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‘What did you say?’ Her mind was spinning. Surely he hadn’t implied that she was pregnant? From the frozen expression on her husband’s face, Alaric appeared as shocked as she was.

The doctor frowned. ‘Forgive me, but your body most definitely shows the signs of early pregnancy. Have you…not noticed the absence of your monthly courses?’

‘No, I—I did bleed. Only a little, but it was there.’

The doctor gave a nod. ‘That can happen sometimes in the beginning. But to be safe, you should consider resting more. Stay in your room, preferably in bed, until you have fully healed from this fall.’

Denial rippled through her. Even if the baby was real, if she had somehow conceived a child, she couldn’t imagine being confined to her bed within the house—especially in the spring when the gardens began to bloom. Charlotte turned pleadingly to Alaric, but her husband’s face was grim, as if he agreed with the doctor.

‘You truly didn’t know you were pregnant?’ he asked.

Did he honestly believe she would keep something like this a secret?

‘No,’ she insisted. ‘I mean, I didn’t really feel like eating much some weeks ago, but I thought I was simply too busy to feel hungry. And I’ve been much hungrier as of late.’

‘Your waist is increasing,’ the doctor confirmed. ‘I believe your child will likely be born in early autumn.’ He turned to the duke. ‘Your Grace, I strongly recommend that the duchess should be extremely careful for a while. Especially after that fall.’

‘I will take care of her,’ he answered quietly.

Charlotte stared at her husband, searching for some sign of joy at the revelation of her pregnancy. But there was no happiness in his response at all.

Was he…upset by the news? Wasn’t an heir what he’d wanted? Or was it that he hadn’t wanted her to be the mother of his children? He’d spent so much time in London. Maybe he was still thinking of Lenora. Her heart grew brittle at her own jealousy.

‘I’ll have Cook send up your supper,’ he said. ‘I hope you feel better soon, Charlotte.’ His words were kind, but in his eyes, she didn’t miss a strong emotion, one he was trying to conceal from her. Although he was attempting to behave as if everything was all right, something was most definitely wrong. Charlotte clenched the pillow in silent anguish. How could he be like this? He was ripping her emotions apart, and she couldn’t understand why.

He thanked the doctor, and they both left the room. She studied the door, feeling as if her emotions were as battered as her body.

But this time, she wasn’t willing to simply fade back into the shadow of the woman she’d been before. This wasn’t about her any more—it was about the life she would build for herself and her child. The baby didn’t deserve a childhood where he or she spent only an hour with Alaric each day.

Charlotte strengthened her resolve. No matter how the duke might try to define their union by rules, she deserved to be loved. She believed it now, even though her parents had never really shown her affection.

But the person who deserved love most of all was their unborn child.

Charlotte reached down to her abdomen. Now that she examined herself, it did seem that there was a slight swelling she hadn’t truly noticed. It was strange to imagine that there was a new life growing within her, but it filled her with so much hope. She would give this baby all the love she’d never had.

She imagined holding the hand of her child, letting them run around in the grass, playing in the garden while she worked. Holding a baby-soft cheek against her own. The vision was so strong, so clear and miraculous, that Charlotte promised herself she would do anything to guard her child. She sent up a silent prayer of thanks that the baby hadn’t been harmed by the fall she’d taken.

This time, she would take command and fight for the life she wanted. There would be no rules at all—of that, she was certain. She had no intention of remaining in her room in bed while Alaric abandoned her yet again.

She suspected he might return to London—especially if he wasn’t happy about the baby. But she was determined to give her child a home where it would know nothing but love.

Slowly, Charlotte eased to her feet and went to her writing desk. She knew exactly what to do now. And who was going to help her.

Alaric walked outside on the terrace, heedless of the freezing cold and wind. Charlotte had been hurt because of him. Not just her body but her heart as well. Earlier when they had stood above the daffodil field, he hadn’t wanted to face the fact that what he felt for Charlotte was far stronger than anything he’d ever felt for Lenora.

His wife had become a part of his life so easily. He had never imagined being married to someone who built snowmen in the house and embroidered daisies on his socks. Her spirit had brightened each day until he simply couldn’t imagine an existence without her. When she’d fallen, he’d never felt such terror in all his life.

And then, to learn that she was pregnant with his child had simply destroyed him. For the first time, Alaric was starting to understand his father’s suffering. When a woman died in childbirth, it was her husband’s fault.

A visceral fear had seized his heart at the thought of losing them, both mother and child. He couldn’t imagine it. Wouldn’t imagine it.

A slight rain began spattering against the stone terrace. It mingled with his own tears of gratitude that he hadn’t wanted Charlotte to see. He gripped his fists at his sides and took a deep breath, then another. He’d never known that it would cut him to the core to find out he would be a father. It had always seemed to be an inevitable event, like marriage. Another step forward in his life.

Instead, the revelation had been a precious gift, just as his wife was.

Unlike his father, he had been granted a reprieve. His wife and child were still alive, and the danger was past. Alaric could feel only gratitude that he’d been given a second chance. He promised himself he would protect Charlotte and their baby with his own life. It would take time to regain her trust—especially after he’d said all the wrong things. He should have told her the truth from the start, that she meant everything to him.

He walked into the rain towards her gardens, wishing he’d had the foresight to bring a lantern. But he knew what he was looking for, and thankfully the shrub was on the edge of the gravel pathway.