Page 128 of The Secret Love of a Gentleman
‘Crying. Fearful. But the child’s heart is still beating.’ Drew caught hold of Rob’s arm. ‘She has lost children.’
‘I know.’
‘She has lost five.’
‘I know.’ Rob turned to the door, but Drew’s grip tightened around his arm.
‘She fell today when Kilbride called here.’
Rob turned. ‘He called here? When? Why?’
‘A little before midday. He asked for you, but Caro happened to be downstairs.’
‘Did he hit her?’
‘No, she was afraid that he would. She tried to avoid him and fell.’
Rob had failed to protect Caro again.
Kilbride called here and distressed Caro, then came to White’s and threatened Rob. There was one thing Rob was certain of now: he had to extinguish Kilbride’s threat.
He pulled his arm free from Drew’s hand, knocked on the bedroom door and opened it without waiting for permission.
Mary and his mother stood beside the bed where Caro lay.
‘I am glad you are here,’ Mary said quietly. ‘She is sleeping. She is exhausted with worry. The doctor gave her some laudanum to help her rest.’
‘I will sit with her. Is the child…’
‘The child is healthy, Robbie. The heartbeat is strong.’ His mother met his gaze. ‘But it has been a shock. And a shock to us too.’ Her eyebrows lifted, punctuating the comment. ‘Why could you not have the respect to wait until you were married?’
He shook his head. ‘Caro kept the child a secret from me.’
‘I assumed so, as the marriage is being hurried and you did not mention it while you were ill. However, I am sure she did not keep the conception from you, Robbie.’
He ignored the reprimand. ‘Let me sit beside her.’
Caro lay beneath the sheet and counterpane, curled up on her side, and he could see through the creases in the covers that she was embracing her stomach.
‘Did the doctor think she might lose the child?’ He pulled off his gloves.
His mother shook her head. ‘No. Yet he could not be sure what was happening.’
Rob pressed his gloves into his coat pocket.
‘I will take your outdoor things,’ Mary offered. She helped him with his greatcoat, then took everything away.
Tears clouded the room as he sat at the bedside.
‘She was very distressed,’ his mother said.
‘You know about the children, can you blame her?’
‘No.’
‘Mama, would you leave us alone, please?’
His mother sighed. She should not. Caro was in bed in her nightdress. By rights he ought not to be here at all, and not alone with her, and yet what did propriety matter when she was already with child and they were to be wed tomorrow?
