“Oh, you needn’t worry,” Victoria said. “A child will come when he’s meant to.”
“Well, not now,” Juliette remarked.Or ever.
Victoria shrugged. “Well, if you’ve had your woman’s time since you were married, I’m sure you’re right.”
Juliette’s smile froze, as she stopped to think about it. For shehadn’tbled. She counted back the weeks, and she was stunned to realize that it had been over a month since her last flow. Had it been five weeks or six? Her brain tried to reorder her scattered thoughts, reminding her that there was no reason to worry. A woman could miss her monthly and it would come again in time.
But we were careful,she thought to herself. Surely it couldn’t have happened. Could it?
Her sister began speaking of Aphrodite’s Unmentionables, talking about the sales and ideas for new designs. But her words blurred against the panic rising within Juliette.
“Margaret doesn’t like the new designs,” Victoria remarked. “But I believe they will sell quite well among married women. I know His Grace likes them very much. What do you think?”
“I’m sure they will be fine,” Juliette answered, though she’d not heard a word of her sister’s suggestions. In fact, she remembered nothing of the drawing Victoria had shown her. It could have been a white sheet and rope, for all she knew.
Inwardly, her panic had evolved into full-fledged terror. She couldn’t be pregnant. Surely there was no chance at all. The very thought sent a cold storm of fear blasting through her.
She tried to remember her symptoms when she’d been pregnant with Matthew. Almost two weeks from the time she’d missed her monthly, she’d begun waking up ill. During those first few weeks, she’d been miserable, unable to keep any food down. And whoever had come up with the idea that it was a pregnancy sickness only in the mornings was completely wrong. She’d been sick from the moment she got up until the moment she fell into bed at night to sleep. All-day sickness was what it was.
But she wasn’t feeling sick right now. Only the sense that her monthly was going to start at any moment. Surely she was imagining things.
“Victoria,” she interrupted. “How have you been feeling during this pregnancy? Have you been sick at all?”
“Strangely, no,” her sister admitted. “Everyone told me their stories of being sick, but I wasn’t. Only hungrier than usual. And”—her face reddened—“my breasts have gotten much larger.”
Juliette clenched her hands together. “I suppose His Grace is happy about that.”
Her sister sent her a wicked smile. “Oh, yes. It was most gratifying to have a respectable bosom with no padding, for the first time in my life. In fact, that’s why I considered designing unmentionables for women who areenceinte.Not only do I need a different corset, but I find that I am more sensitive to the fabric.” Victoria rang for a tray of food, and went on to describe her ideas for the garments. She sketched out a sample, and after a moment said, “You’re really not interested in this.”
“No, I am. I’m just worried.”
“About your husband?”
She nodded, though it wasn’t the truth. She was mostly worried that she’d confused the dates of her menses. Over and over, she reminded herself that it was too soon to tell. After all the difficulties of the past few weeks, surely it was only anxiety that was causing it.
“I’m also worried about Mother and Father,” Juliette said. “They’re hardly speaking to one another. Do you know if everything’s all right?”
Victoria shrugged. “I don’t know. Mother pretends as if all is well, but they’ve been apart for three years. I think they had a row when Father learned about Aphrodite’s Unmentionables. Mother refused to prevent us from continuing with our business. She said if His Grace didn’t mind, neither should he.”
Juliette eyed her sister. “I imagine that didn’t go over well.” But at least it explained the tension between her parents.
The tray of tea and sandwiches arrived at last. She took one, while her sister enjoyed three, laughing at herself while she ate. “I do believe I would eat anything that wasn’t still alive and fleeing from me,” Victoria admitted, reaching for another sheaf of papers. “And while I’m eating the rest of your sandwiches, why don’t you tell me what you think of these, Juliette?”
She looked over the remaining sketches and offered her opinion. Yet, looking at the scandalous undergarments made her think of the night Paul had made love to her for the first time. Despite being terrified, she now was no longer afraid. It had been as wonderful as she’d thought it would be. And though it was impractical, she wanted to be with him again.
“Did I embarrass you with my last letter?” her sister asked, as she put away the sketches.
“Very much,” Juliette answered honestly. “I never suspected—” Her words broke off, her face crimson at this conversation. “That is, Paul and I—”
“You don’t have to say anything,” her sister said, her own face growing red. “I know what you mean.”
She was grateful at not having to go into detail.
“Where is Dr. Fraser now?” Victoria asked. “And is he truly a viscount? Was our mother overjoyed?”
Juliette gaped at her sister. “Do you have any more questions, or can I answer now?”
Victoria patted her stomach and waved her hand. “Go on.”
