“I thought you would have left your car here in a parkade.”

  Orla nodded. “Right. I did. So, there is going to be a gate between my bedroom and yours?”

  “Yes, but activation will be linked to our handfasting links.”

  She chuckled and walked them to the parkade and down to the level where she had her car. She opened the car doors with a chirp, and they were soon on the road and on the way.

  “How long is your drive?”

  She thought about it. “Twenty minutes with no traffic and up to forty with it.”

  “That isn’t horrible.”

  “Why are you asking?”

  “If it was too long, I would purchase an apartment near the museum and create another linked portal. So, you could go from the country house to work in five minutes.”

  She chuckled. “I don’t need to get there that fast. I can continue to spend the weekends with you and weeknights in my house.”

  He made a harumph sound. “Do you really think that is going to be sufficient?”

  She shrugged and turned into her neighbourhood. “This is all new to me. I am figuring it out as I go.”

  He nodded. “Fine, but if you ever get lonely in the night, come to me.”

  There were a few minutes of quiet while she drove, and then, she pulled into her drive and parked in her garage. The door closed, and she led the way into her house.

  He looked around and started chuckling. “It is like walking around inside your head.”

  She nodded. “Yup. I am sorry, but the only thing I can’t think of to put somewhere is the ceramic thing that showed up on my doorstep when I got back from Underhill. I vividly recall it but have no idea how he found my address.”

  He looked at the gingerbread house in the box surrounded by tissue. “I don’t know, but I know he has a knack for finding the right woman. At least for me.”

  “Well, I don’t want to throw it out, but it is a very creepy reminder.”

  He looked into the box and lifted his head. “Suddenly, I want fudge or caramel.”

  She blushed as there was a definite undertone to his words.

  “Uh, I don’t know if fudge and tacos are a good combination.”

  He took her hand, kissed it, and said, “Show me to your bedroom.”

  She took his hand, and she pulled him up a set of stairs in her tiny house and her itty-bitty second floor. “Watch your head.”

  He bent over, and he chuckled. “This is going to take some getting used to.”

  She blushed and looked at her small double bed. “This was a bad idea.”

  Lugh asked, “May I make it more comfortable?”

  She nodded, and as he stood upright, the interior of the room bent, and the ceiling rose.

  The bed stretched and nearly filled her bedroom, but it was large enough for him to lie on. He drew with light on the doorway to her bedroom, and the image of his bedroom appeared for a moment before fading. “Now, if you want to come to me, you simply can.”

  She walked up to him and wrapped her arms around him. He kept his arms around her and inhaled against her hair.

  “You know, your scent calms me right down.”

  She chuckles. “Yours does, too, but it also winds me up.”

  “So, Dexter has invited me to the patrons’ gala.”

  “Ah. Right. I was going to mention that.” She looked up at him and smiled. “It’s in two weeks. Formal dress. You will get an invitation tomorrow.”

  He ran his hands slowly over her back. “So, what are you wearing? I don’t want to clash.”

  She blinked. “Um, I just wear a navy evening dress. Very boring.”

  “Where is it?”

  She pointed toward her tiny closet. He eased away from her and looked, examining her clothing. He nodded, and then, he walked to her dresser, easing through her lingerie drawer with respect, and then, he found her t-shirt collection.

  “I never knew that cartoon characters were so sweary.” He chuckled as he held up an image of a bunny rabbit flipping him off.

  “Um, I don’t wear them at work?” She said it as if it made things better.

  He grinned. The jeans took up half the lowest drawer. “So, we have a similarity in clothing taste.”

  As he stood, she didn’t know if he referred to the jeans, the tees, or the lingerie.

  “The formal wear will need an upgrade. I have been invited to a few events in the next year for horse trainers and breeders. Many of them are formal.”

  She bit her lip. “And you would want me with you?”

  He laughed. “Yes, especially after we have a wedding.”

  She nodded. “If you are expecting a dowry, I only come with the clothes on my back.”

  He stroked her cheek, and she turned her head as a neighbour’s headlights flashed through her window.

  Orla sighed. “Maybe we should continue this at your place. Mine makes me feel a little exposed.”

  He lifted her in his arms. “As my lady likes.”

  They stepped through the portal and were into the cooler space of his home. She relaxed instantly.

  A box appeared at the foot of the bed, and he smiled. “I wasn’t kidding; I am actually craving fudge.”

  She nodded and said, “Go ahead, I am not stopping you.”

  He traced a finger around her lips. “Would you assist?”

  She shrugged. “I don’t know; it is the taste of you that draws me, not the candy.”

  He grinned as he slid her coat off her shoulders. “Humour me, or would you prefer to play chess again?”

  “No chess, no games. When I have been at work all day, I am a bit of a humourless twit for a few hours.” She sighed, and he wrapped her in his arms. “I just need to relax for a bit.”

  “Get undressed and get into bed. I will be around if you need me.”

  She removed her boots and clothes, put them at the foot of the bed, and then, she climbed between the sheets. It took her less than five minutes, and she had dozed off.

  So much for being insatiable newlyweds.

