“Who could you possibly be writing to? All of our family and friends are here.”
“I am writing a letter to our baby.”
“When he arrives, he will not be able to read,” he pointed out, his eyes sparkling.
She frowned at him. “It may well be a girl. What, then?”
“Then we shall have yet another beautiful, headstrong lady in our home,” he replied promptly, and she could not help but smile. “Are you ready to go and share our news with our guests?”
“I am ready,” she replied with a smile, and he leaned down to press a kiss to her forehead.
“Then let us go.”
With that, he tucked her against his side and led her to the garden, where everyone had gathered.
Her mother and father were sitting primly in their chairs in the back area. Her sisters were milling about, gushing over the variety of flowers. And there were John and Isabelle, talking excitedly to one another.
But everyone looked up as they entered the gardens.
“You may wonder why we have brought you all here today,” Matthew began, his eyes still twinkling with joy. Diana’s face flushed as he pulled her closer still and stared around at their assembled guests. “I would like to announce that Diana has made me the happiest man in the world yet again by informing me that she is expecting.”
Immediately, there was a flurry of excitement from everyone gathered, including her parents. Diana flushed even more as her sisters raced to her, wrapping her in their arms.
“It is wonderful news!” the Countess squealed as she rushed over to her.
The Earl smiled as well, though Diana felt yet again that this was all about appearances.
They would be happy that she was having a child not because she was happy, but because it meant that they had something else to prove they were ‘better’ in some way. That their daughter was not only a duchess but was also providing the Duke with an heir.
It soured the moment for her slightly, but the immense, genuine pleasure of everyone else lifted her spirits.
John and Isabelle approached them next, embracing both of them with genuine happiness on their faces.
“It seems you may have lost your chance at inheriting the duchy, after all,” Matthew quipped.
John immediately stepped back, shock on his face before he caught the smiles on both of their faces.
“Do not even jest about such a thing,” he insisted. “I do not want the duchy, and you know it. I could not be more happy for you to have an heir. Not the least because I know that there will be someone else to torment you to no end.”
“Ah, I have had a great deal of practice with you,” Matthew replied, patting his cousin on the shoulder.
“And you shall have a great deal more,” John promised, a smile lighting up his face once again. “I shall teach your child how best to do so.”
“I have no doubt that you will,” Matthew snorted.
Diana was pleased that the two of them seemed to have no ill will or bad blood between them but could not help asking a question of her own.
“How fares your father? Have you heard mention of his whereabouts?”
John frowned at her question. “I do not keep tabs on him now. He has made his bed, and now he must lie in it. Isabelle and I have ceased all contact with him, as have all people who could consider themselves your friends.”
“But surely you have heard something,” Diana pressed.
He reluctantly nodded. “The last I heard; he was traveling outside of London. He has some holdings there and is likely seeking to ingratiate himself to another lord or duke with the hope of securing himself a position of power and prestige, when he could not hope to have such a thing here.”
“You have no regrets?” Diana asked him.
Both John and Isabelle shook their heads sharply.
