Fairchild (34 page)

“Just a very little,” she assured him. “You still have the lion’s share.”

“Well,” Tom said, leaning back into the pillows and flinging an arm around his wife, “Lord knows I can’t withhold you anything. At least she gave me a year’s warning.” He kissed her ear, brushing aside her curls, still mussed from sleep. And, because once he had kissed her hair, he had to kiss her face and then her mouth, neither one of them said anything.
 

A few minutes later, though, Sophy picked up the letter and laughed again.
 

“At least you can laugh about it,” Tom said. “Are you sure? What if she tries to eat me?”
 

Sophy looked at Tom. “You’ll manage,” she said. “You listen too much to Jasper. She knows when she’s met her match. So do I.” And with the light-fingered touch that Tom loved best, she took his face in her hands.