Ash’s stomach flipped over. No one would ever be good enough for his daughter. And he was…scared. For her. Her future. Her heart. This world…was not a kind one. “Can we not just keep her with us forever? I hate the idea of putting her welfare in another man’s hands.”
“Your daughter deserves love, Ash. And while right now she may be content with her horses and small flirtations with your farrier—”
“What!”
Felicity bit her lip against a threatening smile and leaned her gorgeous nude body against the doorframe. “Yes, your farrier. I don’t think Pandora realizes it, but that boy? He looks at her like she’s hung the moon, stars, and heavens above.”
Ash frowned. “I’ll have to have Barrow keep a closer eye on them.”
“I don’t think you have anything to worry about, love. Billy is a lovely boy. He is always nothing but perfectly respectable with Pandora. He always keeps a proper distance, and I have not once heard him break from deference and call her anything but Lady Pandora.”
Well, that’s no surprise. Billy was the most pure-hearted, decent lad Ash had ever met. His gut had known when he’d found him on the side of the road two years past. And time and time again, Billy had proven that gut-instinct correct.
“I’m not worried about Billy, Lissy. I’m worried about Pandora.” His daughter was blissfully unaware of the very concept of propriety. With his luck she’d compromise Billy—albeit accidentally.
“Oh.” Realization lit his wife’s amber eyes. “Well, yes. I suppose that is a valid concern.” Her brows puckered, pretty pink lips pursing. “We should write to Barrow. But right now, we need to get ready for the Chesterfield ball.”
Felicity turned and ambled into her chamber. His gaze locked on her bare bottom, delighting in the slight sway of her hips.
He blinked, snapping himself back to the topic at hand. “Lissy, wait!”
She spun to face him and studied him. “What is it, Ash?”
He rolled his lips in and then blew out a breath. “There is something I’d like to discuss.”
Ash swung his legs over the side of the bed and beckoned her closer. She padded to him and her hands settled lightly on his bare thighs. He took her hands, weaving his fingers in and out of hers. He stared at the distracting movement, gaze unseeing. “I was thinking that perhaps we could discuss the topic of having children again,” he whispered.
An almost indiscernible jolt went through her. With anyone else, he wouldn’t have noticed, but he was always aware of every minute detail when it came to her. One of her hands left his and coasted along his jaw, lifting his chin until their gazes met, warm amber irises caressing him.
“Tell me what’s on your mind, husband.” There was something different in her tone. Something hesitant, apprehensive. Something that had never been there before when they’d had these discussions.
His brows came together as he studied her. Her face was as blank as he’d ever seen it, giving nothing away. And that set his teeth on edge. He drew in a deep breath, slowly letting the air fill his lungs, letting it push out the fear.
“I—I don’t want to deprive you of a family, Felicity. Of children. Just because of my fears. My past has caused us enough struggles as it is.”
She regarded him, her whisky gaze searching for something. “Are you are saying…if I truly wanted children, you would set your fears aside? Or are you saying that is something you want as well?”
He dropped his head to her breasts and let out a groan into her silky soft skin. “Yes,” he said hoarsely.
Her hands gripped his head and slowly pulled him back to look at her. He sagged into her hands, letting her hold up the weight bearing down on him. The one caused by the argument he’d been revisiting more and more frequently with himself lately.
“I’d want us to have a whole litter, Lissy. But not at the expense of your life. I couldn’t— I can’t—”
Her gaze dropped to the floor, and she gnawed at her lip. The apprehension was back, furrow deepening between her brows.
“Lissy, what is wrong? Something is not right. I can feel it.”
A breath flew from her, surrounding him in the scent of lemon and sugar. “I didn’t want to say anything until I knew for certain…”
His stomach flipped over. Oh God. He knew where this was heading. “But-but-but-but-but.”
She squeezed his jaw, and he stopped his panicked stuttering. But his heart didn’t.
“I am only a week late in my courses.”
The air he’d been holding trapped in his lungs burst from him and his entire body slumped. “Oh, a week? That is probably nothing. I did quite a bit of reading on the subject and spoke to midwives when Pandora was coming of that age,” he blabbered. “I… she didn’t have a mother. I didn’t know what to do, but I wanted to have information for her. And it’s quite common for courses to be variable. So, it is most likely nothing. Especially considering the precautions we have been taking.”
His lips curved up. Yes, it was nothing. No need to panic. He glanced at his wife, whose eyes were glowing with mirth, lips twitching. His brows crashed together. “Why are you laughing at me?”
