Kingsly was in the downstairs study handling the details of their wedding the next day, while Rachel was in the nursery telling Jackson a story. At nine o'clock, after she had lulled Jackson to sleep, she returned to her room.
Ann had already brought Nora into the room, and the little girl was sleeping soundly in her crib. Rachel leaned down to kiss her daughter's tender cheek, then contentedly went to take a bath.
By the time she finished bathing, it was nearly ten o'clock, and Kingsly still hadn't come back to the room. Rachel had initially planned to go downstairs to find him, but she thought it might ruin the surprise he was preparing for their wedding the next day, so she stayed in the room to wait for him.
So much had happened recently that tonight felt unusually peaceful and calm.
The sky-blue curtains in the room were drawn open, and the breeze coming in made Rachel feel even more refreshed.
