“Good, then my concern was far more practical. What do you use for birth control?”

It takes me a moment to understand what she means, the phrase unfamiliar.

“For preventing a pregnancy?” I shake my head. “We are not having the sort of intimate relations that would cause one. Nicolas insists on that until we have French letters, for both protection against pregnancy and disease.”

Rosalind smiles. “Then I like him even more. I will also point out that your young physician may benefit from the gift of modern medical texts, which would show that the spread of disease is not contained to intercourse. However, if he seems healthy in that respect—and you do as well—we will temporarily overlook that danger. The twenty-first century has far more effective and more comfortable methods of protection than his ‘French letters.’ Bronwyn can procure those. Until then, I’m sure you can find plenty of amusements short of that.” She waves at the door. “Go. Just watch that you lock the door and do not make enough noise to have Edmund investigating again.”

I slip into Nicolas’s room. He is at the window, still dressed, gazing out. When he sees me, he smiles.

“I had hoped you could slip away.”

“Rosalind knows where I am, and she does not object. She has also promised us proper methods of birth and disease protection from the twenty-first century.”

“That is both wonderful to hear and terrifying at the same time. The thought that one can simply pop into the future to obtain such things . . .”

“Wondrous?”

“Truly wondrous.”

He swings me off my feet and carries me to the bed, where he lays me on top and crawls on beside me.

“Should we not draw back the coverlet first?” I say.

“That would suggest I am ready for more than conversation.”

I slump onto the bed. “As much as I enjoy your conversation, Nico, I cannot help but feel we may have done enough talking for one night.”

“If you are tired, then we will indeed pull back the coverlet. If you are not, then I must beg your indulgence a while longer. There are things I need to say.”

I sober and turn on my side to look at him. “I was only teasing. We may discuss whatever you need to discuss.”

“Thank you.” He slides closer, hands going around my hips. “You came through time for me, Miranda. Yes, you did not intend to, but Fate brought you through time for me, and then you insisted on helping me even when I was far from a gracious recipient of your concern. You did not merely impart a warning. You broke from the room where I rudely imprisoned you, and you pursued me to be sure I was safe, and when you were shot doing so, you continued, badly wounded, to save me. That part was not Fate. That was you. Sometimes, the stitch seems to be whatever the ladies of this house need it to be. It brought you to me, and that is no small thing. I believe it is confirmation of what I already know. That we have found one another, across the centuries. That what I feel is no passing whim. No strange fancy. I am in love with you, and I do not wish to lose you.”