Page 122 of The Duke's Jilted Bride

“I’m not teasing. I’m celebrating,” David replied. “It takes courage to set boundaries with family. Especially when they’re as formidable as Lady Penderwick.”

Felix stretched out lazily on his blanket with a glass of wine in hand. “Tell me again how you convinced her to move to the other townhouse? I need to take notes for future reference.”

“It wasn’t as difficult as I expected,” Matthew said, his confidence growing. “I simply explained that as a married man, I would need my own household. She could hardly argue with propriety.”

“Married man,” Georgiana repeated with a smile, little Beatrice playing contentedly beside her. “How wonderful that sounds. When is the wedding again?”

“October fifteenth,” Matthew beamed. “Amelia insists on an autumn ceremony. Something about the light being more romantic.”

“Miss Thornton has excellent taste,” Selina said, refilling the lemonade glasses. “Autumn weddings are lovely.”

“And you’ll finally have a home to call your own,” Rowan added. “No interference, no hovering mother.”

Matthew nodded eagerly. “Though I suspect Mother will find a new project soon enough. My cousin Arthur is coming to London next month. Poor fellow doesn’t know what’s in store for him.”

The group burst into sympathetic laughter.

“Speaking of projects,” Robert said, his expression turning more serious, “how did the final business with the constables conclude? Georgiana mentioned there were still questions about Lady Winsley’s death.”

Rowan’s jaw tightened slightly. “Grainger wanted more details about my disappearance. Specifically, he wanted the name of the naval captain who arranged my press-ganging.”

“Did you tell him?” David asked.

“I told him I never found the captain responsible,” Rowan replied evenly. “There wasn’t enough evidence to build a case and pursuing it further would only bring up painful memories for everyone involved.”

Felix raised an eyebrow. “And he accepted that?”

“He had to. Without concrete evidence linking Lady Winsley to any specific crimes, her death was recorded as the result of an ambush by unknown assailants.” Rowan’s voice grew quiet. “The woman suffered enough under my father’s influence. Living with that obsession for twenty years was punishment enough.”

Selina reached for his hand, squeezing gently. The decision to protect Captain Veer and let the matter rest had been difficult, but she supported it completely. Some things didn’t need to be said. Some wounds were better left to mend quietly, out of the light.

“Well,” Isabella said, her voice a little too bright, clearly picking up on the shift in mood, “I think we’ve had enough talk of gloomy things. This is a celebration, isn’t it?”

“Yes, it is,” Rowan said, the tension easing from his face. He glanced at Selina, who gave him a small nod.

“Actually,” he went on, “Selina and I have a bit of news.”

The conversation around them died off. Even little James paused mid-chase, his butterfly forgotten as if he somehow sensed the moment was important.

“We’re expecting,” Selina said, her smile soft and shining. “The baby’s due in the spring.”

For a heartbeat, the garden went still and then came the explosion of joy.

Isabella gave a squeal and rushed forward to hug her. Georgiana clapped with delight. The men offered cheers and congratulations, and baby Lily let out a happy little squeak, as if she understood what all the fuss was about.

“When?” Isabella asked, pulling back to look at her. “How long have you known? Why didn’t you say something earlier?”

Selina laughed, hugging her again. “I only suspected a few weeks ago. We wanted to wait until we were sure.”

Isabella wiped at her eyes with a grin. “I understand. That’s the best news I’ve heard all season.”

“A spring baby,” Georgiana said softly. “How perfect. New life returning with the season.”

Robert raised his glass. “To your child. May they inherit their parents’ strength and their father’s stubbornness in all the right ways.”

“And their mother’s sense,” David added with a wink.

They all drank to the toast, even little James joining in with his cup of milk.

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