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“Even so, I am very impressed that you have won the birds’ trust.” With a final long look at Rollo, Georgiana proceeded to her grey mare, Gracie. Fitzwilliam assisted her in mounting, and she took the mare to the entrance of the main path to wait for us.

I moved into position to mount Penny, and Fitzwilliam came towards me to perform the same service. In a flurry of sound and movement, Rachel darted through the air, squalling and soaring within inches of Fitzwilliam, forcing him to halt.

“Confound it, Rachel. Are you mad?” My husband gaped at the raven, who continued flying and crowing in apparent alarm.

What could be the matter with her?

When Fitzwilliam took another step towards me, Rachel flew back in front of him, repeating her caws of alarm. Then Rollo joined in with cries of his own, creating a screeching cacophony. Beside me, Penny flicked her ears back and moved sideways.

“Elizabeth”—My husband shouted to be heard over the birds’ din and beckoned to me—“come away from Penny.”

I went towards him, and both ravens quieted. Rachel returned to her perch next to Rollo on the post. I stared into her dark eyes. What could explain her odd behaviour? And then the answer came to me. My courses, which had never followed a dependable pattern, had not come in over two months, and I had suspected that I could be with child. Did Rachel somehow sense this and want to deter me from riding?

Fitzwilliam put his arm around my shoulders and pulled me against him, as though to protect me from any further bizarre conduct from the ravens. “They seem to have calmed now. I do not understand why they would act that way. Although I did not think Penny would become panicked, I did not want to take any chances.”

“What happened to scare them?” Georgiana directed her mare closer to us.

“I cannot explain it.” Fitzwilliam glanced at her. “Rachel almost seemed to go amok, although she stopped short of attacking me, she seemed to be threatening to do so.”

My chest tightened. Should I reveal my suspicion? This would not be the optimal way to share this news, yet I could not allow him to continue in that vein. Of course, I could be wrong. But as the moments ticked on, an inexplicable sense of certainty gained force within me. “I think I know why Rachel and Rollo acted as they did.”

I shifted to face both Georgiana and Fitzwilliam, and they beheld me. “Although I cannot be certain, I believe they wanted to stop me from mounting Penny as a precaution…because I may be with child.”

My husband’s gaze shifted to Rollo and Rachel and back to me. “But you…are you well?”

“Yes, perfectly so. And yet I feel a bit different. It is difficult to describe.”

“That is wonderful news, Lizzy!” Georgiana beamed at me. “I shall love having a niece or nephew.”

“And I shall be delighted to make you an aunt!”

Georgiana patted Gracie’s neck as the mare fidgeted, stamping her feet. “It seems she is keen for exercise. I shall take her for a ride on the lake path.” With a nod, she cantered away on the grey horse.

Fitzwilliam took hold of my arm, his expression grave. “We ought to return to the house. You should lie down.”

“No indeed. My condition does not make me an invalid. Instead of a ride, we may take a leisurely walk through the woods. My aunt Gardiner maintained her usual activities whilst she carried her four children, and I have never observed my mother to be more active than in the months before she gave birth to Lydia.”

His jaw jutted forwards. “Well, if you are certain.”

“Quite certain.”

“Then we shall take a short walk, but I shall summon Mr. Hunt here to examine you.”

“In truth, I should rather we sent for Mrs. Thorne.” The midwife, renowned for her intuition and skill, had detected many an early pregnancy in the neighbourhood.

“Very well.” He called to a passing groom and directed him to take the horses back.

When the young man left us, my sight tarried upon the knot in Fitzwilliam’s brow, and my stomach tensed. Could he not show a bit of enthusiasm for the prospect of my pregnancy? “Are you not pleased at the notion of becoming a father?”

“Forgive me.” He held me to him. “I am very happy.” He left a kiss upon my cheek.

No doubt his concern for my safety tempered his joy—as a child of twelve, he had lost his mother to childbed fever. Most people could name at least one relation who had perished because of child-bearing. I pulled back from him and met his gaze. “Do not forget that my mother went through this process five times without any problems. I shall be well.”

“Of course you will. You must.” He took my hand, and we set out towards the woodland.

“Just a moment.” I turned towards Rachel and Rollo. “My friends, your timely warning is much appreciated. I do not expect to be riding horseback for a long while.” Rachel released a soft coo-like sound whilst Rollo bopped his head.

We continued on our walk. My husband kept his sight locked upon the ground, as though lost in thought. By and by, he turned to me. “Will you promise never to venture out alone whilst you are in this condition?”