“Yes, please,” she replied.
He reached across and poured another cup for her. “Do you need any help sorting those?”
“No, but I think I’m going to take a break and enjoy your company.”
He took a bite of the scone which she had slathered with marmalade and clotted cream. The scones were melt-in-your-mouth delicious, and the added jam and cream made them even more so. He heard Cathryn trying to suppress a giggle as he licked his fingers.
“Are they good?”
“None better. I want these every day,” he replied. He picked up his cup and took a swallow of tea.
“I’m sure Cook will be more than happy to oblige.”
He reached for another scone and bit into it. “The woman is a master in the kitchen.”
“Hmmm.”
“I went through all my correspondence so I can jump into it in the morning,” Charles said, his mouth half full of the scone.
“I take it there was nothing overly important if it can wait.”
“End of the month bills,” he said, watching her reaction. “There was one I wasn’t familiar with. Doctor Foster in London? You’re not ill, are you?”
“Not at all. I just went to see him about some female issues. Nothing to concern yourself with,” she replied.
Charles noted she wasn’t looking at him directly but something behind him. What was going on with her? “Care to elaborate?”
“This isn’t the way I imagined talking to you about this, Charles.”
“Are you going to tell me?” he asked. He was trying not to get frustrated with her attitude, but it might not be easy for her.
“Very well. Since you insist,” she said. “I’m with child, Charles.”
He was flabbergasted. That was the last thing he expected her to tell him. “How, what, are you sure? When are you due?”
Her eyes lit up and she was trying very hard not to giggle. “The doctor confirmed my suspicions. The babe is due in sevenmonths, and how? You should be able to figure that out. I probably conceived the very first time we made love. The doctor said it was more common than you’d think.”
“You’re okay, aren’t you? What can I do to help?”
“There’s not a thing you can do. Really. I just need to rest as much as I can.”
“That’s easy enough,” he said.
Cathryn leaned closer and kissed him on the cheek. “You’re going to be a great father.”
How could he be a great father? His entire childhood had been unlike what other children experienced. He’d been sent away because he was peculiar and odd. Surely their child wouldn’t be like that and inherit his traits. If it was a boy, he wanted him to have the best of everything. Everything to make him into a successful man. The best schools and tutors to show him everything he needed to get ahead above everyone else. If it were a girl, she would get the same, at least as much as young girls were allowed. He wouldn’t hold her back from anything.
“Charles? Charles!” Cathryn said strongly. “Where are you? I’ve been talking to you and you’ve been somewhere else the entire time.”
Charles jerked his head around toward the sound of her voice. “I apologize, my love. Your news was unexpected.”
“You don’t like that we’re having our first child?”
He shook his head fiercely. “No, no. Nothing like that. I’m ecstatic. It was just unexpected so soon.”
“I felt the same way. I thought we might at least have a year, but we don’t, so I’ve accepted it. The more the news sinks in, the happier I am. I’m sure you will be too.”
“I’m sure you’re right,” Charles replied.
