Page 26 of Royal Baby Maker

- Chapter Twelve -

Nellie

I'd been to his homecountless times, but tonight, I didn't recognize it.

Copper streamers, ice shaped like swans, crystals lighting up every single wall... Miss Callehurst had gone all out. She'd hired a valet to park the guests' cars, but I'd rolled up with Bishop, and one look at him and the valet had waved him through to park wherever he felt like it. Hedidlive here, after all.

But now, as we stood in the foyer of a place that should have felt familiar, I saw I was in a different world. Whowereall these people? How had Miss Callehurst put something this grand together so quickly?

“I feel massively out of place,” I whispered.

Bishop gripped my arm in the crook of his. “You're with me. You belong here more than anyone else.”

“Alright, but I don't thinktheyfeel that way.” I'd caught two or three salty glares from the women strutting around. They didn't like seeing me next to Bishop—and I suspected they liked my rounded belly even less.

Some people might assume I was gaining weight, but scandal never chases after the tame rumor. These strangers saw me as the pregnant nobody who threatened their chance at marrying upwards.

I hadn't meant to wear something that revealed my pregnancy, but Bishop had scoffed at every outfit I'd produced from my closet. “Not good enough,” he'd said. Then Gigi had swirled into my bedroom, clutching a red dress that would put most of my “assets” on display.

Bishop refused to let me try on anything else after that.

Both my friend and lover had assured me I looked good. I'd almost felt that way until I saw the other women. Cupping my stomach nervously, I followed Bishop deeper into his house. Most of the party was taking place in a large dining area. The furniture had been removed, replaced by long tables of tiny cakes and trays of golden champagne.

“Let me get you something,” he said, pulling us up along the display of desserts.

“It's not like chocolate will make me feel more at ease.”

Lifting an eyebrow, he waved a mini vanilla and fudge pie under my nose. “So you don't want this?”

Frowning, I snatched it away from him as he grinned knowingly. “Of course I want it. Shush.” Nibbling the snack, I surveyed the busy crowd. Whenever I glanced at someone, they'd turn away, making their spying very obvious. “Why are we here again?” I sighed.

“To show that we don't need to hide.” Adjusting his tie, he promptly scooped an arm around my hip, nodding at a pair of men in matching white suits. “And to show you off.”

“You said that earlier. I don't know if I'm feeling like I'm worth being 'shown' in public at all.” I'd said it with a smile, but Bishop's hard stare stopped me in my tracks, my fingertip poised between my lips to get the last bit of chocolate.

Bending down, he kissed me around my finger. His tongue slid side to side, as if he was trying to get a taste of the dessert before it was gone. Heat flashed in his eyes. “You're worth the world to me, Nell. You're definitely worth having on my arm at a party like this. Everyone can see how much we're in love... and how wonderful your pregnancy is going.”

Red as a beet, I wondered how many people were staring at us. But then I didn't care—what was there to be ashamed about? He was right; let the world see how happy we were together.

Nothing can ruin this moment,I thought.

And then I saw Corriane.

He saw me, too, and on long legs he came our way. He was dressed in a pastel blue vest over a black shirt, every one of his edges crisp and hard. His hands were deep in his pockets; I imagined him hiding a knife there. Fuck, what was he going to do to me?

“Nellie!” he shouted, loud enough for the room to hear him. If they hadn't been staring before, they were now.

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