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Authors: Sherry Thomas
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to call in Miss Redmayne, you weren’t suffering from some mysterious illness. You were with child!” exclaimed Helena.
“He never knew who I was while we were on the
Rhodesia
. And I never told him until after I found out that I was in a delicate condition.”
Helena bit her lip. “My goodness, he must have been furious.”
“He was, but we have patched things up rather nicely since then, and we couldn’t be more thrilled about the baby.”
The duke walked in, a coolly handsome man—and a celebrated naturalist who shared a love of fossils with his wife. “Is it safe for me to join the conversation?”
“Yes, my dear, quite safe.”
Fitz offered his hand. “Congratulations, Lexington. Shall we drink to an heir?”
“And to the possibility of a girl as generous and capable as my wife,” said Lexington.
Helena’s eyes misted. It was a lovely thing to say to a woman who had struggled at times with the possibility that perhaps she was nothing more than a beautiful face. Venetia had chosen well after all.
“Shall I send for champagne—and some champagne cider for Lord Fitzhugh?” asked Lexington.
Fitz abstained entirely from intoxicating beverages and usually contented himself with champagne cider at celebratory occasions.
But before anyone could answer, a footman announced, “Viscount Hastings.”
In swept the realities of Helena’s life; all the gladness drained from her heart. “Perhaps not just yet,” she muttered under her breath. “The champagne, that is.”
F itz and Lexington both shook hands with Hastings, with Fitz looking openly puzzled.
“I didn’t expect to see you until later this evening, David. But I’m glad to see you now.”
Hastings glanced at Helena, then at the gathering, perhaps noticing for the first time the general good cheer. “What did I miss?”
“The duke and I will soon be parents,” a still giddy-looking Venetia told him.
“My goodness, this is the best news I’ve heard all day. I shall spoil the child rotten.” He kissed Venetia on her cheek and shook hands again with the duke. “Well done, old fellow.”
“My pride is nearly infinite,” said the duke dryly.
Venetia motioned the gentlemen to sit. “Tomorrow the news will be all over town—ladies Avery and Somersby will do the trumpeting. But we wanted all of you to know first.”
“I take it that in the face of your marvelous news, nothing else has been discussed?” asked Hastings.
Helena’s stomach tightened. “No.”
Hastings glanced at her. “I see that I have arrived too soon.”
Fitz, always perceptive, frowned. “What do you mean, David?”
“Do you wish to tell them, Miss Fitzhugh?” asked Hastings, his expression a wall of amiability. “Or shall I?”
The point of no return—they’d come to it all too soon. The dull burn in her heart was now replaced by the sheer void of inevitability. “I assume it will be no surprise to anyone in this room that Mr. Andrew Martin and I have been seeing each other in a manner that would not receive widespread approval.”
There was a collective intake of breath. Instantly, the atmosphere turned tense.
“But don’t fret. I am still a lily-white virgin.”
They’d been surprised by her admission of the affair, but
this
shocked them—especially Hastings, it wouldseem. Why, did he think she’d be so stupid as to risk a pregnancy? Or that Andrew was so lacking in honor and responsibility?
“But I did something unwise today. I agreed to meet Mr. Martin at the Savoy, not realizing it was a plot by Mrs. Monteth to expose us. I wish to stress that my mobility was not due to negligence on the part of either Bridget or the gentleman who has had the unenviable duty to stand watch beneath Fitzhugh and Company. I played a trick to get free—and walked into Mrs. Monteth’s trap.”
Millie gripped Fitz’s arm. Venetia gripped the armrests. Lexington rounded behind his wife’s chair and placed a hand on her shoulder. Only Hastings, now that
“He never knew who I was while we were on the
Rhodesia
. And I never told him until after I found out that I was in a delicate condition.”
Helena bit her lip. “My goodness, he must have been furious.”
“He was, but we have patched things up rather nicely since then, and we couldn’t be more thrilled about the baby.”
The duke walked in, a coolly handsome man—and a celebrated naturalist who shared a love of fossils with his wife. “Is it safe for me to join the conversation?”
“Yes, my dear, quite safe.”
Fitz offered his hand. “Congratulations, Lexington. Shall we drink to an heir?”
“And to the possibility of a girl as generous and capable as my wife,” said Lexington.
Helena’s eyes misted. It was a lovely thing to say to a woman who had struggled at times with the possibility that perhaps she was nothing more than a beautiful face. Venetia had chosen well after all.
“Shall I send for champagne—and some champagne cider for Lord Fitzhugh?” asked Lexington.
Fitz abstained entirely from intoxicating beverages and usually contented himself with champagne cider at celebratory occasions.
But before anyone could answer, a footman announced, “Viscount Hastings.”
In swept the realities of Helena’s life; all the gladness drained from her heart. “Perhaps not just yet,” she muttered under her breath. “The champagne, that is.”
F itz and Lexington both shook hands with Hastings, with Fitz looking openly puzzled.
“I didn’t expect to see you until later this evening, David. But I’m glad to see you now.”
Hastings glanced at Helena, then at the gathering, perhaps noticing for the first time the general good cheer. “What did I miss?”
“The duke and I will soon be parents,” a still giddy-looking Venetia told him.
“My goodness, this is the best news I’ve heard all day. I shall spoil the child rotten.” He kissed Venetia on her cheek and shook hands again with the duke. “Well done, old fellow.”
“My pride is nearly infinite,” said the duke dryly.
Venetia motioned the gentlemen to sit. “Tomorrow the news will be all over town—ladies Avery and Somersby will do the trumpeting. But we wanted all of you to know first.”
“I take it that in the face of your marvelous news, nothing else has been discussed?” asked Hastings.
Helena’s stomach tightened. “No.”
Hastings glanced at her. “I see that I have arrived too soon.”
Fitz, always perceptive, frowned. “What do you mean, David?”
“Do you wish to tell them, Miss Fitzhugh?” asked Hastings, his expression a wall of amiability. “Or shall I?”
The point of no return—they’d come to it all too soon. The dull burn in her heart was now replaced by the sheer void of inevitability. “I assume it will be no surprise to anyone in this room that Mr. Andrew Martin and I have been seeing each other in a manner that would not receive widespread approval.”
There was a collective intake of breath. Instantly, the atmosphere turned tense.
“But don’t fret. I am still a lily-white virgin.”
They’d been surprised by her admission of the affair, but
this
shocked them—especially Hastings, it wouldseem. Why, did he think she’d be so stupid as to risk a pregnancy? Or that Andrew was so lacking in honor and responsibility?
“But I did something unwise today. I agreed to meet Mr. Martin at the Savoy, not realizing it was a plot by Mrs. Monteth to expose us. I wish to stress that my mobility was not due to negligence on the part of either Bridget or the gentleman who has had the unenviable duty to stand watch beneath Fitzhugh and Company. I played a trick to get free—and walked into Mrs. Monteth’s trap.”
Millie gripped Fitz’s arm. Venetia gripped the armrests. Lexington rounded behind his wife’s chair and placed a hand on her shoulder. Only Hastings, now that
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