The Duke s Baby

by Rebecca Winters

  “How soon will you start?”

  “Right after the wedding.”

  She was glad he hadn’t mentioned a honeymoon.

  “I’d be very interested.”

  “Do you have any idea what kind of classes you’d like to take?”

  “French, and maybe a survey of early French literature.”

  “Sounds like you’re planning to follow in Richard’s footsteps,” came the flat response.

  “I have no desire to be a teacher. I was thinking I’d better know something about your language and culture since the men planning to be father and grandfather in my child’s life are Frenchmen.”

  “That’s a fact.”

  Andrea couldn’t tell what he thought of her choices.

  “Someday I’ll decide on a career and go after it. Right now I can’t think beyond being a mother.”

  “To be honest, I’m glad Papa wants to be in charge of the wedding festivities. With Helene’s help, they don’t need anyone else. That leaves us time to get the house ready and plan a nursery.”

  “Is it vacant?”

  “Yes, except for the caretakers Jean and his wife, Louise, who live there on the ground floor. Anything you want and they’ll take care of it.”

  “What’s your mother’s home like?”

  “It’s a cottage with a plaster exterior called a bastide. Two floors, four bedrooms. One full bath, and two half baths. There’s a terrace and a garden. Inside and out it’s perfect for a child.”

  “I think it sounds charming.”

  “When my grandparents were alive, I loved to stay there where I could run around and make messes.”

  “You mean you were a normal little boy?”

  “Afraid so. Papa didn’t take too kindly to my building model rockets on the grand hall dining table. The cement glue spilled on the surface and ruined it. They had to have it redone. If you got me started on the damage I did, it would take weeks.”

  “Sounds like you made up for several siblings.”

  He chuckled. “I wish I had a brother or sister. Maman suffered through three miscarriages. Each for a different reason.”

  “She was lucky to get you. I’m living testimony of that.”

  “Amen. Tell me about your cousins.”

  “Julie’s twenty-nine. Sharon’s twenty-six.”

  “Les Trois Mousquetaires.”

  “I wish it had been like that. If I’d been adopted at birth, it might have been different.”

  “What did they do? Remind you that you weren’t one of them in order to dampen your sails when you got something they didn’t?”

  “How did you know?”

  “Corinne pulled her ‘poor me’ stunt the first night I met her in the hope I’d feel guilty for having been born a Du Lac.”

  Lance’s problems had been so much worse, Andrea didn’t have room to complain. “Now that the girls are married, things have been better.”

  “I wish I could say the same where Corinne’s concerned.”

  Andrea shivered. “Wouldn’t it be wonderful if she just gave up and went home to her mother.”

  A strange sound came from his throat. “I thought you were the one who said no more fairy tales.”

  “I’m sorry. What do you suppose she’s doing right now?”

  “Let’s not worry about it. Go to sleep. You’re safe with me.”

  Safe.

  If there was anyone in the world who could protect her, she knew it was Lance. The knowledge helped her to relax. At some point oblivion took over.

  When she awoke, she couldn’t believe it was midmorning already. Lance had already gone. Knowing he’d been with her all night must have been the reason she’d slept longer than usual.

  The absence of nausea prompted her to take her pills. She wanted this feeling of well-being to continue.

  As she started across the room there was a rap on the door. “Andrea?” Lance’s deep voice permeated to her insides. “Are you awake?”

  “Yes.”

  “I brought you breakfast.”

  He shouldn’t have. “I don’t need waiting on.”

  “What if I like doing it?”

  “Then I’m very grateful, but I need to shower first.”

  “Go ahead. I’ll bring the tray in and wait for you.”

  “Okay. I’ll hurry.”

  Excitement welled up in her that he was going to show her his mother’s house today. It would be her baby’s home. Her home with Lance.

  Three weeks from now and she wouldn’t have to see Corinne again except on the chance meeting at the château. In the meantime she and Lance would be occupied getting ready to be parents.

  She grabbed a blouse to wear with her skirt before scurrying into the bathroom to shower and dress. He was going to get tired of seeing her in the same outfit. When they went to Rennes today, she would ask him to take her to a store where she could buy some loose fitting outfits.

  After brushing her hair, she let it hang free from a side part. After applying lotion she was ready.

  He’d put the tray on the bed. Cold cereal and grapefruit. “This looks good.”

  “So do you,” he murmured, eyeing her thoroughly.

  He did, too, but she refrained from telling him and started to eat.

  This morning he’d donned a light blue suit with a darker blue shirt. No tie. With that burnished skin and blue eyes hot enough to cut steel, she wouldn’t be surprised if the women in town formed lines just to get a look at him.

  “Thanks to your presence throughout the night, I slept well.”

  “Your body next to mine had the same effect on me. It must be comforting for the baby to be all snug inside you.”

  A section of grapefruit caught in her throat before going down. “The problem is, one of these days soon I’m afraid I won’t be able to say the same thing. But I’m not complaining.”

  “I’ll give you back rubs. Maybe that will help.”

  No. All that would do was arouse certain longings better kept at bay. After their conversation last night, she was a mass of feelings and emotions spiraling out of control.

