He was going to be afather.
Taking both her hands in his, he drew her to a nearby bench. For the first time in his life, he thought his knees might give out beneath him.
Once seated, keeping her gloved hands in his, he studied her face. He needed to be sure. “You are… with child?”
She nodded.
“You do not seem overset by it.”
At this, she laughed. “Not now. I’ve had time to get used to the idea.”
“I will speak with your father.” It was imperative more now than ever. “Should you be out walking? Are you eating enough? How are you feeling?” If anything, she appeared thinner than she had earlier that spring.
All these weeks, she’d been carrying their child while he’d merrily gone about his daily business. He wanted to knoweverything.
But before he could form any questions, she broke into his thoughts.
“Tell me about your family.” She seemed far too calm as she made her request.
“My family?” His mind raced in a thousand different directions.
“You do have one, don’t you?” She laughed. “Your father, siblings, perhaps…? I realize that although I’ve known you for some time, I don’t reallyknowyou.”
Mantis nodded, allowing himself a moment to catch up. She was with child. They were going to marry.
She wanted to know him better.
Of course!
“I have two siblings,” he began.I’m going to be a father.
“Yes?” she prompted. Mantis blinked to chase the fog out of his brain and focus on answering her question.
“My sister is the same age as me: Cordelia.”
“You’re a twin?”
“I am.”
“Does she have children?”Children.
“She is unmarried.” Mantis pushed away his confusion enough to answer a little more coherently. Cordelia had made her come out several years ago, and finding herself embarrassingly neglected, chose to exit the marriage mart. She insisted that she preferred helping to care for Conner, who’d been an infant at the time. In Mantis’ eyes, his sister’s failed season only proved how idiotic most bachelors were.
“Is she like you?” Felicity asked.
“She is”—perhaps too much so—"We’re of similar height and coloring, but she’s smarter than me.” Mantis slid her a meaningful gaze. “She actually enjoys reading all those stories of romance and adventure.”
Felicity’s eyes opened wide. “She is tall then. I think that would be magnificent.”
“Sheismagnificent.” Mantis frowned. “She’s something of a Viking goddess.” If only the rest of the world saw her as he did.
“But?”Felicity tilted her head. “If she is your twin, then she is… thirty? Did she not wish to marry?” Felicity realized she would have to put in a little work to get him talking.
“It’s my opinion that she scared away any eligible suitors.”
“Are the two of you close?” she asked.
“Not as close as we used to be. Although she’s in London for the season, Cordelia prefers the country. And I… do not. But as children, we finished one another’s sentences.”
