Ah, that sound made him happy. He placed a hand on her knee to encourage her.
“Not yet, but it will be.” Her hand twitched under his.
Huh. “’Tis something that grows that has you dithering.”
She had not stopped grinning since his question. Now, she cocked her head and clarified, “I suppose I stated it poorly. I did not want to…get your hopes up.”
He squeezed her hand once. “An investment perhaps?”
“Hmm. I suppose you could call it that. ’Tis certainly the result of a deposit.” And she was off into peals of laughter.
He frowned in concentration. “So ’tis financial.”
“No, the heart of it is not, although there are financial repercussions.”
“Mistress! Please, stop teasing me.” He threw his hands up. “I’ve been plagued by anxiety these past days. And I’m guessing you’ve had this…information for that long.”
“Right, then.” She took a breath. “You should sit up here for this.”
His eyes widened as she patted the chair next to her. He obeyed, but asked, “Why?”
“Because ’tis something that we are both equally responsible for and shall be for a very long time.” Now that her hand was free, she slid it over her lower belly.
He watched her, waiting for her to reveal this mystery that had her pacing the floor for a sennight.
“William, we are expecting a baby.” It was her turn to watch him.
“A what?” His thoughts stuttered, struggling to absorb this. After all their planning, her assumed barrenness…a baby. Unable to stay still, unsure what to do, he stood, then sat, stared at her for a second, then stood again. “Mistress, are you sure? A baby? Really?”
She was nodding, her eyes sheened with tears.
He threw himself to the ground before her, resting his head on her lap, his arms going around her hips. His Mistress had part of him in her, that would grow into a life they’d made. He was not sure he was ready to be a father, but blast, he hadn’t been ready to be an earl and he was doing fine for the most part. They’d learn it together. And his mother would be over the moon.
She combed her fingers through his hair again.
“This is the second happiest day of my life. Thank you.” He turned his head and kissed her belly.
Her hand in his hair stopped moving. “Thesecondhappiest?”
“Tomorrow will be the happiest. I have told you I need you more than heirs, more than air.”
She began crying then.
“No tears, please, Mistress? Even if, as I hope, they are happy ones?”
“Belle says ’tis the pregnancy that makes me more emotional. And before you ask, she is the one who discerned the condition. I thought I had a simple stomach ailment.”
He laughed as he tugged her down onto his lap on the floor, surrounding her as though protecting her. When she’d calmed a little, he used one finger to tilt her chin up. “How do you feel about it?”
“Oh, William, I am beyond excited. Like you, ’twas not something I expected or needed, but as soon as the physician confirmed it, I realized it was something I wanted with every fiber of my being. I cannot decide if a miniature puppy or a daughter to help me keep you in line would be best to start.”
He gulped. He hadn’t thought of that. “Oh, no. A son, please, a son. I am not sure I could serve two Mistresses at once. That sounds terrifying.”
She giggled more. “For my part, ’tis vastly entertaining to picture.”
Smiling despite his trepidation, he pinched her gently then stood with her still in his arms. Laying her on her bed as though she was the most fragile china, he knelt and asked, “Mistress, how may I serve you and our baby-to-be?”
Epilogue
