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“No more of that, Rowena, dear,” she said. “I think it is high time that you called me Carol.”
Andrew’s heart swelled with happiness when Rowena smiled brightly at his mother.
“Very well,” she said shyly. “Thank you . . . Carol.”
The dowager nodded, clearly content. She reached up and rearranged the ribbon, then turned back to Rowena.
“Now, come,” she said, fussing over his wife much as she had over Gemma. “You sit down and tell me anything you wish to be done, and I will tend to it for you.”
Andrew chuckled to himself. His mother might be warming up to Rowena, but she was clearly still her dominant, take-charge self.
Rowena seemed happy to comply. She followed the dowager to a nearby chair and settled in comfortably. Then, his mother began buzzing around, flitting around the room straightening things and giving orders, looking as happy as she could be.
When the butler entered to announce the arrival of Rowena’s family, with armfuls of gifts in tow, Rowena started to stand.
“You stay put,” all the women, including the dowager, said in unison. They all laughed, and Rowena’s mother and sisters gathered around her. After a moment of cooing over her large belly, the women greeted the dowager warmly. Then, Andrew’s mother urged everyone to get comfortable, ringing for refreshments to be brought immediately. Andrew took a seat on the sofa beside his wife, kissing her on the shoulder.
“Tell me, Sybil,” Rowena said once everyone had served themselves and the gifts had been put on a nearby table. “How is the Season going? I do regret being unable to attend your coming out ball.”
The last remaining Miss Whitworth shook her head, putting a finger to her lips.
“Nonsense,” she said. “No woman in your delicate condition could be expected to attend any ball. It was so wonderful, and I have several suitors vying for my attention. And my ball was only a couple of weeks ago.”
Rowena nodded knowingly, winking at Lady Cresingdale.
“Somehow, I suspected that would be the case,” she said, laughing.
Sybil sighed dreamily.
“It has been everything I’d hoped for, and more,” she said. “I’m very excited to see who comes calling next.”
Andrew hid a smile. He knew what a special time a young woman’s debut Season was. He recalled Gemma’s and how she had been a constant bundle of excitement. Now, she was happily married, with two young and healthy children. Andrew could see that Rowena hoped for the same for her younger sister.
A few moments later, Gemma, Edmund, and their nursemaid arrived, with their young twins, Harold and Hank, in tow. They, too, brought tons of gifts, which were added to those Rowena’s family had brought.
The dowager abandoned her plate of treats, rushing to scoop up Harold. She first kissed him, then Hank, whom the nursemaid was still holding. Then, she embraced her daughter tightly.
“You look wonderful, my dear,” she said.
Gemma hugged her mother in return.
“As do you, Mother,” she said.
More greetings were exchanged and more treats were served. The families cooed over the twins, who were still infants.
“Poor little boys,” Andrew said, biting his lip to suppress a snicker. “They look just like their father.”
Edmund laughed jubilantly.
“And what if your child comes out looking just like you?” he countered.
Andrew grinned.
“Then we will have the three most doomed babes in all of London,” he said.
The gifts were, indeed, plentiful. Andrew noted that their child, whether a boy or a girl, would have more toys than they could ever play with. There were also many books, some of which Andrew had read as a child with his mother. Andrew helped Rowena open the gifts until the last one was done. Then, he sent for the servants to take everything to the child’s nursery.
The party continued until it was nearly time for supper. Andrew and Rowena laughed and talked with their families, the happiness and love between them palpable. Seeing Rowena so radiant, so full of joy, was the best experience of his life. He recalled what he had said to her on their wedding day, about being unable to wait to begin their lives together.
