The duke rushed from a winged chair toward his wife, and Beatrice scattered to the side to give him access.
“Are you ... do you ... that is, can I...?” he asked.
Charlotte had never seen the Duke of Pelham look more helpless.
Amity could do little more than shake her head, which told them all nothing, and then she closed her eyes and groaned again.
Charlotte took hold of her sister’s hand and felt her give a reassuringly strong squeeze. Amity had the strength of ten men, and Charlotte had a feeling she would need every ounce of it.
After a pause, Felicity Rare-Foure, sounding calm, said, “I believe we shall have to postpone the dinner party. My daughter, the Duchess of Chocolate, has gone into labor.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Charlotte didn’t mind the abrupt ending of the dinner party because she was suddenly an aunt, which was practically the best thing in the world next to being a mother herself. Without going home first, she went with her family straight to her sister’s grand home at St. James’s Place. A doctor arrived shortly after, as well as a midwife because the duke said he was taking no chances.
When he wondered aloud if he ought to also summon the best veterinarian in London, Felicity ushered him from the bedroom and shut the door on the anxious duke, Charlotte had joined her mother and Beatrice to sit with Amity.
“There’s really nothing to do but wait and possibly eat something,” their mother said, after making sure her eldest daughter was as comfortable as possible. “I was looking forward to trying out the skills of your future cook,” she added, looking at Charlotte.
They sent Amity’s maid to fetch a pot of tea, another of hot chocolate, and whatever was in the pantry since the Pelham’s kitchen staff hadn’t expected to feed guests that night.
“It’s a shame,” Amity said between contractions, “because you all look so lovely tonight, especially Charlotte.”
“Leave it to you to be so amiable,” Beatrice remarked, “as to wish your labor hadn’t started so we could have a nice dinner party.”
“Besides,” Charlotte said, “my fiancé got to see me in this dress.” She looked down at her now-wrinkled evening gown. “And that is really the point, isn’t it? Besides I’ll have the opportunity to wear it again. By then, I will be an auntie.” She clapped her hands. “This is so exciting.”
She noticed her mother exchange a glance with the midwife, and then Felicity shrugged. “This won’t be all strawberries and cream. You girls understand that, don’t you?”
“Mother,” Bea said. “We’re not children. We’re married women.” She glanced at Charlotte. “And engaged. Anyway, the point is, we’ve all either had a friend go through this or read about it.”
Charlotte nodded, as did Amity, who looked a little frightened. Charlotte couldn’t blame her but thought the best thing was if they kept her mind occupied as long as she wanted them.
“Would you be put out,” she asked her mother, “if I took Delia with me?” And then she told them all about their maid’s growingtendrefor Charles’s coachman. “It’s utterly romantic, isn’t it?”
Bea laughed. “Not as romantic as Lord Jeffcoat, who has known you for years, if I may point out, unexpectedly realizing you are his heart’s desire.”
“And he for me,” Charlotte pointed out.
“Even more remarkable,” Amity said from her bed, “as he is your first love and will be your only.”
Charlotte decided there was no purpose in mentioning Lionel Evans. On the other hand, she didn’t want them to think she’d fallen for the first man to come along and show an interest in her. Charles would have won her over even if she’d had a long list of suitors.
“I’ve had my eye on another man before. I’m not entirely green, as they say.”
“Ha!” Beatrice said. “We knew it. Didn’t we?” She glanced at the bed.
“We wondered,” Amity said.
Charlotte didn’t expand upon who, nor ask what her sisters thought they knew.
“It was a silly infatuation compared to how I feel about Lord Jeffcoat.” Lionel had faded into insignificance entirely. More than that, Charlotte was actually relieved he’d left when he had. She might have done something imprudent that would have ensured she had to marry him. And now that she’d experienced the meeting of the minds with Charles — not to mention the lips — she knew being with Lionel would have been a dreadful disappointment and ended badly.
Amity moaned. Charlotte sighed. There was nothing to do but wait.
BEING A BRAND NEW AUNT with Amity having been delivered of a beautiful boy whom they hadn’t yet named was the first of Charlotte’s blessings. The staircase was finished to everyone’s satisfaction and the shop was set to reopen. Life was good.
And not only for her and her family.
