His words were more gentle than Caroline had expected and for a moment it seemed as if the storm perhaps had passed and only the lingering dampness remained in a sad reminder. He stepped toward her and then again. And then he stopped, his eyes on her hands - her stomach, she realized as his question pushed her.

She swallowed at his tone, That tone, she was learning, was a tone that held his on disappointments - flat and emotionless. As emotionless as her's was rounded by emotions. But she kept her gaze on his face. "Yes." The word felt dry and rough on her lips. "I suspected. as much ... but I wanted to be sure before I told you." She hadn't wanted to get his hopes up, or really, even her own hopes. But each day that had passed it had become more and more clear to her.