The Nanny of House Herzen - Chapter 61
“What if… you end up wanting to nurse from another wet nurse instead?”
Carius remembered Evelyn’s words from long ago. The thought that she might still worry about such things made him smile. It seemed like a misunderstanding she might hold on to.
“I wish there weren’t any other wet nurses… I can do better. I’ll try harder.”
But dwelling on her pleas was cruel. That day, while nursing from her, he had soon found himself pushing within her warm, snug path. Remembering how hot and tight she had felt brought heat back to his body that had only just cooled from his ride.
“Whoo.”
Carius pushed those thoughts away.
He shed his dusty clothes and washed himself in cool water. It took him a moment to replace those sweet memories with the comforting thought of his pregnant wife and their child.
After changing into clean clothes, he headed to their shared bedroom where he found Evelyn sitting in a rocking chair, reading a book.
Except for the blanket-covered bump, she didn’t even look pregnant. It always felt unfair to him to be out riding and using his strength while she was there.
She noticed his return and closed her book, her voice gentle as she greeted him.
“You’re back?”
Carius put on a kind face, masking his earlier turmoil.
“Yes, how are you feeling?”
He asked tenderly and Evelyn gave a faint smile.
“I feel okay. The baby moved.”
Delighted, Carius placed his hand on her rounded belly. Sometimes he got lucky and felt a little kick, but at that moment, it was still.
Watching Evelyn closely, he cautiously suggested,
“The weather’s nice. Shall we take a short walk in the garden?”
As the due date approached, Evelyn grew increasingly anxious. The memory of her premature labor haunted her. When her fear intertwined with Carius’s bad memories, they found themselves too worried to do much of anything.
Worried about misstepping on the stairs, Evelyn even avoided going outside. Their once frequent relationship had significantly dwindled, which had never happened before.
However, Evelyn knew well that Carius was concerned about her and cared deeply. So, she couldn’t bring herself to reject his rare suggestion for a walk.
“Alright.”
With his help, she clumsily descended the stairs like a child learning to walk.
They strolled down the main path of the estate, lined with trees newly planted to Evelyn’s taste, which had grown tall and strong over the summer.
The sun was setting, casting a warm glow on the ground. The western sky was ablaze with colors more vivid than flowers, promising good weather for the next day.
Evelyn, lost in the beauty of the sky, stopped walking.
Meanwhile, Carius stepped under a nearby tree. He ran his hand along the sturdy trunk and spoke.
“It was here that I first saw you.”
Evelyn snapped out of her thoughts and turned to him. Above his head was the rounded canopy of the tree.
Indeed, this was the spot where they first met. Even when the garden was being redesigned, he had insisted on keeping this tree as a memento, but she had been too preoccupied to notice, even when it was this close.
Despite everything, remembering that moment still made Evelyn blush.
When they first met, he had abruptly commanded her to strip. His gaze alone had made her wet. She had wanted him instantly, as if daring to dream of the heavens.
“You were quite unreasonable that day.”
Carius chuckled at Evelyn’s belated complaint.
“Was I?”
He asked back nonchalantly, then continued.
“That day, for the first time, I was curious about someone else. Wondering where this white and beautiful being had suddenly come from to stand on my land, why those luscious lips wouldn’t answer me, and why such a sweet scent was emanating from you.”
Evelyn stood there, blushing. He remembered how he had shown interest in her in such a peculiar way from the first moment they met. She didn’t know exactly when that intense curiosity had turned into affection.
He went on.
“You were so beautiful, I thought you might disappear like a mirage if I touched you.”
Evelyn, almost feeling like the woman she was when they first met, looked up at the master of the land.
A gentle touch grazed her cheek.
“…Blonde.”
He had said back then.
With his large hand cradling Evelyn’s small face, Carius continued.
“You didn’t disappear. Instead, you kept making me curious, excited me, and almost made me lose my mind.”
Just as Evelyn was about to protest against this belated reproach, he added.
“Only you could make me kneel, kiss your feet, and make me act like this.”
As he slowly knelt on one knee, Evelyn was embarrassed and hurriedly tried to stop him.
“Carius.”
He drew her hand to his lips and kissed it lingeringly.
“If it hadn’t been you standing there, I would never have done it. Do I need to say it for you to understand?”
Evelyn, her hand still clasped in his, bowed her head.
Beth must have told him everything. It was embarrassing, but she had to admit she had been acting strangely enough to cause him to worry about her.
