He nodded, staring at the flames in the hearth. If he asked more questions about the pregnancy—how far exactly was Isabella? Were the stomach problems due to the pregnancy? Did the doctor know who the father was?—both the doctor and Grandmama would realise he knew nothing about Isabella’s condition.
She would be blamed for having deceived him, for deceiving everyone. Grandmama would ask him to send her away or even to get an annulment. More importantly, Isabella’s life would be a nightmare. His reputation would recover. Hers wouldn’t.
“What else does the duchess need?” Grandmama asked in a practical tone that masked her surprise.
“Meat, not overcooked,” Dr. Norris said, “absolute rest for at least a week. The duchess must not leave her bed until I’m sure the bleeding won’t start again. Plenty of soups and tea. Her room needs to be warm and dry at all times. The bedsheets must be changed every day. And of course…” She glanced at him. “Your Grace, no intercourse.”
Grandmama arched her brow but said nothing.
“May I see my wife?”
“She’s asleep now, but yes, as long as you don’t tire her. The duchess was lucky. Many women die from a miscarriage like that. Please do take that into consideration in the next few days.”
“What do you mean by that?” Grandmama said, letting her temper slip.
Anthony had a hunch. “My secretary will pay your bill tomorrow, and I’ll have a room prepared for you for tonight, doctor.”
“Thank you, Your Grace.” The doctor picked her bag up and seemed about to say something else, but then she curtsied and left.
The moment Dr. Norris closed the door behind her, Grandmama sprang up to her feet and glared at him with such fierceness he expected the whole house to burn to the ground.
“She was with child.” She clenched her fists, trembling. “How stupid of me not to realise that! The signs were there.”
He leant against the wall. How stupid of him as well. The hurried marriage, the sobbing, the quick mood changes, the talk about honesty—everything made sense now.
She strode to him. “You took her before she agreed to marry you because, of course, she was already carrying your child during the ceremony. Otherwise the afterbirth wouldn’t be such a problem.”
He was about to protest his innocence, but that meant blaming Isabella, and while she was at fault, he needed to hear her side of the story first. Again, he chose silence.
“That’s the reason for the hurry.” Grandmama’s eyes were ablaze with anger. The fact she was as tall as he was made her stare impossible to escape.
He scratched his chin. “Grand?—”
“I haven’t finished! So don’t talk. I don’t want to hear your pathetic excuses.”
The harsh, angry tone caught him by surprise. She’d never given him an order without respect or affection.
“Isabella was forced to marry you. She had no choice.” She pointed a finger at him. “You took away that choice from her. I thought you were better than that.”
He swallowed hard, pushing down the urge to tell the truth.
“I’ve always thought Patrick was the flippant one between the two of you, but what you did to that poor girl is inexcusable.” Her voice cracked with sobs. “I know she had a role in this. I know she has her share of guilt, but heavens, you’re older than she is and have experience, and you should have controlled yourself. You should have been careful with her. Protect her.”
He worked his jaw, struggling to keep his temper down.
Grandmama wasn’t finished. “You’re my grandson! You’re a duke of the House of Beaufort, and you’re going to take your responsibility.”
“Of course, I’m going to,” he gritted out. “That’s what I’ve bloody done so far.”
“Mind your language with me! You aren’t the one lying in a bed, half dead. You don’t risk your reputation and title. If the truth comes out, the blame will be on that poor girl.”
He squeezed his lips together, gathering the patience to listen to a sermon he didn’t deserve. But Grandmama was right, and Isabella needed his protection.
“By taking her before marriage, you ruined her. She had to marry you. When you told me you wanted a quick wedding, I didn’t think, not even for a moment, that Isabella might be with child, because I trusted you. I was sure you wouldn’t have taken her like a beast in heat. I was sure you would have never, ever deceived me by omitting she was with child. And as a consequence, she nearly died. How wrong I was. I shall never forgive you.”
Clamping a hand on her mouth, she hurried out of the room, leaving him aching as if a dozen pugilists had punched him in the chest at the same time.
He took a moment to collect his thoughts. The evening was one shock after the other. First Isabella’s pregnancy, now Grandmama’s outburst. It was the first time he’d seen his grandmother losing her temper like that.
