I must be in shock.That must be what this numb feeling was.
But this could not be good for the baby.
And her father. What would he think if he saw her like this? Felicity couldn’t stop shivering.
“I’ll have a hot bath made up, and we’ll send word to your parents that you are staying with me tonight, that we wanted to catch up.” Bethany squeezed her hand. “Chase will send for a doctor.”
“I’m f-fine. It’s only a scratch.” She fought to keep her teeth from chattering. It could have been so much worse for both of them!
“You must have been terrified!”
Felicity met Bethany’s concerned gazed. “T-t-tea will help.” Tea fixed everything.
“Of course.”
“Th-th-those men.” Felicity was shaking. “They t-tried to k-kill Axel.” If not for Axel’s strength and agility, one or more of those knives could all too easily have pierced his heart.
But of course. “The gunshot in the park! That wasn’t an accident at all.”
Felicity met Lord Chaswick’s gaze across the dark carriage.
“I’m afraid that would have been too great of a coincidence for it not to have been,” he agreed.
The driver drew the vehicle to a halt, and Felicity wasn’t sure if the carriage or her own thoughts caused the tremor that shook her.
“Here we are,” Bethany said. When Felicity hesitated, she added, “Our servants are discreet. I promise. You needn’t worry about them gossiping.”
The baron was out of the carriage, and in no time at all, Felicity found herself sitting in a hot tub, a cup of tea in her hand, and flames flickering in the hearth across the room. After draping a white night rail and a few towels near the fire, Bethany’s maid disappeared, reminding her mistress to use the bell-pull to summon her when needed.
Leaning forward and sitting on the small stool placed beside the tub, Bethany’s eyes twinkled. “You are engaged!”
“I am. And you are married!”
“I am!” Bethany squealed. “To Chase!” This felt more normal. This was what Felicity needed. “And you are going to marry Lord Manningham-Tissinton? I would never have guessed. I might think you accepted him only because of Westerley’s betrayal if I hadn’t seen you and Mantis together. This doesn’t have anything to do with Westerley, does it?”
“No.” Felicity needed this. Susan was a wonderful and loyal maid, but she was also her father’s employee. Bethany was simply a dear, dear friend. “He comforted me the night of your mother’s ball at Westerley Crossings.”
“That was the night Westerley announced his engagement to Miss Jackson.”
“I was… disappointed.”
Bethany frowned. “I didn’t realize… you never said a word. I should have known.”
“Westerley is your brother.” Felicity pointed out. “And his wife is your sister now. Anyway, I’m quite over him. In fact, looking back on all of that, I am grateful that Miss Jackson came along.”
“Just so long as you are happy.”
Was she? She might be if they knew who was behind these attacks on Axel. The memory of him fighting off all those men terrified her but also summoned that fiery sensation that was becoming all too familiar.
“I am quite taken with my viscount,” Felicity admitted. “He fought off all those men with nothing but his bare hands. He saved both of our lives tonight!”
“Do you…” Bethany leaned forward to rest her chin on her fist. “Do you love Mantis?”
Did she? She had been pretending to love him for her parents’ benefit. And she’d allowed him unmentionable intimacies. He was to be the father of her child! But did she love him? Was shein lovewith him?
“I care for him deeply.” Very deeply. And because she had known Bethany for most of her life and knew she would never reveal her secret, she added, “I’m with child, Bethany. I’m going to have Axel’s baby.” Moisture welled in her eyes.
Bethany’s eyes flicked to where Felicity’s belly was submerged in the water and then back up again. “Felicity!” She was blinking rapidly. “Oh, Felicity!”
