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“You must heal yourself and stay safe. No wandering away from the house without a footman or better yet, the earl himself.”
Why would her mother suggest the earl should be the one to escort her? “I would think the earl would have better things to do than walk with me.”
“Nonsense. I am quite certain he would be happy to go for a stroll with you.” Her mother walked toward her bag. “Or anything else you might want to do with him.”
After she left, Mia stared at the door. What in the devil was her mother implying? Did her mother know Simon wanted her in his bed? What happened yesterday in his study could not happen again until she knew for certain whether she was with child or not.
Chapter 11
Simon ate breakfast alone, wondering what was keeping Mia from eating. His shoulders sagged. Morning sickness. What else could it be? She always ate a hearty breakfast. But he knew from his sister how debilitating morning sickness could be to a woman. Her letters had been far too graphic for his taste, though he learned much about what a woman goes through when with child.
He pushed his plate away unable to stomach another bite.
“Was everything all right, my lord?” Thomas asked. Concern lined the footman’s face.
“Yes. I’m just not hungry this morning. Tell Mrs. Alder it was delicious.”
“Yes, my lord.”
With no sign of Mia, he had no idea if they were to meet at the field for throwing practice. According to Caroline, once her morning sickness passed, she felt quite well the rest of the day. He walked outside and stared at the landscaping near the house. Perhaps today was the day he worked in the garden and transplanted some of the flowers closer to the fountain. He’d been meaning to do it anyway.
He walked to the stables and gathered his shovel and leather work gloves. It was time that boxwood was moved to a new location. Then he could find something smaller to fit in that space.
He quickly dug up the shrub and moved it by the fountain where it would have more room to grow. That done, he looked around for something else to move, but he was far too good at this and there was nothing else out of place.
“That looks quite nice by the fountain.”
Simon turned and stared at Mia. Her face was drawn and pale. Her eyes red from tears. “How are you this morning? You missed breakfast.”
“I am well,” she said in a stilted tone.
“Did you eat?”
“Yes, Lucy brought me a plate with my tea.” Mia looked at the bench by the fountain. “Simon, we need to talk.”
Simon closed his eyes for a long moment and breathed in deeply. He didn’t want to hear this. It was his worst nightmare. He finally thought he would be able to marry the woman he had loved from afar for twelve years only to have it ripped away from him because of a monster of a man.
“Simon?”
“Just tell me what you need to say.” He walked over to the bench and sat next to her. He clasped her hand in his. As hard as this was for him, it must be so much harder for her. To be with child from the
man who beat her must be far worse than any nightmare he could imagine. “You are with child,” he said to make it easier on her.
She pressed her lips together and nodded.
“Are you certain?”
“I’m ten days late, Simon. The most I have ever been is five.” Mia cried. “I’m sorry but I cannot marry you.”
He clasped her hand and pulled it to his lips. “Shh, Mia. Even if you are with child we can figure something out.”
“There is nothing to figure out. I cannot marry you. I will return to my mother’s cottage today.”
The firm tone of her voice should have stopped him cold. “No, you will not. You will not leave this house until Davies is caught.”
“He is gone, Simon. He wouldn’t dare return after seeing you come for me.”
He rose and stared down at her. After yesterday in the study, there was no way he would lose her. He didn’t care how at this point, but he would have her. “You will not leave. If you do, I shall drag you back here.”
