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Chapter 14

February 1876

February came in cold with drifts of snow on the ground. The babes were sitting up by themselves now and as the first teeth came in I decided it was time for them to start drinking from either a bottle or cup. Now, when the babies needed to be fed, someone else could feed them as well. It was a relief. Sylvie was happy to help in that chore and Erik, although grumbling about it and acting a bit put upon, delighted in feeding his babies, it could now be accomplished in half the time.

It was nearing our one year wedding anniversary. Erik spent much time behind the closed doors of his study.

"Are you ready for lunch Jenny?" Erik asked as came out of his study. I had been folding clothes but at his mention of food, I swallowed queasily.

"You go ahead I'm not really hungry." I said willing my stomach to settle.

"Are you all right? You haven't been eating breakfast lately either." He paused, a calculating look in his eyes. "When was your last monthly? You're not…?" He glanced down at my stomach the back to my eyes. His eyebrow cocked. "Are you…?" He asked softly.

"Excuse me a minute." I said covering my mouth as I ran for the wc. Erik was waiting at the door when I came out.

"In answer to your questions, I believe so." I said sitting down weakly.

"You weren't sick like this with the twins." He said worriedly.

"No pregnancy is the same love. Don't worry, it's quite common, it will pass." I tried to reassure him. He looked at me a moment and then pulled me to him brushing his check against the top of my head.

"Have I told you how much I love you angel?" He whispered.

"Not since this morning." I said smiling at him.

"Then it's overdue, I love you angel, but did you have to mean it when you said many children? The twins aren't even a year old yet." He said smiling.

"I think you had a little bit to do with that my love, all that making up we did."

"Can I help it if you are so beautiful that I just can't resist your charms?" He said grinning as he stood there rocking me gently back and forth. "Why don't you lie down a bit angel, maybe you'll feel better after a nap. I'll bring a tray up later, maybe some soup will help." He said as he led me to the bed, kissing my check before he left the room. I took his advice and lay down. I don't know how much later it was, but a loud whisper intruded upon my dreams.

"Papa Erik, she's still asleep. Should we wake her?" I heard Sylvie whisper.

"It's alright Sylvie I'm awake." I said and turned my head to look at her. Erik was standing there with a tray as he promised and Mouse was holding some flowers from the conservatory. Sylvie was standing there chewing on her lip.

"Mama we didn't mean to wake you. Papa Erik said you weren't feeling well, we just wanted to make you feel better."

"Oh Sylvie you did make me feel better. Thank you Mouse the flowers are beautiful." I said as he handed them out to me. "Why don't you put them in the vase on the nightstand and then come and give me a hug." I said and put my arms out to them.

"Mama we don't want you to be sick." Sylvie said sadly. I looked up at Erik and he nodded in agreement.

"I'm not really sick Sylvie. You and Mouse are going to have another brother or sister."

"Really, when Mama?" Sylvie asked excitedly. Mouse bounced on the bed to get my attention and held up two fingers in question. Erik groaned.

"Twins again? Lord I hope not." He laughed. "Those two are enough of a handful. In answer to your question it should be sometime in September. Now, let Jenny eat before her soup gets cold." He said as he shooed them from the room. He brought me the tray and put it over my lap. I looked at the soup willing my stomach to stay put.

"Try to eat a little angel." He asked softly. Cautiously I swallowed a spoonful and with the success of the mouthful, I tried another. Erik started pacing the room as I ate, dragging his hand through his hair. I watched him pace a few moments.

"Darling, please sit down you are making me nervous." I said. He turned and looked at me and the anguish in his eyes was apparent. "Love there is no more reason to believe this child will be any less perfect than the twins." I sat the tray aside and went to him, he wrapped me him his arms.

"I can't help my fears angel. I never want a child of mine put through what I was."

"But a child of ours would never have that experience. We would love it, as would the rest of the family. But it doesn't matter because that will never happen. You're going to have to get over your fear eventually. I promised you many children didn't I. At the rate, we're going there will indeed be many." I looked up to see the expression in his face. He cupped my face gazing at my eyes, traces of worry still there, and then he smiled.

"Could you try to be a little less fertile?" He chuckled. "I know you threatened me with many children, but you could at least wait until the preceding one is at least a year old. Not even married a year and already working on a second child." He said as he buried his face in my neck.

"I really think you have something to do with that you know. You just look at me and poof I'm with child." I said laughing and met his searching lips with my own.

"If that were true you would have been with child the first night we were together. How are you feeling now?" he asked as he led me to the chair. He sat down pulling me into his lap and cradling me against him.

"Much better, in fact I'm feeling very good right now." I said mischievously and subtly shifted my body, feeling him harden is answer to my move.

"You see what you do to me." He groaned and his lips found the base of my throat. My breath caught at the sensations his lips caused. He slid his hand up cupping my breast, sliding his thumb across its tip until it tightened under his touch. His fingers went to the buttons of my blouse and slowly released my breasts to his view. I leaned back offering them to his touch and he obliged by taking one nipple into his mouth, his tongue teasing, his mouth sucking. His hand slid down to my ankle, and reaching beneath my skirt slowly slid back up the inside of my leg. His hand went between my legs gently massaging through the material of my drawers and then reached up and started to slide them down. I lifted myself to make it easier for him, and brought my lips to his throat and then took possession of his mouth, my tongue demanding entrance his tongue meeting mine. His questing fingers again slid between my legs, and finding what he was seeking gently started rubbing with his thumb, his finger dipping deep inside. I gasped, pushing out to him, moaning as he brought me to a shuddering climax. I cradled his face kissing him deeply and then I slid from his lap between his legs, scattering kisses down his chest as I went. My hands slid to the hard ridge threatening to burst from his trousers, he groaned as my hand slid up its length, and then helped me free it from its prison pulling me back up he turned me from him and sliding my skirt up, he pulled me down upon him, filling me with his length. One hand gripped my breast and the other found that spot that drove me wild, until we were both panting, trembling with release. He brushed damp tendrils from my face, pressing kisses into my hair. When he eased out of me, he turned me to him, again cradling me to his damp chest.

"My poor angel, I don't give you a moments rest, do I. Ah but I do love you so." He said as he ran his fingers through my hair.

"Do you hear me complaining love? I never can seem to get enough of you; your very touch turns to flame." I put my hand to his cheek and smiled. I pulled his face down to me, mouth opening to his questing tongue, and then he pulled back, his green eyes crinkling in humor.

"Promise me one thing." He said smiling. "No more twins. Please."