by Royal, Emily
“And what about you, Mrs. Goode?”
“Aunt Fanny will be staying here, too!” the boy exclaimed. “Papa said she can live with us, isn’t that right?”
“Yes, that’s right, young man,” Dexter said, smiling.
“But, sir,” Mrs. Goode said, “I’m not Billy’s mother. Your wife…”
“Have I not already explained this, Mrs. Goode?” Dexter asked. “Billy will need a nursemaid, and I can think of no one finer than the woman who cared for him since he was a baby. And besides,” he glanced at Meggie, “if my wife and I are blessed again, I can engage you to take care of all our children.”
“Ahem,” Charles appeared at the door. “Will your guests be staying for dinner, sir?”
“They’ll be staying forever,” Dexter said. “Would you ask Mrs. Draper to prepare two rooms? And see if the cook can stretch the supper for four.”
“Perhaps I should accompany Charles,” Mrs. Goode said. “The three of you need to get acquainted.”
Meggie clutched the child’s hand and pulled him to her.
“Billy…”
“Mama.”
It was a single word. One tiny word, yet it conveyed so much—the hopes she’d harbored during her pregnancy, while she’d cried in pain during her confinement, then finally, when she’d lain broken and battered in her little bed when Alderley had cursed her wantonness and told her that her son had died.
Yet here and now, she cradled her child in her arms while he uttered the one word capable of shattering her heart.
Hot tears splashed onto her cheeks, soaking into the boy’s shirt as she clung to him and cried—for the years she had lost and for the son who had returned.
“Mama?” Billy, her little Billy, curled his fingers and clung to her dress. “Mama, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” she said, “my darling child, there’s nothing wrong.
“Then why do you cry?”
“Because I’m happy, my love,” she said. “So very happy.”
“Do people cry when they’re happy?”
“Sometimes,” a deep voice said. Strong, warm arms enveloped Meggie and her child, and she looked into her husband’s eyes to see the blue clouded with tears. “Sometimes, even the strongest man will succumb to the overwhelming power of pure happiness, a pleasure so intense that words cannot convey how completely, utterly, deliriously happy he is. Sometimes, young man, only tears will do.”
“And will I be happy, Papa?”
“Yes,” Meggie said. “Yes, you will.”
Epilogue
Eight months later…
“Mama! Mama!”
Meggie’s heart skittered at the voice she’d longed to hear. She set her mending aside and grasped the arms of her chair.
“Oh, no, you don’t, Mrs. Hart!”
Mrs. Goode rushed to her side. “Doctor McIver told you to take it easy.”
“But Billy’s home,” Meggie protested, “I’ve not seen him for two months.”
“He can come to you.”
The door burst open, and a whirlwind entered.
“Billy!” Meggie cried. The boy rushed forward but halted as a stern voice boomed around the room.
“Not so fast, sir! Your mama’s in a delicate condition.”
“Delicate!” Meggie huffed, trying to stand. “I’m the size of an elephant. It’s a wonder you can bear the sight of me.”
“My dear, Meggie,” Dexter said with a wicked smile, “you know full well that I relish the sight of you—as I believe I made clear twice last night and once again this morning.”
Mrs. Goode burst into a fit of coughing, and Meggie felt her cheeks burning. As her pregnancy advanced, her need for his touch had become a craving, which he was more than happy to satisfy. He glanced toward the chair beside the window where yesterday he’d sat back, his hands interlinked behind his neck while she’d ridden him, bringing them both to pleasure. Had any passer-by looked up, they would have seen her.
She might have believed she was turning into a wanton, but Anne Pelham, now expecting her fourth child, had warned her that pregnancy often increased a woman’s appetites. And judging by the size of the smile on Mr. Pelham’s face when Meggie took tea with them last week, Anne’s fourth pregnancy was no exception.
Billy gave a stiff little bow. “Hello, Mama.”
Meggie opened her arms, and the boy rushed toward her, and she held him close, burying her face in his hair.
“I’ve missed you,” she said.
“And I, you, Mama.”
“Did you have a good time at Eton?”
“Oh, yes!” Billy cried, “I’ve made two new friends—we’re in Godolphin House together. Papa says they can stay with us at Molineux Manor for some of the long vacation.”
“Are you working hard?”
“Papa has already asked me that during the ride home,” Billy said. “I’m top of my class in mathematics, and I’ve joined the chess club.”
“Excellent!” Meggie laughed. “Mr. Peyton will be pleased. Perhaps he’ll include one of your games in his next chess book.”
Billy puffed out his chest with pride. “I lent Augustus a copy of Uncle Oliver’s book,” he said. “He didn’t believe me when I said my mama had written a whole chapter. He thinks girls can’t play chess.”
Meggie laughed. “Girls can do anything,” she said.
“Well, I’m looking forward to renaming my business Hart & Son,” Dexter said, patting Billy on the head. “Or perhaps, even Hart & Sons.”
“What if I give birth to a girl?” Meggie asked.
“Then I’ll change my livery to Hart & Son & Daughter,” Dexter said, laughing. “That’ll cause a stir at the bank!”
Mrs. Goode rose to her feet. “Come along, young man,” she said. “Cook was baking sweet buns for your return. Shall we see if they’re ready?”
Billy grasped her hand, and she led him out of the parlor.
“Our son is prospering,” Dexter said. “It’s a pity Alderley didn’t live to see his grandson thrive.”
Meggie nodded. Her half-brother James had returned from the army to claim his title as Viscount Alderley. He had a Herculean task on his hands—managing not only a bankrupt estate but a sister who resided there, a bitter woman haunting its shades.
“Billy doesn’t need the Alderleys in his life,” Dexter continued. “He has aunts enough.”
“That he does!” Meggie laughed. “Delilah wrote to say she’s coming to help with the baby after my confinement, and she’ll brook no denial.”
Dexter rolled his eyes. “That’s all I need,” he said. “Lilah’s a hellion. She’ll spend the entire visit ordering me about.”
Meggie laughed. Dexter’s youngest sister had come to stay over Christmas. Meggie had been apprehensive at meeting Delilah, but she’d immediately put Meggie at ease. Lilah’s husband, though a duke, possessed a natural warmth. The huge Scotsman had pulled Meggie into a bear-hug and welcomed her to the family. As for their daughter, Flora, Meggie had fallen in love with the flame-haired toddler on sight.
“I won’t hear a word against your siblings,” Meggie said, “for I love them all.”
Dexter sighed. “As do I,” he said. “I would have them all happy.”
“Aren’t they?”
“All except Devon.”
“Your brother will find happiness,” Meggie said. “He just needs to find someone capable of seeing the goodness in his heart.”
“You always see the goodness in others,” Dexter said. “Not everyone possesses that quality.” He sighed. “Sometimes, I regret not having the opportunity to see Alderley again before he died. I wish I’d been able to thank him properly.”
“What for?”
“For giving me you,” he said. “The greatest treasure in his possession.”
He lifted her hand to his lips.
“I might have spent the rest of my life merely existing—devoted to increasing my fortune and my social status. But you…” He placed a hand o
n her belly. “You taught me what it was like to live.”
He leaned forward and kissed her again, his tongue probing, seeking entrance. Gladly, she opened to receive him. Then he broke the kiss.
“Come, my love,” he said. “Supper awaits, after which I hope to enjoy dessert.”
He took her hand and led her downstairs, his eyes glittering with mischief in anticipation of the night ahead.