  “Are you the kind of woman who wants to have the baby the natural way?”

  She shook her head. “No. I’m a coward and plan to avail myself of the latest epidural.”

  “That means no Lamaze class for me?”

  “Would you want to do that?”

  He studied her over the rim of his coffee cup. “I want to do anything that helps me feel closer to the baby.”

  “You can come to all my doctor appointments. I’ll be getting the ultrasound next month.”

  “I was already planning on it. Needless to say I’ll be driving you to the hospital when your time comes. I’ve never seen a baby born. Giles and his wife had a little girl last year. He said it was the greatest experience of his life. I’ve envied him that.”

  Her heart told her this wasn’t an act on Lance’s part. Having been denied the possibility of creating a child from his own body, he was willing to do whatever it took to be a part of her pregnancy. Andrea was one person who understood that need.

  With the last bite of cereal gone, she went over to the dresser where she kept her purse. Reaching for her lipstick she said, “Did you happen to see Corinne while you were downstairs?”

  “No. Papa said she had breakfast with him before going for a horseback ride.”

  “Does she do a lot of riding?”

  “From what I understand.”

  “How’s your father this morning?”

  “Euphoric. I left him on the phone with Helene.”

  “Did he say anything about Corinne?”

  “No.”

  Her anxious eyes flicked to his. “It’s like waiting for a time bomb we didn’t set to go off.”

  Lance nodded grimly. “Papa would like to drive to the house with us, but the doctor says he has to stay in for a couple of more days.”

  “There’ll be time enough for that when he’s all better.”


  “That’s what I told him. Shall we go?”

  He opened the door for her, then followed with the tray. They’d almost reached the foyer when she heard his cell phone ring. She noticed him check the caller ID before he clicked on.

  She might not be able to understand French, but the violence of his expression needed no translation.

  “What’s happened?” she asked the second he rang off.

  There was a white ring around his mouth. “That was the groomsman. Corinne took Tonnerre without permission. He went after her on another horse.

  “It seems she tried to jump the fountain, but didn’t succeed. She took a nasty fall and appears concussed, but Tonnerre’s front legs are broken. He’s in agony.”

  That meant his beautiful horse would have to be put down.

  “Go, Lance—” she cried. “I’ll phone for an ambulance.”

  He handed her the tray and his cell phone. “Dial 112. Tell them to come to the Fountain of Youth in the forest. They’ll understand.”

  Her heart went with him as he disappeared down the hall toward the kitchen. Poor Tonnerre. He’d carried both her and Lance when she’d been ill. It was going to kill him to have to put his animal out of its misery, but he had no other choice.

  In the next instant she set the tray on the nearest credenza and called the emergency number. After getting the details, they said they were on their way.

  “Andrea?”

  She looked up to discover Geoff standing on the first landing.

  “Henri told me Corinne had an accident on one of the horses. Is she all right?”

  “The groomsman said he thought she’d be fine. Lance went to see about her.” Andrea hurried up the stairs and walked him back to his suite. They sat down opposite each other in the sitting room.

  “I’m relieved he’s with her.”

  “He’ll take care of everything. It’s good we hadn’t left for town yet.”

  “She’s an excellent rider. I can’t imagine what happened.”

  “We’ll find out soon enough. Shall I ask Brigitte to bring you some tea while we wait to hear?”

  Andrea didn’t dare tell him the truth. She’d let his son explain. Thanks to Henri’s discretion, Geoff didn’t appear too upset.

  “No, no. As long as we’re alone for a minute, I want to tell you something.”

  “What is it?”

  For the first time since she’d known him, Geoff seemed hesitant.

  “When you’ve been a mother for a number of years, you’ll understand better what I’m about to say to you.”

  “Go on,” she urged gently.

  “Our children mean everything to us. We know their joys and their fears. We know what makes them happy. We know what brings them pain.

  “Choosing you for his wife has made Lance happy, and that makes me happy. But Corinne is devastated. She fell in love with him when she first met him. There’s been no one else for her.”

  “He told me he suspected as much,” she admitted.

  “That’s good. There should be no secrets between the two of you. Corinne has always felt rejected. I’ve tried everything to help her feel secure, but nothing can completely make up for a bad mother and an absentee father.”

  “You’re right.”

  He lifted his hands. “It’s no one’s fault, and I’m not trying to hurt you. Heaven knows it’s been difficult for Lance who didn’t ask for any of this.”

  He looked at her with a hint of pleading. She sensed he was going to beg them to postpone the wedding for an indefinite period.

  Once again Corinne had manipulated Geoff, but this time Lance wouldn’t fall for it. By driving his horse to its death she’d done such an unforgivable thing.

  “Would it be too much to ask if you and Lance got married in private right away?”

  Andrea was so surprised, she almost fell off the chair. “You mean just forego the wedding trappings?”

  He nodded sadly. “It would be the kindest thing you could do for Corinne. She’s told everyone we know that Lance was going to marry her when he returned from the service.

  “Hearing you plan your wedding and the talk about the baby last evening was too much for her. If you get married quietly, it will save her the extra humiliation. I know my son. He wants to give you the wedding of your dreams, but more than that, he wants you.

