“But it's no sin,” he promised her, his silver eyes seeming to stare deep into
her heart. “We're married, so you can rest assured that our lovemaking in no way
damages your virtue.”
“I know that.” She returned his impassioned gaze. “I can feel it.”
“And can you feel this?” He slipped her hand into his lap, below the cover,
onto his straining erection.
She sighed with happiness. “Yes. How lovely!”
“And fortunately, here we are at home. Come along, love.”
He urged her through the icy cold to the door at record speed, and they hurried up into their cozy bedroom where they stripped off their clothing and stretched out on the bed, eager to be close again.
CHAPTER 13
K aterina had never been near a train before and looked doubtfully
at the gigantic metal beast that puffed and snorted ominously at
them through its bulbous smokestack. The black, soot-stained body of the
massive vehicle gleamed dully even with the ribbed and vaulted roof of the station dimming the feeble sunshine. How could such a large and heavy machine
be faster than a horse?
The steam whistle let out an earsplitting screech and she flinched. She wasn't
the only one. Several of the milling passengers jumped at the noise. Christopher
abandoned propriety and wrapped his arm around his wife. This earned them several sharp glances from stuffy-looking matrons, but they ignored them. He guided her up the stairs and found them a seat, quickly stowing their baggage on
racks above their heads before joining her on the threadbare red fabric.
“How are you doing, love?” he asked, concern wreathing his face.
“Well enough,” she replied as she settled back into the seat. “I had no idea trains were so loud.”
“Oh, well anything run on steam is bound to be noisy,” he explained. “It has
to escape, you know? You should hear the cotton mill.”
“May I?” she asked, curious about the work her husband enjoyed so much.
The question made him smile. “If you would like. I wouldn't mind showing it
to you some time.
“I've heard… things about those places,” she said, asking a silent question with pleading eyes.
“No doubt all are true,” he replied grimly, acknowledging how sad factory work was for most employees, “but ours is not like that. Father and I ensure that
our mill is one of the most congenial, best paid and safest. Our employees seem
to appreciate it, but still, it's a messy, hot, noisy place to work.” His eyes glowed as he spoke.
“You love it there, don't you?” she asked.
“Yes,” he admitted easily. “I like to invent things, and a factory is a fine place to do it.”
“Good. I think enjoying your work is good for you. People who hate what they do seem… grumpy.”
“Well, love, work takes up a huge amount of a person's life. If you hate it, what's left? I don't want to live that way, and I don't want my employees to either. I wouldn't like to think they dread waking up in the morning and coming
to the factory.”
“With everything you and your mother have told me about the place,”
Katerina replied, “you've made it far better than you had to. Unless your employees hate the job itself, the environment shouldn't do it.”
He grinned widely, teeth flashing, and she knew she'd said just the right thing. Thinking of others is becoming easier, and I truly enjoy making someone
else feel good. This revelation set off her own grin.
