He did adore her. Sitting behind her to offer strength while she delivered their child, there was nothing else it could be. He would not change a thing about Adelaide, not a single iota of wit or shift of tumultuous emotions. He wanted her with him always, just as she was, and to share their life together reveling in that love. Declaring it. Demonstrating it.

Embracing it.

He loved his wife.

Of all surprising things, that had to be the most surprising.

He inched a trifle closer to Adelaide now, raising her up just a touch more against him. “Breathe, my love. Breathe, and push.”

She did so, curling up a little to bear down, a guttural howl accompanying her efforts.

And then…

“Aah,” Adelaide suddenly grunted, leaning back against Harrison hard.

“And there you are,” the doctor said, suddenly cradling an infant in his hands.

The baby screwed up its face and let out a tiny wail of outrage that made Harrison gasp with a wave of emotion.

The cries continued, and Adelaide began to laugh breathlessly as she lay on Harrison, the laughter soon mixing with tears.

“Well, young sir, good morning to you as well,” the doctor chuckled as he wrapped the baby in cloth. He smiled up at Harrison and Adelaide. “A fine, healthy boy.”

Harrison had no words, could only gape at the baby while his wife laughed. “Addie…” he finally breathed.

She reached back and gripped the back of his neck. “Look at him!”

“Oh, my love…” Harrison shifted behind her, turning her face toward his and kissing her, finding her lips to be exuberantly receptive and kissing him back with a fervency that robbed him of the limited thought of the moment.

She broke off, tears streaming from her eyes as she beamed, her fingers curling into his hair. She looked back toward the baby, taking Harrison’s hand again and curling it around herself. “He has his mother’s lungs.”

“And his faather’s hair,” Emblyn laughed, wiping her eyes. “Look a’that.”

Harrison did, admiring the collection of thick, dark curls atop the baby’s head as the nurse brought the baby around the bed to them.

She placed the baby in Adelaide’s waiting arms. “Congratulations, my lord. My lady.”

Adelaide sniffled as she looked down at their baby. “Good morning, sweet boy. Welcome to the world.”

Harrison wrapped his arms around her, propping his chin on her shoulder as his own emotions became difficult to control. “He is so beautiful, Addie. Well done.”

“Beauty cannot be entirely attributed to me,” she teased. “Some of the credit is due to you.”

He kissed her cheek quickly. “If you say so, love.”

Adelaide sighed, leaning her head back on his shoulder. “We have a baby. We have a baby, Harrison.”

“We have a family, Addie,” he told her, nuzzling against her just a little. “We have a family.”

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Three