Julie Garwood - The Gift

"How shall I prove myself to you?" Sara asked. "Should I shoot one of your brothers to gain your approval, do you suppose?"

She was jesting. He took her suggestion to heart. "Well, now, I suppose it would depend upon which brother you shot. Tom's always a good choice."

"For God's sake, Dunnford, Sara was teasing you."

Dunnford grunted. "Then why'd she offer?"

Caine shook his head. "It was a jest in reference to the time you shot your brother," he explained.

Dunnford rubbed his beard. His grin was devilish. "So you heard about that little misunderstanding, did you? Tom doesn't hold a grudge," he added. "Pity, that. A good feud livens up a family."

Before anyone could remark upon that outrageous remark Dunnford let out a low growl. "Where's your husband? I'm wanting a word with him."

"He should be here any minute," Caine said.

"Where is your wife?" Sara asked. "I would like to meet her."

"Whatever for?" Dunnford countered. "She's probably in the dining room seeing about my meal."

"Aren't you going to say hello to me?" Jade asked her uncle. "You're pretending I'm not even here. Are you still upset because I gave Caine a daughter and not a son?"

"You carrying again yet?" Dunnford asked.

Jade shook her head.

"Then I ain't speaking to you until I get a nephew." He turned to Caine. "You bedding her proper?" he demanded.

Caine grinned. "Every chance I get," he drawled out, Sara turned red with embarrassment. She noticed that Jade was trying not to smile. Dunnford was giving Nathan's sister a hard glare. Then he turned to Sara again, and suddenly the older man reached out and clasped the sides of her hips with his big hands.

"What are you doing?" Caine demanded in a whisper. He tried to push Dunnford's hands away.

Sara was too astonished by the bold action to move. She simply stared down at his hands.

"I'm taking her measure," Dunnford announced. "She don't look wide enough to bring a babe into the world. The skirt could be deceiving," he added with a nod. "Aye, you might be wide enough."

He was now staring at her chest. Sara's hands immediately covered her bosom. She wasn't about to let him measure anything else.

"I can see you got yourself enough to feed the babe. Are you carrying yet?"

Her face couldn't possibly turn any hotter. She took a step forward. "You will behave yourself," she whispered. "If you touch me again, sir, I will strike you. Are you completely without manners?"

Dunnford guessed he was. When he said so, Sara took yet another step toward him. Caine was amazed by her boldness. Just as astonishing was the fact that Dunnford actually backed up. "I would like a cup of punch, Uncle Dunnford," Sara said then. "It would be proper for you to fetch it for me."

Dunnford shrugged. Sara let out a sigh. "I do suppose I could ask one of the Winchesters to fetch it for me," she said then.

"They'd spit on you first," Dunnford announced. "You're swaying toward our side of the family, aren't you?"

She nodded. He grinned. "I'll be happy to fetch a drink for you."

Sara watched her uncle force his way through the crowd. There was a line waiting for the servant to ladle out a portion of the pink punch. Dunnford pushed the line of guests aside with a hard shove.

"I wouldn't drink any of the punch if I were you," Caine drawled out after Dunnford picked up the giant punch bowl and took several long gulps. He put the bowl back on the table, then dunked a cup into the liquid and turned to walk back across the room.

He wiped his beard with the back of his hand when he presented the cup to Sara.

Caine noticed there was no longer a line in front of the punch bowl. He reached out and grabbed the punch so that Dunnford couldn't accidentally spill the pink liquid on Sara.

"Tell Nathan I'm wanting a word with him," Dunnford announced once again. He added a frown to his reminder, then turned his back and walked over to the far side of the room where his relatives were standing.

Sara noticed the other guests made a wide path for the man. She decided then that he was very like Nathan.

"The marquess of St. James."

The shouted announcement drew everyone's attention. Sara turned to look up at the entrance. Her heart started beating frantically at the sight of her husband. She'd never seen him dressed in formal attire before. It was a bit overwhelming. His hair was bound behind his neck, and he wore the black jacket and pants like a mighty king. The arrogance in both his stance and his expression made her knees weak.

She instinctively started to walk toward him.

It was easy for Nathan to find his wife in the crowd. As soon as his name had been announced the guests had all moved toward the corners. Sara stood all alone in the center of the dance floor.

She looked magnificent to him. She was so delicate, so exquisite, so… damned naked.

Nathan bounded down the stairs toward his wife. He was already taking his jacket off.

As soon as Nathan came down the steps the Winchesters started forward. The St. James men immediately imitated that action.

Caine nudged Jade. "Go sit down," he whispered. "There could be trouble, and I don't want to have to worry about you."

Jade nodded. She wanted Caine's mind solely on protecting her brother. Then she spotted Colin coming down the steps. From the bulge under his jacket she surmised he was armed for any eventuality.

Nathan had his jacket off, but when he reached Sara he couldn't remember what he was supposed to do with it.

"Sara?"

"Yes, Nathan?"

She waited for him to say something more.

He seemed content to stand there and stare at her. Her love was so apparent in her gaze. Her smile was tender. Dear God, he thought, he was unworthy of her, and yet she loved him.

He broke out in a cold sweat. He started to reach for the handkerchief Colin had stuffed in his pocket, then realized he was holding the coat in his hands. He couldn't imagine why. He put it back on. He couldn't take his gaze off his beautiful wife, and his arm got all caught up in the sleeve, but he finally righted the thing.

Sara stepped forward and adjusted his cravat just so, then moved back again.

And still he couldn't speak to her. God, it had to be right, he told himself. She deserved that much. No, no, it had to be perfect for her, not just right, he decided once again. He'd take her down to the library, get the papers signed, and then he'd…

"I love you, Sara." His voice sounded as if he'd just had a taste of her soup.

She made him tell her again. Her eyes were filled with tears, and he knew she'd heard him the first time. "I wasn't supposed to say that-not yet, anyway," he muttered. "I love you."

Her expression didn't change. His did. He looked as though he was going to be sick.

She took pity on him. "I know you love me, Nathan. It took me a long while to realize it-almost as long as it took for you to come and fetch me-but I know now. You've loved me for a long time, haven't you?"

His relief was obvious. "Why didn't you tell me you knew?" he demanded in a whisper. "Damn it, Sara, I went through hell."

Her eyes widened, and her face turned pink. "You went through hell? You're the one who refused to have any faith in me. You're the one who would never tell me what was in your heart. I told you all the time, Nathan."

He shook his head. His grin was sheepish. "No, Sara, not all the time. You told me once a day. Some days you waited until after dinner. I'd find myself getting nervous."

She took a step toward him. "You waited each day for me to tell you I loved you?"

He could tell from her expression that she was pleased with his confession. "Will you marry me?" he asked her in a fervent whisper. He'd leaned down until he was almost touching her forehead. "I'll get down on one knee if you want me to, Sara. I won't like it," he added in a rush of honesty. "But I'll do it. Please marry me."