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not ready to take any pleasure for himself.  This was going to be all about her, and she willingly surrendered all control and gave herself up to him, knowing she was safe in his keeping. 
    For a good while, all worry was purged from Louisa’s mind as she stared up at the moon, not wanting to tear her gaze away from its mystical power.  Her body felt weightless and untethered, the tension building inside her until she shuddered beneath Kit, closing her eyes at last and floating on a cloud of contentment.

July 1779
    Virginia
     

Chapter 11
     
    Finn stretched luxuriously, reluctant to get out of bed.  Abbie was already up, changing Diana’s clout before taking her back into their bed for her morning feeding and cuddle.  Diana was already on solid food, but Abbie still nursed her in the mornings and before bed to make sure she got enough nourishment.  Diana usually wore more of her food than she ate, and Abbie worried as any new mother would that her baby would starve.  Finn kissed the rounded cheek, thinking that the cherubic Diana looked far from starvation with everyone constantly offering her freshly baked bread with butter and honey, apple sauce, or porridge. 
    Finn tried to kiss Abbie, but she moved away, still annoyed with Finn for accepting the assignment.  Deep down, she knew he had to go; he couldn’t just sit there by his wife’s side while men died fighting for freedom.  He promised his parents that he wouldn’t join the army, but he never promised that he wouldn’t work behind the scenes, bringing and receiving important messages and trying to sabotage the enemy in any way he could.  Finn cuddled Diana while Abbie readjusted her shift and got out of bed.  “Why don’t you hand Diana to your mother and come back for a cuddle yourself?” he suggested, patting the space next to him.  He was never sure of what her reaction was going to be these days.
    They’d resume d marital relations two months after the birth and Finn naively expected things to go back to normal, but although he couldn’t get enough of Abbie, she didn’t seem to share his ardor.  She was always tired, and her body tensed every time he touched her, her hips swiveling away from him almost of their own accord as he tried to make love to her.  Abbie’s face expressed anything but joy, making Finn feel guilty for wanting her, and feeling as if he were forcing her to do something she didn’t want to.  He wished he could talk to someone about this, but he could hardly ask his father-in-law if Hannah Mallory had the same aversion to sex after the birth of their children, so all he could do was bide his time and hope that Abbie’s body would finally return to normal. 
    He finally broke down and confided in his father during one of their visits shortly after the baby was born, relieved to see his father’s smile of understanding. 
    “Just give her a little time, Finn,” his father said, patting him on the shoulder.  “Her body has just gone through her first pregnancy and birth, and now it’s working to produce enough milk to nurse a child.  She’s overwhelmed, tired, and anxious about the baby, as all new mothers are.  The first year is crucial since so many things can go wrong.  She still loves you and wants you, but you are no longer her first priority.  Get used to it, my boy,” Alec said with a grin, “you won’t be for quite some time, especially once you have more children.”
    Finn felt a little better after the talk, doing his best to be understanding and giving Abbie time.  His father had been right, and Abbie finally began to come around once Diana stopped nursing every few hours and slept longer during the night.  Her full sexual appetite returned a few months ago, and she was eager to make love, especially in the mornings when she was still full of energy and drive. 
    Abbie smiled seductively as she dove back into bed.  “Hurry, I left Diana with Annie and Sarah, so we only have a few minutes