  “I realize I’m asking a great sacrifice of you. The two of you deserve to be feted. There’s nothing I’d love more, but—”

  “You don’t need to say another word, Geoff. I already had a big wedding when I married Richard. I don’t need another one.”

  “You mean it?” his voice trembled.

  “With all my heart. Why deepen that hurt? When I see Lance later, I’ll convince him it’s the only thing to do.”

  “If anyone can get to him, you can.”

  Except Lance wouldn’t need convincing. If he were in love with Andrea, it would be different. But what he wanted was a son. He would be glad they didn’t have to wait three more weeks to go through a ceremony to make everything legal.

  It would mean they could move into his mother’s house in the next few days. After this accident Andrea had no desire to be around Corinne.

  “Geoff? Why don’t I go to the kitchen and bring us back some tea? I know I could use some.”

  “That sounds good to me, too.”

  “While I’m gone, why not call Helene back and tell her Lance and I have decided to get married now. Explain it’s because of the baby coming. The doctor wants me to take things easy. Something like that. I’m sure you’ll find the words so she doesn’t question the change in plans.”

  “Bless you, ma chérie.”

  Andrea hurried downstairs to the kitchen and started fixing the tea. While she was adding the honey, she heard footsteps along the back passage. Suddenly Lance emerged.

  “Thank God you’re in here. We had to put Tonnerre down.”

  “I knew it,” she whispered.

  Without conscious thought she gravitated to his arms. He crushed her against him. For the next few minutes he rocked her. She felt the shudders that racked his proud body.

  “Just remember he’s gone to horse heaven where he’s happy.”

  A heavy sigh escaped. “How did you know I needed to hear that?” Lance cupped the sides of her head and pressed kisses all over her face.

  “Because my uncle had to put our family dog out of its agony. We gave him a funeral.”

  He buried his face in her hair. “How much does Papa know?”

  “Henri told him Corinne had an accident out riding, but that she’d be all right.” Andrea pulled away enough so she could look at him. “Will she?”

  His pain filled eyes darkened. “I think so, but she hit her head pretty hard. The ambulance has taken her to the village. From there she’ll be flown by helicopter to the hospital in Rennes as a precaution. I asked Henri to get hold of her mother.

  “In the meantime one of the maids volunteered to stay at the hospital with Corinne so she won’t be alone.”

  “That was a kind thing to do.”

  Lance kissed her cheek. “I thought so, too.”

  For a moment he sounded far away. She eased out of his arms. “I’ve got tea ready for your father. It only needs honey.”

  “I could use some, too. I’ll get it.”

  While he went to the cupboard for it she said, “Lance? There’s something I have to tell you.”

  He brought the jar to her. “What is it?”

  Without preamble she repeated the conversation she’d had with Geoff. When she’d finished, silence reigned while he added some macaroons to the tray. She couldn’t tell what he was really thinking.

  They joined his father who was on the phone. At the sight of the two of them, he waved Lance over. “It’s Odette. She heard about Corinne’s accident. How bad was it?”

  Andrea watched Lance put the tray on the table. “Henri already told her Corinne has a concussion. She’s been taken to Holy Cross hosp
ital in Rennes. One of the staff is with her. Tell Odette to call there and speak to the doctor in the E.R.”

  Geoff relayed the message, then covered the mouthpiece. “She wants to speak to you.”

  Lines of anger bracketed Lance’s mouth. He reached for the receiver. “Odette? I don’t know anything more than you’ve been told. The person you need to talk to is your daughter.

  “Right now I have my father to worry about. He’s still recovering from pneumonia. I hope we understand each other. I’ll make certain Henri keeps you informed of anything we learn. Au revoir.”

  Andrea sank down on the love seat next to Geoff and handed him some tea. His lids hooded his eyes, making him look older than his sixty-seven years.

  He took it from her and sipped a little of it. “Merci, ma chérie.”

  “Papa—Corinne took a jump on Tonnerre that cost him his life.”

  A lone tear rolled down Geoff’s cheek. “Under the circumstances I don’t know how you found the strength to even speak to Odette.”

  Lance got down on his haunches in front of his father. “As Andrea reminded me, my horse has gone to a better place. She also told me what you two talked about before I came in.

  “If I’d thought I could get away with it, I would have asked her to run away with me and get married last night.”

  Though she knew he’d said that to please his father, Andrea’s heart skipped several beats.

  “Since Corinne’s needs have to be our primary concern, I’ll phone the priest and ask him to marry us right here in your sitting room. Henri and Brigitte will be our witnesses. After the baby’s born and Andrea has recovered, we’ll give a big reception and invite everyone.”

  His father wept. “You’re a wonderful son.”

  “This is no sacrifice to me, Papa. Corinne needs medical attention in a number of ways. I used the phone at the stable and took the liberty of calling the psychiatrist who treated her before. He’s going to meet with Odette and set up some sessions with both of them.

  “Let’s give them a few days. By then you’ll be feeling even better and we’ll pay her a visit en famille.”

  “En famille,” Geoff repeated, smiling at both of them. “That has a beautiful ring to it.”

  Lance flashed Andrea an intimate regard. “I agree.”