Page 74 of The Rebel's Prize

Imogene flashed a quick smile. "I think that is likely, yes."

She couldn't help smiling back. "You think? You're not sure? Were you and Jean-Paul...trying?" she finished, for lack of a better word.

Imogene took another sip of tea. "We discussed it. We've discussed it many times. He is, after all, a duq. There is the line to consider."

"Yes, that's true." She hesitated, not wanting to push if it was a sensitive subject. She'd been a little surprised when she'd first seen Imogene again in Anglion to learn that she and Jean-Paul hadn't had children. Granted, it was perfectly possible that Imogene had tried while Chloe had been exiled, though she hadn't felt it was her place to ask. But Imogene had access to the best healers in the empire. Surely if she and Jean-Paul wanted children urgently, they would have had them by now. Some women were unable to carry a child, of course, but there would have been rumors around court about that. And, she imagined, Imogene might have told her sometime during the months she and Lucien had spent at Sanct de Sangre. "But now discussions have turned to action?"

"Yes. It was never quite the right time before. I had things I wanted to do, and he was willing to wait. But now I feel ready." She glanced down at her stomach. "I went to see the healers when we decided. They told me it might take some time, after all, I'm hardly young and I have been drinking the teas for many years. Apparently your body needs to adjust when you stop."

Chloe considered. "And how long ago was that?"

Imogene grinned again. "Not quite three months."

Chloe counted back. "That was when we were still staying with you in Sanct de Sangre."

Imogene nodded.

"You never told me that you were thinking about having a baby."

Imogene glanced back toward where the mages flying the navire were seated with their sanctii. "Shh. I don't want the whole ship to know."

"Sorry." Chloe lowered her voice to a whisper. "But that still doesn't change the fact that you never told me."

Imogene shrugged. "You had enough going on without listening to me debating the pros and cons of having children. Not when Lucien was so ill."

Chloe nodded slowly. "I suppose. But we've missed out on too many years of girl talk. I want you to tell me these things." She nudged Imogene gently. "I will always have time for my best friend."

That brought Imogene's smile back. "I promise to bore you with endless discussions of pregnancy and child rearing in the future."

Chloe laughed. "You have a deal. Can I at least squeal silently for a moment? My best friend is having a baby." A thought suddenly occurred to her. "Does Jean-Paul know?"

Imogene shook her head. "Not yet. I was feeling perfectly well when we left. It's only been the last day or so that I've felt nauseous."

"What about your...?" Chloe paused delicately. "Have those been late?"

Imogene nodded. "They've always been somewhat unpredictable. You know that. I really hadn't been paying much attention. After all, there has been quite a lot happening to distract me."

Chloe wriggled in delight. "This is so exciting."

Imogene's smile this time was rueful. "It is," she said, "but I will be a little more delighted when my stomach decides to behave again."

Chloe nodded sympathetically. "You could ask the healer for something stronger to help with that."

"I know well enough about the remedies they'll suggest," Imogene said. "After all, I may not have had a baby before myself, but there have been plenty among the estate workers and mine and Jean-Paul's families. Besides, I have a best friend who's an earth witch and used to run a store that specialized in these kinds of remedies, I believe."

"You're an earth witch, too," Chloe pointed out.

"Yes, but I haven't spent my time learning the healing arts."

True. She had focused more on being a water mage and a mage ingenier when she wasn't working for the diplomatic corps.

"Though I may have to brush up," Imogene continued. "I can't imagine a child of Jean-Paul's won't find exciting ways to get into trouble."

Chloe laughed. "I'm not sure the blame will be solely Jean-Paul's. You are hardly shy and retiring."

"I feel remarkably retiring right now," Imogene said, sipping the tea again. "But apparently sleeplessness comes with the nausea."

"Sounds delightful," Chloe said. "Sadly, most of the herbal aids for sleep are not recommended for pregnancy. You really should speak to a healer to find out what's safe. There are charms and exercises of the mind, I believe. I could probably help with the nausea, but I don't have most of what I'd need with me. We could ask Silya, but she would know what they were for."

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