Page 40 of The New Earl’s Convenient Wife

‘I am very much looking forward to having Rafe’s child—our child. In fact, I’d like to ask a few questions, if I may.’

‘Of course, ask me anything. I don’t claim to be an expert, but I have been a mother for some time—I have an older son, Alexander, who is four years old now and completely charming.’

Juliana smiled at the mother’s obvious bias. ‘I’m sure he is.’

‘We often have my sister’s daughter, Arabella, staying with us as well. She’s almost of an age with Alex. My sister finds motherhood…fatiguing, and being recently married, wants time alone with her new husband.’

Juliana detected a slightly disapproving note. ‘How…disappointing for Arabella.’

‘We try to shower her with enough affection to make up for it. But Bella is a tough little thing. She’ll survive having a distant mother. I did.’

Feeling a stab of empathy for the little girl, Juliana was surprised into volunteering, ‘Or a disapproving one, as I did. I may know little about being a mother, but I vow that my children will know only cherishing.’

Claire squeezed her hand. ‘Then you know what, in my opinion, that is the most important thing about being a mother.’

Reaching the nursery, Claire sent the nursery maid off to have tea, telling her they’d tend the child. Picking her son out of his cradle, she hugged him close before turning to Juliana.

‘May I introduce you to our young viscount, Lord Edmenton,’ she said, displaying the baby proudly. ‘We named him Arthur Charles after Hart’s father, but we call him Charlie. It may not be correct, but I can’t bring myself to call a three-month-old infant “Edmenton.”’

After kissing his head, she cuddled him close again, her joy in him apparent. Juliana felt a surprisingly fierce pang of longing. How she yearned to have a child of Rafe’s to cherish!

‘Would you like to hold him?’

‘May I?’

‘Of course. He’s quite sturdy, he won’t break.’

As his mother handed him over, Juliana gazed down at that perfect little round face, the child’s dark eyes gazing up at her inquiringly. ‘What a handsome little lordling you are,’ she breathed. ‘No wonder your Mama dotes on you.’

‘We’re in private now. What did you wish to ask me?’

Her need for answers prevailing over her discomfort in broaching so intimate a matter, Juliana said, ‘As I mentioned, I’m not…close to my mother. My maid, Baxter, is the nearest thing I have to a female friend and confidante, but she’s never had any children. I grew up in the country, so I understand what is necessary to conceive child, but…how does one know when that has happened?’

Claire gave her an inquiring look. ‘Do you think you might be with child?’

‘I might be. I haven’t had my courses in over two months.’

‘If they normally come regularly, that’s a good sign. How are you feeling?’

‘My appetite is good, but… I have lost my breakfast every morning for the last week or so. Which might be the result of riding in the coach, as I’ve seldom traveled such long distances.’

‘Perhaps, though stomach distress is often an early sign. Has there been anything else?’

‘Just recently my breasts seem…swollen and tender.’

‘Another good sign. There’s no way to be certain until you feel the child move within you, which doesn’t happen until one has been enceinte for five months or so. But it sounds as if you might be.’

Juliana had to damp down an emotion so strong, she was almost in tears. Hardly daring to hope it might be true, she couldn’t trust herself to speak.

‘Would you be happy if it were true?’

‘Ecstatic!’ she burst out. ‘Rafe and I are so…comfortable together. A child would be the final thing to make our relationship complete.’

Claire gave her an assessing look, making Juliana uncomfortably aware that she’d left out any mention of ‘love’ in describing their union. But refraining from commenting about that, the Duchess said instead, ‘Does Rafe know?’

‘Oh, no! I’ve no intention of saying anything yet. I might well be mistaken, and I would want to be very sure before I raise his hopes. Now that he holds the title, he is of course very concerned about having an heir. Though I’m certain he would love any child of his.’

‘Then I hope your suspicions may be correct.’