Page 94 of Wedded to the Beastly Duke
If Nicholas had been suffering that every day since William’s death, and additional guilt over having been the cause, then that was a punishment of its own.
“You are thinking grave thoughts,” Emmeline said from where she was reclined on the sofa.
A bout of sickness had made her disinclined to read or embroider, but she was watching him with patient amusement on her face.
He did not think he could love her more, even as a bolt of anxiety shot through him at the thought she might be ill. He had almost lost her twice over—he could not afford to lose her again.
“I was thinking about Rickard,” he said, the lie an easy one. “And that I should publicly acknowledge him as my brother.”
She gave a soft, sweet smile. “He would be delighted to hear it.”
Rickard was still in London, although given his background, he was still very much not part of Society. Making him a duke’s brother would suddenly catapult him into the social scene. A dubious thing to do, in Adam’s opinion, but already Rickard had shown himself to adore Society.
“It’s a shame we can’t invite his mother to England,” Adam said idly.
It was odd, the sense of loss the thought brought, although he had never met the lady, and although she had no connection to him. After losing his mother, it would have been a little like finding a new one. The mother of his half-brother, the wife of his father, was as much of a mother as most people could expect to find.
“When he marries, you may invite his wife,” Emmeline said idly. “And in the meantime, if you crave female company, my mother would be more than happy to visit.”
Adam winced. “She would give us no peace.”
“Perhaps.” Emmeline glanced back at him, the green in her eyes more prominent, like twin jewels. “But there is no chance that we can afford to put her off for too long.”
“And why is that, wife of mine?”
This time her smile was wider, creasing the skin around her eyes in a way that told him age would paint wrinkles there. And he, the luckiest of men, would live to see them.
“Because,” she said, “I believe I am with child.”
* * *
Adam looked at Emmeline with mingled disbelief and hope in his eyes. “With child?” he asked, his voice a hushed whisper. “Can it be true? When? How?”
She laughed, resting a hand on her stomach. In truth, there was no real sign of a bump yet, although her maid had assured her that it took some ladies longer for their pregnancy to show. The fact she was tall no doubt meant it would take her longer than most.
“I suspect since before I left for my parents’ house,” she said. “We were together a few times before then, and?—”
“I didn’t think it would happen so soon.” His face was pale as he regarded her. “The other day you asked about children. Did you know?”
She shook her head. “You know how I have been getting sick every so often? My maid asked me when I last bled, and reminded me she had not washed my linens in… quite some time. It was then I noticed that I had missed two cycles. One was due shortly after I arrived at my parents’ house, and the other when I returned here.” She smiled at his dumbfounded expression. “Is it truly so shocking?”
“No. Well—” He shook his head. “A little. Are you well?” He came to crouch down by her side, her face in his hands. “You’re certain?”
“As certain as I can be. It explains so many things—my emotional state has been a little heightened over the past few weeks, and I have been feeling a little sick. My maid assured me that would probably pass once I start to show.”
Adam rested his hands reverently on her stomach. “I can’t feel anything.”
“No, you won’t yet. It will take a little more time. But I’m positive you will soon. I must be around three months pregnant, I think.”
“Three months.”
She watched as he calculated. It was the beginning of September, and if she was three months pregnant, then she was due in March.
“A spring delivery. We’ll be here, of course.”
“My mother will want to visit, and I expect she will want to be here for the birth.”
“Naturally, if that’s what you want.” He was up again, pacing, raking a hand through his hair. It gave him a somewhat rakish look she found she liked. “Whatever you need.Isthere anything you need? A physician?”
