“Cancer! Good God! And kept it to herself?” Jason sounded outraged.
“She would not want to worry you,” Nellie said, finding her voice.
Charles nodded. “Mother would hate that.”
Nellie rose. “A bedchamber has been prepared for you, Dr. Chapman. If you’ll excuse me, I must discuss the menu for dinner with our chef.”
She left the room. In the corridor, her steps faltered as tears blinded her. She fumbled for her handkerchief. How pleased she had been to have a mama-in-law like Catherine, and now it seemed they would lose her. Nellie hoped she would live long enough to see at least one of her sons’ babies come into the world. She placed a hand on her stomach, and then with a moan of distress, went down to the kitchen.
*
When Charles enteredhis mother’s bedchamber, he gently chided her. “You should have told us, Mama.”
“What good would that do, Charles? You are so busy in London and don’t need to worry about me.”
He shook his head. “Of course we will worry. But we still wanted to know. To make sure you’re getting the best of care. You should have family around you at a time like this. I have sent word to your sister.”
“Frances is coming?” She sighed. “I do hope she doesn’t nag at me to take up riding again. She will keep reminding me of how I rode whilst I was carrying you and Jason.”
He smiled. “Not for a while, perhaps, but Frances is a determined person, is she not?”
“Too forceful at times. She’s always been so strong. So sure of herself.”
“I shan’t let her bully you into getting back on your feet.”
“Thank you, my dear boy. She will busy herself organizing the foxhunt. We are hosting it if you haven’t forgotten with all this fuss.”
“I remember.”
He kissed his mother and left her. He wished he could cancel it. He had no taste for it. The thought that he could lose his mother devastated him so much his throat hurt. He needed Nellie.
He found her seated in her bedchamber. She clutched her handkerchief, her eyes red, her smile encouraging. “Your mother might surprise you and be with us for far longer than the doctor says. There is much to keep her here.”
“Jason and Beverly’s baby?”
“Yes.” She turned the crumpled handkerchief in her hands. “Beverly promised to return here with the baby as soon as they are able to travel.”
He bent and drew her up into his arms. Nuzzling her neck, he breathed in her flowery scent, which he’d missed so much. “And if we should be blessed, that would please Mother even more, would it not?”
“I’m sure it would,” Nellie murmured. She cradled his face in her hands. “But our baby might be a girl.”
“I shall be delighted to have a daughter. I don’t think we should wait any longer, though, do you?”
Nellie shook her head.
He took her hand and led her over to the bed.
Chapter Twenty-Three
There was atender light in Charles’s eyes. He cradled Nellie’s face in his hands and pressed kisses to her cheeks, her forehead, chin, and nose. He took her mouth, and his kisses grew more demanding and passionate. She had denied her feelings for him for months, and starved of him, made love to him with wild abandon, until they both fell back, hot and panting.
She watched the worry lines ease on his forehead as he lay beside her, his wide chest rising and falling in slumber, then she curled up beside him, heavy and sated. It would be difficult to keep her suspicions from him. Next week she would be sure. But for now, she didn’t want him to become too concerned about her. Marian had reassured her that making love would not harm the baby. She closed her eyes and slept.
The next morning, when Charles reached for her again, she wanted so much to tell him she loved him. He needed her, but she didn’t know if it was love he felt. What if he felt compelled to respond? Or worse, said nothing?
The following week was spent quietly as they watched for signs of improvement in his mother. Nellie spent some time with Catherine every afternoon. She seemed brighter. They chatted, and Catherine expressed an interest in Nellie’s literary salon. “I wish I could have seen Byron,” she said with a wistful sigh. “I met him once, a splendid poet.”
“The ladies all enjoyed it. I might see if he’ll visit us again when you are able to be present.” Nellie smiled, feeling that such enthusiasm from Catherine must be a good sign.
