“Please come sit down.”She gestured to the other side of the room, where a long sofa and two tufted wingback chairs made a cozy seating area.“I didn’t think you would be back in town until fall.”
Lucy’s gaze slid to her husband, and she grimaced.“Yes, well, we weren’t planning to leave Belstoke either.Do you remember my friend, Violet Blakely?She was newly married this spring, and I have not heard a peep from her since.They honeymooned on the continent, but returned the first week in June, according to her mother.It has been almost six weeks with no response to my correspondence.I am worried.So, I convinced Hart that we should make a visit to the Marquess of Somerset.”
Hart picked up her hand and kissed her fingers.“I’m sure everything is fine.She is probably just busy setting up her new household.”
“No, it is not like her to not write.She is always full of news.Why hasn’t she told me all about her travels?”Lucy frowned.“Something is wrong, I know it.Perhaps she is ill?”
Elizabeth was a believer in listening to one’s instincts.“It’s good that you go to visit her.She will certainly be happy to see you, no matter the circumstances.”
“And surprised,” Hart muttered under his breath.
Lucy elbowed him in the side.“I heard that.”
Robert came barreling into the room.“Mrs.Todd said I have visitors.Who is it?”
Elizabeth gestured across to Hart and Lucy.Robert swiveled around with a delighted squeak.“Uncle Alex, Aunt Lucy!”
Lucy enveloped him in a warm hug.“How are you, Robert?”
Remembering his manners, he said, “Good, thank you.How are you?”
“I am well.We missed you.”
Hart ruffled Robert’s hair.“You looked like you grew this spring.”
Robert puffed out his chest proudly.“Yes, sir.I grew two whole inches, mama said.”
“I am not surprised.Your father was very tall.”
“He was?”Robert asked with wide eyes.
“Taller than me by a few inches.”Hart nodded.
Robert held out one of his small hands.“Would you like to go out to the garden and meet my frogs?”
Hart enveloped Robert’s hand with his and rose to his feet.“Very much.Lead the way.”
“Mama said I may not bring them inside, but they still make good pets, even if they HAVE to live in the garden,” Robert explained as the two walked out of the room.
Elizabeth shook her head with an indulgent smile.
When she turned back to Lucy, the lady had an identical smile, and her eyes shined with tears.“They are so adorable together.”Lucy laid a hand on her flat stomach.
Elizabeth tilted her head.“Are you all right?”
Lucy sucked in a breath.“Oh, fine.”
“Are you expecting?”She raised one eyebrow.
“Yes.”Lucy leaned forward.“How did you guess?”
“The teary-eyed look at your husband with Robert and the touch of your hand on your midsection are both classic tells.When did you find out?”
“I’ve missed two months of courses.So, early yet.But Hart noticed immediately.”She wrinkled her nose.“He notices everything.We are cautiously happy.After a whole year of marriage, I thought perhaps it wasn’t going to happen.”
“It happens when it happens.I am so pleased for you both.”And she meant it.There had been a time when she mourned that her son would never be the duke, as he would have been by birthright if she and his father had married as they had planned.But Robert’s murderer had robbed her and their son of the future she thought was going to be theirs.Time and perspective had reminded her that titles don’t matter.That they can be cages.Gilded ones, but, nevertheless, cages.Robert would grow up in a loving environment and learn to be an independent man.She hoped that he would be able to carve out whatever life he wished for himself.
Lucy leaned back with a sigh.“I admit to feeling quite emotional these days.You know I don’t like to cry.But I can’t seem to stop blubbering over every little thing.”
