Maggie turned bright pink. “Don’t you dare suggest it!” she warned him.

Reeve touched an index finger to her upper lip, coming away with a speck of icing, which he touched to his tongue. The subtle sensuality of the motion made Maggie lower her eyes, suddenly as shy as if she’d never been touched by this man. To her utter mortification, she yawned.

Reeve laughed and kissed her on the forehead, then turned and lifted Elisabeth up into his arms. She pointed to Maggie and chirped triumphantly, “My mama!”

Forgetting her serious doubts about Reeve’s love in particular and their marriage in general, she kissed the little girl soundly on the cheek. Maggie knew she would always cherish that moment.

After making slow, sweet love, Reeve and Maggie lay still on their marriage bed, their bodies damp with exertion. Reeve’s hand caressed Maggie’s slightly rounded abdomen.

“When will this child of mine be born, Yank?” he asked quietly.

Maggie was full of happiness and faith in the future. “November.”

“Summer.” Reeve seemed to dream the word rather than say it.

Maggie smiled. “I can’t get used to November being summer. Australia is such a strange place.”

“Aye,” Reeve agreed. Then the dreamy expression left his face and he frowned. “Maggie—”

Maggie braced herself for more questions about Jamie.

“I think you should let Eleanor stay on awhile. Half the time there aren’t any servants at the property—”

“Eleanor?” Maggie interrupted pointedly. “Just when did ’Miss Kilgore’ become Eleanor?”

Reeve chuckled. “The first time she bathed me,” he teased.

Maggie stiffened. “I’d rather slave from dawn till dusk than have that woman under my roof for another day!” she spouted.

Reeve traced the pouting lines of her lower lip with a fingertip. “And I’d rather you carried our child to full term, Yank, instead of working yourself into an early birth.”

“Eleanor would never condescend to be a servant,” Maggie bristled. “She’s a nurse.”

“All the same, I’m going to ask her.”

Maggie could imagine her own humiliation if that should happen. “Reeve, you can’t. I gave her the sack, showed her the road—”

“All right. We’ll see if we can’t find someone in Brisbane.”

“Thank you.” Maggie sighed.

“Of course, I’ll have to go and take care of the matter tonight, since the coach leaves first thing tomorrow morning.”

Maggie didn’t want to give up her groom even for a few hours, but she found the prospect far more palatable than that of having Eleanor Kilgore traipsing along with them when they left. She made a face.

Reeve chuckled. “Naturally, I’ll make sure you’ve been thoroughly loved before I go.” He bent to give the peak of Maggie’s right breast a gentle lashing with his tongue, and she groaned. His hand strayed down ward to caress her most vulnerable part. “How shall I love you, Maggie?”