A Proper Lord's Wife (Properly Spanked Legacy 2)

“And as caring and generous as you.” She felt suddenly close to tears. She blinked them away and touched the puppy’s paws. “He has white socks, Edward. Look. Oh, this adorable thing.” She held the furry bundle to her cheek. An eager pink tongue darted out to lick her a bit more enthusiastically as little paws scrabbled on her shoulder. “He’s not trembling anymore,” she said. “He’s growing used to me.”

“Indeed, he is. He knows he’s in excellent hands. What is this adorable little man’s name? What shall we call him? You ought to choose.”

Jane thought about typical dog names. Charger, Spot, Rover, Laddie. Her dog needed a special name, because he was more special than the other dogs of his type, who were content to run around barking and herding livestock. Her dog would be a beloved companion, a real member of their family. Their growing family.

“He looks very wise,” she said, gazing into the puppy’s luminous eyes. “I don’t think he is stupid at all, just given to daydreams rather than herding. Perhaps we should name him after a famous philosopher. Since he has socks for paws…how about Socrates?”

“Socrates, for a dog with socks.” He patted the pup’s soft head. “I like it.”

“Do you remember the first day we met, when we walked in the garden and you quoted Socrates to me?”

He thought a moment, then said, “‘An unexamined life is not worth living.’”

“Yes. I was so happy when you said that. I knew if you liked Socrates that we would get along.”

His lips quirked in a half smile. “It took a bit of time for us to get along. But my parents also had tension early in their marriage, and look at them now, supremely happy after thirty years.”

“Think how happy we’ll be in thirty years.”

He kissed her again. “I adore you, Jane. Every day, you make me examine my life in ways I never thought.”

“Good ways, I hope.”

“My sweet love. Of course, good ways.” He smiled at her, stroking her cheek. How her heart pounded when he looked at her that way. She felt close to tears again, although she wasn’t sad at all. Perhaps it was her pregnancy that was making her so emotional. Why, ewes were known for their fitful behavior while pregnant.

“Would you like to hold him a while?” she asked.

He took the dog when she offered it, collecting its gangly legs. “Hello, Socrates,” he said to the puppy. “Do you know, my life was profoundly unexamined before I met your new mama? She changed me. Otherwise I probably wouldn’t be holding you right now.”

Socrates cocked his head in a comical way, as if trying to understand his words. They laughed together, then Jane pretended to frown.

“In the carriage, when I spoke of more pets, you said I ought to concentrate on gardening. I felt sad about it, but you were only toying with me, weren’t you?”

“Well, I couldn’t give away the surprise.” He put Socrates back in his blanket, then leaned closer to her before the fire. “Goodness, Jane, I fully expect more pets through the years. As long as you’ll still have time for me too.”

“I will, I promise.”

Socrates let out a soft snort and turned in a circle, looking for a comfortable place. He came to rest with his head against Jane’s knee and his tail lying against Edward’s thigh. His clumsy puppy paws curled against his body and he sighed in contentment.

“I love you,” said Edward quietly. “I love you for giving me this.”

She scratched behind one of Socrates’s floppy ears. “But you gave him to me.”

“That’s not what I mean. I love you for giving me this, right now.” He scratched Socrates’ other ear until Jane looked up at him. “Love isn’t obsession. It’s not some quest for perfection. It’s moments like this, isn’t it? A cozy parlor, a snoring pup, and the most beautiful, caring wife one could ever hope to be married to.”

She reached to take his hand, her heart full to bursting at his words. “We are so lucky, Edward. Let’s never forget how lucky we are.”

“We won’t. I need only see you smile, and I remember.”

As their puppy snoozed, as Mrs. Cuddles began a journey to a new life, Jane leaned into her husband’s embrace and thought how mistakes could become opportunities, and imperfections an irresistible invitation to love.

THE END