Page 261 of The Ladies Least Likely
Ren nodded. “I can afford housekeepers. And stewards and maids and whoever else you wish to attend to domestic tasks. I love your painting. And I delight in travel abroad. Perhaps we can bring Amalie.”
She caught her breath. The morning light slanted through the window, falling on the perfect line of his cheek, playing in the blue of his eyes. “I never thought I wanted children,” she whispered. “Until I imagined having children with you.”
A shadow passed through his eyes. “I suppose you need heirs for Löwenburg. My mother will expect them for the Renwick titles and estates. But Rhette—you have seen me, and Amalie. I don’t know what I’ll do if I pass this curse on to my children.”
“It is either an accident of birth or what God intended,” Harriette whispered. She placed her hand again on his chest, feeling the firm, fast beat of his heart. “In either event, we will love every child. Every life will be a gift to us, no matter what shape it comes in.”
“You are not afraid of my taint?” He slipped a hand around her back, then, setting his cane against her easel, slipped his other arm around her as well. Harriette inhaled his scent of lemon and fresh air and man.
“You are not ashamed of my tatterdemalion ways?”
“I quite like them. They’re the first thing I loved about you, you know.”
She slipped her hands up his neck to cup his cheeks. “What a relief you will finally marry me. I’ve loved you for half my life, milord Renwick.”
“And I, my dear Rhette, shall love you for the rest of mine.”
He kissed her, and the rest of the world fell away. She let it go. All she needed was him.
EPILOGUE
Harriette studied the canvas before her and rubbed the mound of her belly. Ren, standing at her worktable cleaning her brushes, caught the gesture with his sharp eyes.
Ever since she’d revealed to him that their family circle was about to enlarge, Ren had been worse than a mother hen. He had been watchful of everything she was exposed to, tasted or smelled or even looked at. Sometimes she wondered if he remembered too well what she had told him about ancient theories of childbirth, and he was taking care that no outside influence would mar the creature taking shape in her womb.
He insisted from the start that someone else help her with the more pungent aspects of preparing her paints and cleaning her brushes. Melike had been doing it most of the time, trotting back and forth from Charles Street along the path that the Catherine Club, as they were now calling themselves, had worn to Renwick House. But today her aunt’s entire household would arrive for the unveiling, and Ren was filling the office of apprentice, tidying her brushes and paints away.
“She’s moving about?” Ren asked.
Her back had pained her all night, but Harriette decided not to tell him that, as he’d worry. She loved the interest he’dtaken in every aspect of her gestation. Unlike most husbands, who didn’t think about the child until it emerged, Ren delighted in the sturdy kicks and thrusts of their unborn babe. Once the child had pressed so hard against her belly that she could see the imprint of its foot, and Ren’s face when he traced the shape of the tiny heel and toes, the shape a child’s foot was meant to be—that look had nearly broken her heart with fear and love.
Harriette knew she would love their child no matter what it looked like. But what if there were something different, and Ren blamed himself?
“He,” she said, rubbing under her belly, “has grown still in the last day. Sorcha says that means he’s making ready to come out.”
Thank heavens she’d had Sorcha to advise her through this new and terrifying journey. Sorcha, she’d learned, had borne three children, and all had died due to illness, malnutrition, or exposure. Ren was concerned about the shape of the babe. Harriette feared for worse.
“We can wait for the unveiling until after the little duchess is here.” Ren came to stand behind her, slipping his arms about her swollen sides and cradling her hands in his. “Sorcha told me ways to, em, encourage the little one along if she’s too snug in there.” He nipped at her earlobe, his breath tickling her ear, and Harriette laughed, linking her fingers with his.
She loved that Ren had allowed her to make her own choices around child-bearing, not forcing her to stay confined in darkened rooms like other duchesses and earl’s wives were obliged to do. He allowed her to be up and active and among people. He let her eat what she wished. He trusted her. And instead of treating her as a broodmare who must be pampered for the prize inside of it, he showed that he still loved and saw and desiredher.
She was the luckiest of women. She only hoped that luck would continue.
“Everyone is too impatient to see the portrait, and I am impatient to show them.”
Harriette draped the cloth over the painting, hiding her subject’s brilliant blue eyes. “We can have a proper party when the little earl arrives, to celebrate the completion of both my projects.”
A heavy tread approached the morning room, and Ren released her but did not step away. Dunstan, the butler, appeared in the doorway.
“Milord. Your Serene Highness.” Dunstan delighted in using Harriette’s full formal address in company. No paltry Your Grace as befitted an English duchess;hisduchess was a Highness, and he made sure everyone knew it. He turned to announce her guests.
“Her Royal Highness Casimira, Princess of Galicia and Lodomeria. The Countess of Calenberg.” Princess would never give up her claim no matter how many people accused her of imposture, but she also knew better than to impose on her benefactor for long. Princess swept into the room with a flourish, then stepped aside to let her aunt come to Harriette and peer into her face.
“I’m so glad you haven’t grown sickly, like some women do. You have a proper wet nurse secured?”
“Yes, Aunt. Hello to you, too.”
Her aunt’s eyes studied the straining shape of Harriette’s belly beneath the loose nightgown-style dress. “I hope you won’t expect me to have a thing to do with her until she reaches the age of reason,” she announced, not for the first time. “But once she does, expect her to spend lots of time with her grand old Aunt Calenberg.”
