“There’s always a choice.”
“Not this time. Ellie’s increasing, Julian.”
Julian fell silent for a moment as Cam’s words sunk in, and then he smiled. “I can’t think why I didn’t guess it. You’re glowing, Ellie, and Cam, you look smugger than I’ve ever seen you.”
Ellie smiled. “The doctor confirmed it just this week. Sometime in mid-March, he says.”
“Ah. Well, that explains why Cam’s wandering the house at midnight in that ridiculous banyan.”
“I can’t sleep. Ellie is fatigued and I don’t like to keep her awake, but I also don’t wish to be denied my wife’s bed until March.”
“Seven months is a long time to sleep alone.” Julian grinned. “And it will feel longer for us all if you plan to haunt the house in that banyan the entire time.”
Cam looked worried. “But my sleeplessness will pass, won’t it?”
“You’re not asking me, I hope. I can regale you with the usual bachelor’s tales—drink, wagering, brothels and the like—but ladies who are increasing? I haven’t the faintest idea there, cuz.”
“Well, I don’t either, damn it.”
Ellie laughed. “You will soon enough, and it’s no good grumbling about it, because I have the hardest bit by far.”
“I won’t grumble toyou, my love, but Julian is another matter. How fortunate that you should arrive home just in time to comfort me in my distress, Jules.”
“I draw the line at sharing my bedchamber with you.”
Cam grinned. “We’ll see.”
Julian crossed to the sideboard and helped himself to more whiskey. “What does Amelia say?”
Ellie smiled. “We just told her this evening, and she’s thrilled, of course. It’s a very grown up thing to become an aunt.”
“She’s grown a great deal while I’ve been gone.” Julian couldn’t quite suppress a wistful sigh. “She’s almost a young lady now.”
“Not to worry.” Cam gave him a reassuring grin. “There’s still a good bit of the little girl about her, for all that she’s nearly thirteen years old. There are some things a child never outgrows, thank God.”
“And since we’re back on the subject of growing children…” Ellie began.
“Yes. I fail to see what this”—Julian gestured vaguely at Ellie’s belly with his whiskey glass—“has to do with the marchioness.”
“Ellie’s exhausted, Jules. The ordeal with Charlotte, the heat and grime of London—it’s unhealthy for her in her condition. I don’t want to leave Charlotte here alone, but Ellie and Amelia and my unborn child are my first concern. We need to leave the city before Ellie becomes truly ill.”
Ellie reached forward and took Julian’s hand. “Lord Devon is a dangerous man, Julian. Certain of thetoneven whisper he murdered his elder brother so he’d be first in line to inherit the fortune and title when his father died, and now he’s dangling after Charlotte. If the worst should happen, if Charlotte should be hurt, I’ll never forgive myself.”
Julian opened his mouth to tell them for the third time he was sorry, he couldn’t help them, but then Ellie squeezed his hand, and he fell silent. If Charlotte should engage in further antics…
What had that tall blonde lady said?There’s always tomorrow night.
Oh, there would be further antics. Judging by the devilish gleam in the blonde’s eye, they’d come sooner rather than later, and now there was a murderous earl to consider.
There was Ellie to consider.
He owed her.
Ellie loved Cam with all her heart—she’d loved him even when he’d tried to blackmail her into marriage. Even when his behavior toward her had been nothing less than barbarous, she’d loved him against reason, against logic, and against self-preservation. She’d saved him, and now…
Julian owed Ellie a rescue.
One sister.
