Page 35 of The Duke of a Thousand Desires

“She did come to measure me, Heath.”

“What are you trying to say?” He stared at her, awaiting her reply as the door behind her opened.

Julia stepped aside. Suddenly the duke appeared, his expression disingenuous, contrite. Heath reflected in annoyance that Simon looked as if he owned the house and was not expecting company.

Then in the next moment Julia softly announced, “I am expecting a child. The midwife told me an hour ago.” She squeezed between him and Simon and set off down the hall. “I’m changing my dress and then I’ll ring for tea.”

He pivoted to stare at her. “What did she just say?” he asked Simon blankly.

“She’s expecting a child. I don’t know when it’s due. You might want to ask her. She’s changing her dress, and then we’re having tea. Congratulations. Well done, my friend. A child on the way, a family wedding. This is quite the year.”

A warning frown wrinkled Heath’s brow. He turned reluctantly. “If you think that my wife’s news is going to distract me from the fact that you and Ravenna were sitting alone in my study -- ” He broke into an enormous grin, grasping Simon by the hand. “By God. We’re having a child.”

An heir. A boy. A girl. Heath didn’t care. Not after years of hoping and of grieving three miscarriages. He had tried to convince Julia he was at fault. His body had been subjected to unspeakable degradation during captivity. She refused to blame him. He wasn’t supposed to know that in addition to the treatments of the finest physicians, she had secretly visited astrologers, green women and Romany herbalists in the hope of enhancing her fertility.

Simon drew away from Heath. “I don’t think it’s appropriate for you to be holding hands with me at a moment like this. I’d go to her now if I were you.”

“I intend to,” Heath said acerbically. “And if I were you, I would take Ravenna into the drawing room for tea.”

“I will.” Simon grinned.

“And leave the door open this time.”