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Gemma smiled sweetly and sighed.
“Oh, I do regret that we haven’t returned in time to make plans to attend,” she said.
The baroness nodded with understanding.
“It is a shame you will not be attending with us,” she said. Then, she turned her attention to Andrew. She kept her smile, but her glance was pointed. “Your brother’s attendance, however, is imperative.”
Her words carried no malice or threat. Yet Andrew’s stomach twisted into knots. He was sure Gemma knew nothing of their mother’s demands for him to marry. He didn’t want to make a scene just then by speaking out about his feelings on the matter, especially not as his sister and brother-in-law had only just arrived. But he regretted having agreed to escort his mother to the party.
With a sigh, he gave the dowager baroness a toothy grin.
“I can hardly wait,” he said.
As he returned to his cakes, he could feel his mother’s sharp gaze lingering on him. But he was sure that she, like himself, would go out of her way to avoid creating conflict. Lady Elsbrook knew he was unhappy with the idea of marriage. And now, she knew he was not happy with talking about it just then either.
Gemma mumbled something unintelligible to her husband. He murmured something back to her, and she gave him a warm smile. She stood, folding her hands in front of her and waiting shyly for both her brother and mother to look at her.
“I wish to make a special announcement,” she said, blushing furiously as she glanced at her husband. “Edmund and I are expecting our first child.”
The room was silent for a moment, save for the baroness’s sharp gasp. Then, she carelessly set aside her teacup and cakes and rose to firmly embrace her daughter.
“Oh, and just in time for your one-year wedding anniversary,” she gushed. “This is certainly joyous news, my dear.”
Gemma laughed, returning her mother’s hug.
“Thank you, Mother,” she said. “I take it you are thrilled to soon be a grandmother.”
Andrew held his breath, waiting for another one of his mother’s stinging remarks. But none came. She stepped back to hold her daughter’s shoulders, grinning broadly.
“You have no idea,” she said with a girlish giggle. “Oh, darling, I am so happy for you.”
When the dowager baroness finally released her daughter, Andrew took his turn to hug his sister.
“Congratulations, Gemma,” he said, kissing both her cheeks. “I couldn’t be happier for you. And I couldn’t be happier with the prospect of being an uncle.”
Gemma giggled, smiling up at him.
“I am sure that, between you and Mother, he or she will be insufferably spoiled,” she said.
Andrew grinned.
“You know it,” he said.
As the baroness stole back her daughter, while Andrew turned to Edmund to shake his hand and offer his congratulations to him, as well.
“I think I should buy you a drink to celebrate,” Andrew said, smiling warmly. “Just let me know when you are free, and we can go to White’s, if you like.”
Edmund nodded and grinned.
“Thank you, I will, that sounds like a good idea, Andrew,” he said.
Andrew smiled back. He knew Edmund very well, and it was clear that the earl loved Gemma dearly and was thrilled to be expecting a child with her. He was glad his sister had married well. But even that wasn’t enough to make him happy about the idea of his own impending marriage.
For the moment though, he put the thought aside. Seeing his sister, and even his mother, so happy over the joyous news was deeply moving for him. He watched as the two women wiped each other’s tears as well as their own and laughed and hugged one another again.
Andrew looked away when his mother placed a hand on his sister’s stomach and began cooing. It was a side of his mother he couldn’t ever remember having seen before. He had to admit it was a pleasant change.
“Oh, dear,” the dowager baroness said, still wiping at her tears with her handkerchief. “Forgive me. I should not succumb to such emotions.” She sniffled and cleared her throat, returning her handkerchief to her pocket. “How long will you be staying in London, Gemma, dear?”
