‘I doubt it. Hardy says he has now absconded to the continent, if rumours are to be believed, taking much of Gilbert’s money with him, along with his wife.’
‘His wife? Harriet has run away with Caville Sharp? You cannot be in earnest.’
‘I am sorry to cause you pain, Grace, but Hardy has it on very good authority that there was a connection between them for some months, possibly even before the duel. I would dismiss the tale as mere rumour, for her sake, but as Gilbert is now seeking a divorce, I think we must assume it is true.’
‘Poor Harriet.’
‘She was supposed to be your friend, but she handed you back in a heartbeat to a man she decried as a savage, one you had run away from.’
‘You were never that man.’
‘How was she to know, yet she threw you to the wolves to please her dolt of a husband, and possibly, on the urging of Sharp.’
‘Oh, I can scarcely believe it – Harriet and Caville. But do not judge her too harshly. She must have been duped by him. To his equals or betters, Caville was always most charming, I am sure. Harriet was unhappy with Gilbert. No matter past injuries, I cannot rejoice in her fall, Rawden.’
‘That is because you have the kindest of hearts, Grace.’
She raked Rawden’s hair back off his forehead. ‘How else would I have managed to love my savage of a husband?’
‘Indeed. Grace, I have had much time to think these last weeks whilst you have been neglecting me to go out riding.’
‘Thinking about what?’ she said, leaning in to kiss him, but Rawden pushed her back.
‘A man without offspring is a man without a future,’ he said.
She frowned. ‘Whatever can you mean?’
‘I should work on providing one, so I want you in my bed tonight and every night after that so that you may learn the value of obedience.’ He rolled her over onto her back, grimacing from his painful shoulder, and tickled her without mercy. Grace shrieked, but he did not relent. ‘From now on, you will be too tired to ride anything but your husband.’
‘Stop it, Rawden. No, stop!’ she cried, wriggling to get away.
His weight pressed down on her, his knee between her legs, and he panted into her face. ‘I mean it. I want a child in our lives. We will bring it up in love and safety.’ Rawden surged inside her again. ‘I want to make our child, Grace, and I want to start now.’
As he moved inside her, Grace took his face in her hands. ‘Yes, Rawden, oh yes.’ She considered telling him that his quest for a child might have already borne fruit, but why spoil a delicious afternoon of exquisite lovemaking?
***
The garden of Oak Park House was bare. Folds of snow blanketed the shrubbery, and the trees were turned to glass. Grace snuggled into her fur-lined coat and blew on her frozen fingers. The air was so crisp and refreshing that it was a joy to be outside. How could she remain indoors when she thought she might burst with happiness? Rawden had fallen asleep soon after their passionate coupling. Still recuperating from his wound, he exhausted easily, and Grace had a pang of conscience about demanding his affections so often. But how could she not when he was such a tender and caring lover. This very afternoon, she had almost been brought to tears by her love for her snarling earl.
A discreet cough had her turning to find Reeves behind her. ‘Good afternoon, Lady Voss. Is it not a little cold to be out of doors?’
‘No, I find it bracing, and I like the quiet of the snowfall. It is as if the world is hushed and sleeping.’
‘If you like. There is certainly a glow to your cheeks if I may be so bold.’
‘It is the frosty air.’
‘No, you look different. Happy, at peace.’
‘I am happy.’ Her hand went instinctively to her belly, and Reeves’ face froze. Their eyes met. He knew, and no words were needed.
‘Does Rawden know you are with child?’ he said, his breath turning to mist with the cold.
Did the man miss nothing? There was no hiding now. ‘Not yet. I wanted to be sure before I said anything. I did not want to disappoint him if I was mistaken.’
Reeves’ harsh face broke into a smile. ‘You could never disappoint Rawden.’
‘Thank you. But how did you know?’
