Clancy came into the parlor with one of his fancy silver trays. Three cups, three saucers, three silver spoons—all for serving Ester and the best friends in the world.
“Mrs. Fitzwilliam-Cecil, there’s no dry toast, but Mrs. Fitterwall says crackers are best to calm the baby woes. Shall I bring some?”
Theodosia nodded. “Yes. Please bring me some. I’ll try anything.”
Clancy made a quick turn and left the parlor.
“Baby?” Ester covered her mouth. Her voice sounded weak and simple. A baby is what happened when a couple was in love.
“Yes. I might be older than you two, but apparently not too old.”
Frederica giggled and waggled her thin brows. “Nope, not too old.”
Ester froze in her chair. It had been only one night between her and Bex—that couldn’t be—no, Theodosia and Ewan had been married at least seven or eight months. Yet, the thought of holding a baby with Bex’s eyes wasn’t bad. But what would it be like to rock that child, fretting about his father not coming home? She wrapped her hands about her stomach. A baby was a reason to reunite, a sad one if neither could compromise. But would Ester be like her sister, Ruth, having to go to the country to raise a child by herself?
Theodosia put down the paper, flipping it over to page two. “So how long are you going to wait before you respond to Bex’s new advertisement?”
What? He hadn’t even waited for their marriage to be annulled before he was looking for a new woman? She ripped the pages from Theodosia’s fingers and scoured the print. With her finger, she jumped from one advertisement to another until she spied it.
“Humbled man of modest means looking for woman of esteem who must be a Shakespeare lover, lilac wearer, and sketch artist with initials ECB. Inquire in Cheapside.” Ester swallowed hard. “The only thing he left out was ‘must love baths.’ How long has this has been in the papers?”
“A few days,” Frederica said. “He still loves you. Don’t you love him?”
Clancy returned with a plate of crackers then disappeared again, but not before Theodosia had stuffed two crispy bits into her mouth. “Who needs bonbons when dry, non-nauseating crackers abound?”
“Bonbons are everything.” Frederica giggled. “So how long are you going to punish Bex? He made a mistake. He’s clearly sorry.”
“Why can’t he just come, apologize, and say he’ll avoid danger?” Ester tossed the paper back to the table. “This is more of a show. He needs a wife to vouch for his character.”
Theodosia wiped her mouth of crumbs as she patted the tiny bulge in her abdomen. “The advertisement is cute, maybe even showy, but a man needs to be encouraged. Ester, I know you feel as if he betrayed you, but take it from me. You can’t ask him to be less of the man he is. Go hear him out. See beyond your anger. Then let your heart decide.”
When her parents had disowned her, he’d said to wait for a proper invitation. Was that what he wanted—for her to say she was wrong first? Ester picked up the paper again, returning to the horrid headline,Bex’s Secret. “How can I trust him again? He’s still going to do dangerous things. And what if there is another lie he hasn’t set right?”
Frederica grasped Ester’s hand. “Faith, even a small bit, is needed for anything. Believe that Bex loves you. I hear love always finds a way.”
Ester wanted to believe, but fear held her captive.
Theodosia rose from the chair as if her ankles weighed hundreds of pounds. “Come on, Frederica. Ewan and your father should be done.”
“What are Fitzwilliam-Cecil and the duke doing? That’s an odd combination.”
“It’s for his father, the Earl of Crisdon. Since he’s living in town, he’s taken up with Simone. They are at his club. Crisdon forced both his sons, Ewan and Lord Hartwell, to attend.”
“Is it still awkward, Theodosia?”
“It’s getting better. Hopefully, it will get better by Yuletide when Philip gets his new sibling. Hopefully, he’ll hear this baby’s cries.”
Ester hugged her. “Of course he will.”
Frederica stacked the papers into a neat pile. “You think we can stop for bonbons? Can’t you crave those, just once?”
Rolling her eyes, Theodosia hugged Ester again. “I don’t know how she stays rail thin.”
Frederica came to the left of Ester and joined in the hug sandwich. “I saw how Bex looked at you at the rally, and I so wish for a man, a decent one, to look at me like that. He’s in love with you. Stubbornness or fear can make you miss your chance at happiness.”
“I’ll think upon it, but wear something fabulous for my party. You two will make it special. Maybe you can stand at my side to cut the cake.”
Theodosia kissed her brow. “Would never miss it, and we’ll be at your side, sharing your joy or pain, no matter your choice.”
