He barked out a laugh. “Yes, if we can wait that long, it will be slower, I promise.”
“We have the rest of our lives, after all,” she reminded him.
“Indeed,” he said, placing his large palm over her stomach and the secret she suspected was growing within. “Indeed, we do.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Aweek later, Alice was pleased to arrive at Clarity’s home on Grosvenor square upon Adam’s arm. The Hollidges did have a ballroom, and there would be fine musicians. She couldn’t wait to dance with Adam again after so long.
Not that she hadn’t been in his arms nearly every moment they were alone, but there was something magical about being dressed in fancy clothes. And she had learned that her eldest sister-in-law loved a masquerade, so there would be many opportunities in the years to come.
Dressed as a Roman citizen, Alice entered proudly next to Adam, who was dressed as King Bladud, the supposed founder of Bath. He held a fake stuffed pig under his arm and had a bag of acorns tied to his belt. She thought mayhap they ought to have better coordinated their costumes. Even more so when she saw Clarity dressed as a femaletoreadorand her husband, Lord Hollidge, wearing a bull costume.
Having already spent two afternoons with the Diamond women, mother and four daughters, since her return, all bridges had been mended. They’d scolded her gently for leaving them, but also hugged her and told her if anything ever ailed her, she should go to them. She had never felt more treasured and safer.
When the dancing began, Alice thought her slippered feet hardly touched the floor as she sailed around the room with Adam.
“You ought to be a goddess, not a peasant,” he said.
“My costume would hardly differ. I would still be draped in fabric. But instead of flowers in my hair, I suppose I would have gold leaves.” She wore a crown of delicate blue phlox and white mums.
“Something like that,” he agreed. “Can we go to bed now?”
She laughed and couldn’t stop. He asked that same question nearly every day, wherever they were, even if they were at home in their own dining room or parlor.
It occurred to her that while his family was nearby, it was as good a time as any to tell him their news. That morning, counting and recounting, she had finally let herself feel certain and had waited for the right moment.
“If you wish to bed me to create an heir, my lord, it is too late. The deed is done.”
Adam’s affable smile slipped, and his mouth dropped open. Momentarily, he halted in the middle of the dance floor, his blue gaze flickering across her face. And then he grinned. His fingers tightened, both at her waist and where he clasped her hand. Without further comment, they commenced the dance again.
“I believe we missed a few steps,” she said as someone almost bumped into her, forcing them to speed up.
“I want to shout it aloud,” Adam confessed, “but Purity would descend upon me and quite possibly grab my ear to haul me from the room.”
“I wouldn’t risk it,” Alice agreed. “She is rather fierce.” That night, Purity was portraying Catherine of Aragon, who had purportedly ridden with troops in full armor.
“Probably a good thing her husband didn’t come as a fox tonight,” Alice added, thinking he would be easy prey for his wife. Instead, Lord Foxford was a well-padded King Henry VIII.
Adam shook his head. “My sister is no good at all with archery or a sword. But I would receive a severe tongue-lashing were I to make an embarrassing scene at Clarity’s party. Do you think we could at least embrace after we leave the dance floor?”
Alice was, for once, happy when the music stopped. Adam immediately drew her aside. Despite propriety, he pulled her close and kissed her on the lips in front of anyone who might be looking.
“Inappropriate,” Purity muttered, coming close as if to intervene. “Save such intimacy for home, please.”
“We are celebrating,” he retorted. Before he could tell her more, they were surrounded by Bri, Ray, Clarity, and their parents.
Alice thought the family to be like a hive of bees for they seemed to know when to gather and when to spread out across the room.
“What’s going on?” Ray asked, her tone already filled with excitement from the party. She was dressed as a shepherd girl, complete with a hook. Bri, beside her, was a white swan with a fabulous headdress.
Alice let Adam tell his family, and soon, congratulations were being repeated.
“Champagne for everyone,” Lord Diamond called out to the guests in general. “I have an announcement.”
“Go ahead, Father,” Purity said, trying to keep the party in order for her sister. Clarity obviously didn’t mind the interruption, not even when the earl insisted upon waiting to speak further until servers roamed through the guests with trays of champagne.
Alice received a warm smile from the Countess Diamond, just as Lord Diamond raised his glass high.
