Page 120 of A Bluestocking’s Secret Courtship

If Evangeline hadn’t told him the actress-turned-playwright was with child, he wouldn’t have known. It was early days, according to his wife.

Aunt Beatrice smiled. “How does your star actor feel about Benny stepping into the role of leading man instead of him?”

“Lars is happy to take a lesser role. He knows I wrote the part for Benny.”

Benny was the giant of a man near the hearth showing off his fencing skills to Xavier, whom he had once held prisoner when Farrin threatened Benny’s life. The two men had formed an unexpected and odd friendship, with Benny being exceptionally loyal to Xavier.

Jonathan chuckled under his breath. He was surrounded by misfits just like him, and it was lovely.

After supper, Evangeline had guided Regina to the most comfortable chair, and Regina’s eyelids were nearly closed. She would give birth in several weeks. It had taken many letters back and forth between her and Evangeline, but she had eventually agreed to spend her confinement at Ivymere Manor. Jonathan was pleased. After their time together in Athens and the voyage home, he had become close with Regina and Xavier.

Jonathan stopped by her chair. “Shall I ring for ginger tea?” he whispered.

She smiled, her hands resting on her round belly. “The nausea is gone now, but I can barely stay awake.”

“If you need to retire early, everyone will understand.”

“I know, but I like being with family and friends. Is it a bother if I rest my eyes here?”

“Not in the least. Evangeline and I want to make you feel comfortable.”

Her eyes drifted closed. “My sister did well by waiting for you.”

“I’m very lucky,” he murmured.

His gaze strayed to his wife standing with Dom at the sideboard. Dom’s face was still ruddy from an evening stroll after supper. He had insisted on going alone as he had done the past three nights, and Jonathan suspected Dom was feeling adrift. The Regent’s Consul was dissolving, his father still refused to allow him to come home, and the restlessness in Athens made it unsafe to return.

Evangeline handed him a glass of port and patted his arm before sitting with her uncle on the blue velvet sofa.

Jonathan nodded at Wedmore, and he acknowledged the unspoken. Dom needed a friend, and Jonathan was all he had. He poured his own glass of port and leaned against the sideboard.

“Did you ever think this would be us one day?” Jonathan asked. “I thought we would be under Farrin’s thumb forever.”

Dom grunted and took a sip of his drink. After escorting Farrin back to England, he attended the trial for Farrin and his co-conspirators and witnessed the carrying out of their sentences. None of the men would ever hurt anyone again, but Farrin’s shadow still lingered over Dom.

“I imagine you heard Wedmore received a commendation for discovering the plot and stopping it,” Dom said.

“Not from him directly, but yes.”

Wedmore was too humble to mention it, but Margrave didn’t have reservations about praising his godfather. It was confirmed that no one else had reached the Semkari, and the danger had passed.

“Why do you think he did it?” Jonathan asked, referring to Farrin’s participation in the scheme to restore Napoleon to the throne.

“For power, I assume.” Dom shrugged. “With the threat to England alive again, the Regent’s Consul couldn’t be disbanded. Who else would save the world?”

Thankfully, Farrin had failed.

“You do realize that freedom is a gift.” Jonathan gestured to the room filled with loved ones and new friends. “You could have this, too.”

“Do you truly see me as a family man?” Dom asked with a slight curl of his lip. “I lack the patience.”

Jonathan clapped him on the shoulder. “I think you could figure it out. Take Margrave, for example. I never saw him smile once during training, but now he’s on the floor playing with a dog.”

Dom chuckled. “Lady Margrave has turned him soft.”

“I believe she made him better. I’ve grown, too.”

“I’m not a hothouse plant, Hackberry. A bit of water and tender care will not do me any good.”