  Chapter Ten

  Orla spent the next two days at work dodging Carlos. He still wanted to make a point of his elite status or at least the status that he had worked up in his mind. Fortunately, she was needed to meet with a few patrons who were due to check on their conserved donations and verify them with their insurer. It kept her away from her desk.

  She had just finished witnessing everyone’s signatures when she got a call. She excused herself.

  “Hello?”

  “Orla, could you please come to the office?” Dexter sounded like he was stifling laughter.

  “What is it?”

  “Your fiancé is here. He is having a chat with Carlos.”

  Orla’s eyes went wide. The curator waved her off, and she thanked him and the patrons.

  She walked quickly through the museum, heading back to the offices with a brisk swish to her skirts.

  She rounded into the offices, and Lugh was standing there, Una was staring, and Carlos was cringing.

  Dexter was standing next to Lugh and speaking urgently.

  Orla came in and screwed a smile on her features. “Lugh, I wasn’t expecting you this afternoon.”

  He turned to her, walked the few steps, and kissed her. “I need to speak with you.”

  She leaned up to him on her toes and cupped his jaw. “Why?”

  He sighed. “I found the test.”

  She winced and grabbed him by the hand to haul him to the break room. She turned and said, “I was going to tell you, but I was late for work.”

  Lugh sighed. “You don’t think that you couldn’t have mentioned this earlier?”

  “Nope. I just figured it out. I am petrified. Getting into my normal day was all I could think about.” She stood with her fists tight and her body tense.

  He stepped forward and held her. “It’s all right.”

  She shook and finally held onto his shirt. “I knew I was taking the risk, but I didn’t think that it would kick in so early.”

  “If it alters your panic, you were probably pregnant when you left Underhill. I think Puck removed that device of yours while we were together.”

  She blinked and frowned. “Why would he do that?”

  “He is trying to tie us to this realm to make it easier for underfey to reach the powers of Underhill. The more links he can get us to create, the more magic will be accessible here.”

  “Links?”

  He slid his hand between them. “Links.”

  She looked down at his hand on her belly. “Oh. Oh! So, you were hoping for this.”

  “Planning, yes. Hoping, no. If it happened, it happened, but Puck is a tricky bastard, and he seems to be in a sudden hurry.”

  She pressed her forehead to his chest. “I was just feeling weirdly sleepy every night, so I thought the test couldn’t hurt. I thought it was a false positive because it shouldn’t have been able to detect it this early.”

  “So, the information that it probably happened a few weeks ago?”

  “Makes more sense.” She chuckled with her head against him.

  He wrapped her in his arms, and he stroked her back. They stood there for a long time, and he asked her, “Do you have family nearby?”

  “No. None.”

  He sighed. “Anyone to stand as witness for you?”

  She nodded. “A few people. Why?”

  “I thought we could have the wedding sooner rather than later.” He chuckled.

  She looked up. “Why?”

  “Because in a few months, you will start showing, and I don’t know if you want to be visibly pregnant in the wedding photos.”

  She shrugged. “We don’t have to have a wedding. We can just do it legally if you want to marry by my customs.”

  He cocked his head. “Don’t you want a celebration?”

  She sighed. “Will I have you at the end of the day, regardless?”

  Lugh smiled. “You will.”

  “Then that is good enough as long as I am enough for you.”

  He stared at her and smiled. “You are all that I have wanted for a very long time.”

  “But am I enough?”

  “You are enough.” He smoothed her hair from her face. “Can I keep taking photos of you?”

  “Sure, but when I get visibly pregnant, you have to settle for silhouettes.”

  He grinned. “Deal. Now, do you want to see a physician?”

  “It is still really early.”

  “Fine, but when you are ready, may I come along?” He smiled. “I have read up on modern medicine, but I have not seen it in action yet.”

  “I sincerely hope that you won’t see anything in action for quite a while. I am not a fan of going to the doctor.”

  He chuckled. “From what I am given to understand, if you are pregnant, you will have to go for regular visits.”

  “I think I will look for a midwife. They are a little less clinical.”

  He cocked his head and smiled. “One of the guys at the farm used to be a midwife. He might even be certified.”

  “Like for people or horses?”

  “At least one of the two.” He chuckled.

  She grinned and looked up at him. “So, do you want to get a marriage license?”

  He grinned. “I do.”

  “Practice that. You are only going to need it once.”

  Lugh kissed her, and they had a moment together before Orla caught a glimpse of Una staring in the window, pointing at her ring finger.

  Orla shook her head and held up her hands toward Una, indicating no ring. Una looked disappointed.

  Lugh murmured, “Why did her face fall like that?”

  Orla turned back and ended up nose to nose. “Oh, she was looking for an engagement ring.”

  Lugh slid something onto her finger. “Like this one?”

  She looked at her left hand, and a gold band made of overlapping oak leaves was on her finger, studded with rubies and emeralds. “You had it the whole time?”

  “Since I left Underhill. I brought it with me.” He smiled. “There are more jewels, but I didn’t want to break your brain.”

  She snorted and looked at it. “It is very pretty and fits me perfectly.”

