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He slid his legs off the side of the bed and stood, shaloriously naked "You shall have my undivided attention … in just a moment"

He kissed her cheek on his way to the chaain, she spoke "I’"

He came to a halt so abruptly, he stumbled Wide eyed, he paled "Hester My God …"

She couldn’t say what reaction she had been expecting, but his terrible stillness wasn’t it "I hope you’re pleased"

He breathed roughly "Of course I aht be barren, like your sister"

"Is that partly why you becorier would he become if he learned how she’d worked to prevent conception these past few years … ? The thought alone terrified her

"Angry--?" He flushed "Do not start a row Not today"

"I never start rows," she said neutrally "I abhor discord, as you know I had quite enough of it in my childhood to last me a lifetime"

His blue eyes glittered dangerously "If I didn’t know your gentle nature so well, I would wonder if you were deliberately atte the truth?" Fear ive in to it "We are si a discussion, Edward"

"You don’t see"

"I will be, once I know the baby is safe"

"What’s wrong?" He jerked intoto the chaise where he’d discarded his robe the night before "Have you called for the doctor?"

"I havesickness, which is quite nor nicely so far" She fought against the urge to lift her chin, knowing the silent challenge would only aggravate Regmont further "However, Imuscle in his jaw ticked "Of course"

"And I need to eat more"

"I tell you so all the time"

"Yes, but it’s difficult to eat when one is in pain" His lips whitened, a warning sign she forced herself to ignore "With that in mind, I should like to retire to the country early You can join me when the Season ends"

"You arethe belt of his robe into a knot "Your place is by my side"

"I understand But we have to think of the babe"

"I dislike your tone, and your intier to my own child!"

"Not you" A necessary lie "The spirits you drink"

"I won’t be drinking" His arms crossed "In case you hadn’t taken note of it, I have not had a drink in nearly three weeks"

He’d abstained for longer stretches, but soain "Can any precaution be excessive when it concerns our child?"

"You’ll stay here," he bit out, heading toward the connecting door to his rooms "And I will not listen to any further nonsense about you leaving"

"Edward Please--"

The sla you look!" Elspeth praised as she descended the stairs to the visitor’s foyer "Which fortunate debutante will be enjoying your call today?"

Michael ceased fiddling with his iaze in the mirror’s reflection before him "Good afternoon, Mother"

Her brow arched when he collected his hat froht slanted onto the h the archedabove the double front doors The indirect illuown er than she was

Her ether She’s very perceptive, well connected, and er to see you wed"

He stiffened The perfectly tailored fit of his blue coat was suddenly overly tight "I’ht you ht"

"Yes, we suit better than I expected The poor dear has been without a one, I can dote on Hester as I would a daughter"

He wished they could have been e But fate had other designs

"And now that she’s increasing," Elspeth went on in a breezy tone, "I can experience that joy as well Preparation for your wife, whoever she ripped the edge of the console and fought to collect hih the chest could not have hurt worse

He rounded on Elspeth "Sheath your claws, Mother You’re drawing blood"

She recoiled, then paled "Michael …"

"Why?" he asked bitterly "We both know she’s beyond rasp You’ve no need to wound me with it further"

"I’ before his eyes "I …"

"You what?"

"I am afraid your love for her will hold you back"

"I know my responsibilities I’ll see to them"

"I want you to be happy" She stepped toward hiht if you knew …"

"That I would si off my troublesohed without huhed "I want to help you I wish I kne"

"I told you how" He set his hat on his head "See to Hester Give her whatever support she irl, Michael Leastwise, nothing you and I can do"

He looked at her "Regh his veins

"The way she reacts to his name … I have seen that look before, and it never bodes well But what can be done?"

"We can extend our friendship" He moved toward the door, which was hastily opened by the butler "And pray"

Hester’s breathing quickened as she entered her parlor Michael stood when she swept in, his dark eyes heating withit to thaw the frozen recesses of her heart

"You waited the entirety of the sennight before keeping your proe of sadness ested I wait"

"Ah" She sat on the settee across from him "She is a oman"

"She likes you"