Daphne took a deep breath, her heart fluttering with excitement. "I've been wanting to tell you this for days, but I wanted to wait for the right moment." She smiled, looking up at him with bright eyes.
"The right moment?"
"Yes," she hesitated once again. She had practiced this moment in her mind several times now, but when it came to it, she found herself at a loss of words.
"Darling, you are beginning to worry me now," he started, "What has you acting so shy? You have never been afraid to speak your mind."
"It's just..." she paused, "well, I suppose I want to announce it in the most perfect way."
"Announce?" now he was beginning to catch on, his eyes widening slightly. "Daphne, you must tell me now."
"Ambrose... I'm pregnant."
For a moment, Ambrose stood there, processing her words. Then, slowly, a smile spread across his face, growing wider and wider until he let out a disbelieving laugh.
"Please tell me that you are not joking," a wide grin spread across his face.
She nodded, her grin matching his. "I am. You're going to be a father."
Without a word, he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close and kissed her passionately on the lips.
When they finally pulled apart, he rested his forehead against hers, still holding her tightly.
"Why did you wait to tell me?" he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "You should have told me the moment that you found out. For this is the best news that you could ever give me."
Daphne laughed softly, her hands resting against his chest. "You have no idea how much I've been dying to tell you. It was so hard to keep it a secret. But I knew that it was best to wait until the right moment."
He looked at her with a serious expression. "Everymoment with you is the right one. Have you forgotten how madly I am in love with you?"
"And now you will be madly in love with our child," her hands instinctively moved over to her belly, which was not showing yet.
"As will you."
For a few moments, they stood there in the quiet of the balcony, soaking in the happiness of their news. But as the sounds of the party drifted back into their consciousness, Daphne glanced over her shoulder, realizing they couldn't stay hidden for long.
"We should probably get back," she said with a smile. "But don't think you're getting rid of me that easily. I'll be stealing you away for many more moments like this."
Ambrose grinned, kissing her on the forehead before taking her hand again. "I look forward to every single one of them."
As they made their way back into the house, Ambrose couldn't stop glancing at Daphne.
When they re-entered the drawing room, Daphne's sisters noticed the smiles on both of their faces and immediately knew something was up. Isadora raised an eyebrow as Daphne rejoined the group.
"You look so happy," Isadora said, "Has the Duke proposed to you again or something?"
Violet chimed in with a playful grin, "Anotherwedding?Daphne, you have to leave some for the rest of us."
Daphne shook her head, laughing. "Don't be so ridiculous. He did not propose to you again."
"So then what is the reason behind that bright smile of yours?"
Daphne bit down her smile, feeling unable to contain her happiness, exchanged a quick glance with Ambrose before facing her friends. Her first priority had been to tell the Duke. Now that she had, she could share the news with her friends.
But instead of using her words, she merely rubbed the front of her dress. "Well..."
"Oh,heavens,"Isadora gasped loudly, "Daphne, are you implying what I think you are?"
"Tell us!" Violet added.
