does greatly please... —Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queen “How?” Alex said when she had regained the power of speech. “How did you get here?” “No matter,” Burke replied. “I found you.” He put his hands on her mounded belly and looked up into her face. “Did you know?” she asked. “Maura told me.” “Would you have come after me anyway?” He took her hand and held it to his mouth. “How can you ask?” he said, and closed his eyes as her fingers curled against his cheek. “You have a beard now,” she said, smiling. “More than that, probably, crawling in my clothes. I’ve been on the road for several days and before that on a ship.” “I thought never to see you again,” she whispered. “I’m a hard man to be rid of,” he said, and grinned, his teeth white against his brown beard. “You’re so thin,” Alex said. “I’ve not eaten much since I left the navy.” “The navy!” “I’ll tell you about it later. Now we must go.” He stood up and offered her his hand.
