot of crying these days. I feel sometimes like my body is not my own again yet.”
Owen cradled the baby in his arms. “I cannot imagine what that must have been like.” He looked down at Dafydd. “He is a good-looking little man, I can say that much.”
“He must feel safe with you.” She gestured at Dafydd’s face. He was struggling to keep his eyes open as he snuggled against his father’s chest.
“I want him to feel safe with me. I was trying to get him used to the sound of my voice. I do not know how much babies understand.”
“I likely know little more about babies than you do. A lot of the time, I am just guessing. But I think familiarity probably helps. If he recognizes your face and understands you will not harm him, he will learn to trust you. But I am just guessing.”
“But you had three weeks more than I did. You should give yourself more credit. You likely understand more than you think”
There was no animosity in his voice, but Grace knew he was still upset.
“We should talk,” she said.
“Yes, but not right now. Let us not disturb him.”
She nodded and sat next to Owen on the bed.
She wanted to tell him everything. How much she regretted not being completely honest with him. How much the distance he put between them was killing her. How much she wanted the magic of their honeymoon back, the promise of that kiss he had given her when he’d first arrived home. She wanted to give him time to decide how he felt about everything, but she wanted him back, too.
But not right now.
“I think I may need to lay down for a little before dinner,” she said, standing back up. “He’s asleep now. If you leave him in the crib, I will hear him if he wakes up.”
“All right. I’ll put him in there in a few minutes. I just want to hold him a little longer.”
“Take your time.” Grace smiled at him. She was suddenly very tired. She left the room before she started crying again.
Chapter Twenty
About a weekafter Owen returned home, as they had dinner, Grace asked him when he planned to return to London.
“I have not given it much thought yet. I had thought to stay here at least a month, but I have no specific need to go back.”