  He nodded. “It will change as your pregnancy progresses so that you won’t have circulatory issues. It also never falls off.”

  “Handy.” Orla sighed. “I really don’t need a ring.”

  “If you don’t like it, you can remove it once we have completed all the necessary rituals.” He stroked her neck with his thumb. “I will get the license, and we will get married in the next two weeks.”

  “Why wait?”

  “Because Dexter needs your help with the patrons’ gala, and you just need to rest as you adapt to your new circumstance.”

  “Fiancé?”

  “Carrying.”

  She exhaled. “Oh. Yeah. I forgot about that already.” She rubbed the back of her neck.

  He moved behind her and massaged her neck and shoulders.

  She moaned loud and then whispered, “Damnit.”

  He chuckled. “I want permission to massage you any time you seem tense.”

  She muttered, “Permission granted.”

  “Excellent. Now, let’s get out there before your coworkers fall through the door.”

  Orla went to the door quietly and yanked the door open where Carlos and Dexter were leaning. That explained why Una had been trying to read lips.

  Una suddenly squealed and darted forward. She was surprisingly limber. She grabbed Orla’s hand and looked at the ring. “Wow. It’s so intricate.”

  Dexter looked at the ring and paled but gave her a congratulatory smile. “Congratulations, Orla. That is quite the ring.”

  Carlos was staring at her as if she had grown another head. “Congratulations, Orla. This is a surprise.”

  “Why?” She knew before he said it.

  “I thought you were a lesbian.”

  The room paused and stared at him.

  Una scowled. “What does that have to do with anything? Orla’s not gay. She’s picky.”

  Orla laughed.

  Dexter looked at Carlos, and understanding dawned. “You are aggressive toward her because she spurned your advances?”

  Orla held up her right hand with two fingers. “Twice. He did not take it well.”

  Dexter looked to the other man who stood with his face alternating between white and red. “Carlos, my office. Now.”

  Orla leaned against Lugh, and he looked down at her. “I knew he was causing issues, and this would bring it to a head.”

  Una smiled. “So, when are you two getting married?”

  Orla responded. “Soon. A couple of weeks. Quick and legal.”

  Her friend was disappointed. “That sucks. Can’t you at least throw a party?”

  “I have half a dozen friends, and they all work here. It would just be a deduction for the museum.”

  Lugh snickered.

  Una had to leave to get the phone, and Orla sighed. “See? Too much drama.”

  “Dexter and Una mean well. How long have you had an issue with the other one?”

  She wrinkled her nose. “Three years? Maybe four? When I rejected him, it went from we work so well together to stay in your lane. And a few other choice collisions. So, I avoided conflict and let him have it. I am really not in the mood to keep that up.”

  Carlos came out, and his face was grey. He walked up to Lugh. “Mr. Fall, I apologize for my rude behaviour. I am sorry if I gave offense.”

  Orla gave him a slow clap and then put her hand on Lugh’s chest. “Do you feel better; do you think you can emotionally recover?”

  He put his hand over hers. “With you at my side, I shall persevere and triumph, my beloved.”

  Orla smiled and looked at Carlos. “Are you still here?”

  “I am sorry if I made you feel bad, Orla.”

  She froze and turned toward him. “You didn’t make me feel anything but frustrated rage because I couldn’t be the same level of rude bastard that I wanted to be. You were nasty, judgemental, prejudiced, and an attention-seeking whore. You have the integrity of a frozen weasel and the spine of a jellyfish. You are only aggressive when you think you can’t get caught. You. Make. Me. Feel. Nothing. And that is why I wouldn’t ever go out with you.”

  Dexter nodded. “Well said, and nothing can be construed as bullying. It was all opinion. Well done, Orla.”

  Carlos stalked off and went to grab his jacket. He left for the day.

  She sighed and looked at Dexter. “How long is he gone?”

  “He’s on administrative leave for the rest of the week.”

  “Good. I will grab his list and start confirming the invitations with the patrons. I don’t want him to contact anyone and throw a wrench in the works.”

  Dexter blinked and nodded. “He is the type, isn’t he?”

  She grinned. “I will give half the list to Una. She can charm the chrome off a bumper.”

  “Give me a third. We will block him on all fronts.”

  Lugh smiled and kissed her. “I will see you at home.”

  Orla got the list of donors and went to work. Queen of autumn? The harvest of patrons was about to begin.

  Chapter Eleven

  “No. Absolutely not.” Orla sat in Dexter’s office and crossed her arms.

  “Oh, come on. You and Lugh can ride horses from the hunt in full regalia to open the exhibit.”

  “What does regalia entail?”

  Dexter waved his hand in the air. “Medieval costume, you on that saddle he lent to the museum, the silver tack that we got from one of the donors. And he’s dressed in his elven best. We will make the front page!”

  She held up her hand. “Definitely not. I don’t want to be recognized every time I talk to a patron or donor. They get creepy. And handsy.”

  Dexter sighed. “Right. Of course.” He had an idea. “What about a mask?”

  She had a hot flush of memory from the last time she had worn a mask around Lugh.

  “I am not sure how to answer that. How large a mask?”

 

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