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“People will suspect, naturally.”
“Let them.” He shrugged. “There were other widows remarrying in less than a year after their husband’s death.”
This about mourning period wasn’t a law. A costume, it could be flexible, according to circumstances. Gossip ran its course and after that, those remarried widows resumed normal life.
“Anyway, we’ll live in the manor until the child is born. This will give time for the ton to get used to it and exhaust the comments and gossips.”
“Sounds sensible.” She rested her head on his chest again.
In a matter of seconds they fell asleep, sated and peaceful.
Philip woke up with the sun rays coming through the curtains. Both spooned in bed. A child. She’d give him a child. He felt elated. The woman he loved and now, a family. He knew he’d come here to open his heart and tell her about his feelings. Discovering her pregnant came as a mind-blowing surprise. Seeing her and knowing that made him forget everything else. She accepted his proposal, moreover. His life would be complete. He held her tighter. As they agreed to marry, he felt a little reticent to talk about his feelings. She might be scared, if she didn’t love him back. He preferred to wait until after the wedding. Then she’d be secured in his hold. He’d never confess these possessive thoughts to her. She could change her mind, he thought carefully.
Her hair all over her pillow, her breath still even. His moon goddess made him feel at home. With her his life would be bliss. With her and their child. He’d never thought this woman would bring him so much happiness. To think of how they met, the unconventionality of their situation. The time he’d waited to be able to put things right, his impatience always on the verge of bursting. Soon, soon they’d be home and married.
Suddenly, Selene awoke, tamping her mouth, darted to the dressing room, closing the door. Philip heard her retching. He fled the bed and went to her, not minding his own nakedness.
“Selene.” He knocked on the door. “Selene!” He insisted when she didn’t open it.
“Stay there.” She said uneven.
“Let me in. Let me help you!” He tried to open the door. She held it.
“You can’t help.” More retches.
He became very concerned. About to force his entrance, she came out. She had dressed a chemise and had a cloth in her hand.
“What was that?” He looked at her brows pleated.
“Sickness. Nell said it’s because of the child.” She walked back to bed and sat down.
“Nell?” He sat on the bed in his magnificent nakedness. “You haven’t seen the doctor?”
She shook her head. “I didn’t want to…publicize my condition.” She looked at him gloriously naked, turning away blushing. “I know very little about these things, as you may agree. Nell has more knowledge of it, since she helped other women in her village.”
“I see.” He said pensively. “What were you going to do, if I hadn’t arrived? Hide this from me?”
Her eyes darted to him. “No! Of course not. “I’d write to you eventually.”
“Eventually?” He got fast angry. “In a month? A year? Five years?”
“I had to get used to the situation!” She rebated. “I am this sick every day.”
“So you need a doctor!” He neared her and took her in his arms.
“No, I don’t. Nell says it’s normal in the first couple of months.”
“Nell is not a doctor!” He made her sit on his lap, holding her.
“But she has practical knowledge.” She snuggled in him. “I trust her.” She sighed at the comfort.
To think that if he hadn’t come, he wouldn’t have known of it. What if he’d got married, God forbid, and came to know of it after he could not do anything? Goodness!
“It might have been too late, when you decided to tell me.”
“How so?” She played with his chest hair.
“What if I followed you ‘exhortation’ and found a lady of breed.” His voice mimicked hers.
