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That halted him. He turned to stare at her. “Go on.”

She swallowed hard at the look on his face, suddenly reminded of why she’d kept her activities in Shropshire secret from him in the first place. “You refused to let me try any remedies for my condition, remember?” When he just kept scowling at her, she went on hastily, “His lordship told Juliet of a healer who had helped his mother conceive. That’s where Lord Templemore and I were that day we returned together. He and Juliet and I took the sleigh to see his tenant Winifred, a wise woman much known for her skill in these matters.”

“Juliet wasn’t with you that day,” he corrected her, still scowling. “I remember it very well.”

“She was with us before we saw you.” Turning to pace the room nervously, Rosalind explained why Juliet had stayed behind at Foxglen. “Actually, Juliet sneaked back into Charnwood Hall later. That’s when we started the whole sickness pretense—so I’d have a reason to remain at Charnwood and consult with Winnie. Ask Juliet about that day, if you don’t believe me. For that matter, ask Mr. Pryce. Both will confirm it.”

“What about your private meeting this morning?” he demanded.

“He wanted me to help him get her alone so he could propose marriage tonight. And when you saw him kiss my hand at Lady Brumley’s, he was heading off after Juliet.” She stared at him earnestly. “He wants her, you know, not me. To him, I’m only the sister.”

“And the whispering…and the cottage…”

“Lord Templemore pointed out the cottage to us the day we rode to Winnie’s. And the whispering was merely to tell me that Winnie had sent over more herbs.” She colored. “And to…um…ask what to do about you and your complaints about the baths.”

Griff’s face darkened. “The baths?”

“Well, Winnie said that a man is less likely to conceive if he takes very hot baths, so Lord Templemore…that is, he told his servants—”

“Not to give me hot water.” He glanced away, his jaw taut. “My God, now it all makes sense. His servants were so very odd about it.” He released a shuddering breath. “And what other fine remedies did this ‘healer’ offer?”

“Only herbs, that’s all.” At his long tense silence, she burst out, “Oh, Griff, don’t be angry at me! I couldn’t resist trying one more thing. I do so want to bear your child. Our child.”

With a heartfelt sigh, he rubbed his hand over his face. “I’m not angry at you, darling. I’m angry at myself. For leaping to conclusions, for not listening to what you wanted.” His voice dropped guiltily. “For not trusting you. I’m a jealous—”

“—‘idiot’ works nicely for me.” All her anger had returned. To think that he could believe her capable of such a betrayal!

He nodded earnestly. “Yes, idiot. If you only knew the tortures I’ve put myself through…”

“You deserved every one if you thought I’d even look at another man in that way!”

She walked up to him, and he held out his hands defensively. “No more hitting,” he warned.

“No more hitting.” She clasped his hands in hers. “Look at me, Griff.”

After a second, his troubled gaze shifted to her.

“I love you,” she said fiercely. “I’ve loved you almost from the day we met. That has never changed. It will never change. And I’d certainly never be so foolish as to yearn for a piece of pie when I have a whole feast at my disposal.”

Some of the bleakness left his face. “I thought I was losing you,” he whispered. “You’d been so short-tempered lately. And so disappointed about not conceiving that I thought you might blame me.”

“I’m sorry you thought that. I didn’t blame you. And if I was short-tempered, it was because my inability to give you a child frustrated me.” She flashed him a wan smile. “I’m not used to failing at anything, as you well know.”

“It doesn’t matter if you give me a child or not, darling,” he said fervently. “As long as I have you, it’s enough for me.”

For the first time, she realized that it wasn’t just words. He truly meant it. He’d probably meant it all along when he’d said it, but she’d been so caught up in feeling flawed that she’d attributed the same feeling to him.

“I don’t want to…to raise your hopes prematurely,” she offered, “but my courses were supposed to begin last week and they didn’t. So it is possible—”

“If it is, then fine. If it isn’t, that’s fine, too. I can bear anything as long as I don’t lose you.”

Tears welled in her eyes. “You’re not going to lose me, you silly man.” She reached up to kiss his cheek. “And you simply must learn to talk to me when these things worry you, instead of creating mountains out of molehills.”

She added, to be fair, “But I swear I’ll never lie to you again. That was part of the problem, I know.” Then she thought a moment and scowled. “Though the reason I lied in the first place was because you started ordering me about, telling me what I could and couldn’t do and—”

His mouth cut off the rest of her tirade. He kissed her hungrily, reminding her of the first time they’d kissed in the plum orchard at Swan Park. When he drew back, her knees were weak and her anger gone.

He held her close, nuzzling her hair. “I’ll never doubt you again, my darling, I swear it.”