Deceived

colored hair and eyes the golden brown hue of excellent sherry. He was nowhere near as handsome as his relative, but he was attractive.

'It seems to me, St. John, that you have danced several times tonight with my sister-in-law. You will, I fear, compromise her reputation,' the duke growled, his blue eyes growing darker with his irritation.

'Why, Hawkesworth,' his cousin mocked him, 'you sound like an overprotective papa, or a rival suitor, but, of course, as a married man you could hardly fill the latter position, now, could you?' The look he shot at the duke was challenging.

'Gentlemen,' Aurora said coldly, 'you both insult and embarrass me with this public display of bickering.' Then she turned and left them, going to the dowager's side, her color high.

'They were rivals from the time they were born,' the dowager remarked quietly. 'At family gatherings, at school.' She sighed. 'Who began it this time, my girl?'

'I would say they both did,' Aurora replied. 'Valerian accused Justin of dancing too much with me, and Justin said Valerian sounded like an overprotective father or a jealous suitor. How dare they both behave as if I were some thing whose possession was to be quarreled over. I censured them both, and both deserved it! How are they related?'

'They share a great-grandfather on the Hawkesworth side,' the dowager said. 'You did well to put them both down, my girl.'

Suddenly a commotion erupted at the far end of the ballroom.

'The duchess has fainted!' they heard someone cry.

Aurora jumped up and ran quickly down the ballroom, almost colliding with the duke as they both hurried to reach Cally's side. She lay in a crumpled heap of rose and gold silk upon the polished floor. The duke picked up his wife and lay her on a nearby settee.

'Is Dr. Michaels still here?' he asked.

Aurora knelt by her sister's side, patting her hand and calling softly to her. 'Calandra! Calandra! Are you all right?'

Cally slowly opened her eyes. 'What happened?' she asked.

A ruddy-faced man pushed his way through the guests. 'Now, what has happened to her grace?' he said in brusk tones, taking Cally's hand and checking her pulse. 'Someone fetch her maid,' he said.

'It was the prawns,' Cally told the doctor. 'I knew I should not have eaten them. Very little has agreed with me lately, but they looked so very delicious, and I was so desperately hungry.'

'I could not help but notice your grace's appetite at the buffet this evening,' the doctor responded, feeling her forehead.

'I know it is so indelicate of me,' Cally told him, 'but of late I cannot get enough to eat, yet I feel constantly empty and queasy.'

Sally had been fetched, and now came to stand by her mistress's side. She had a decidedly worried look about her. 'Is she all right, Miss Aurora?' Sally asked nervously.

'This is her grace's maid,' Aurora told the doctor.

He turned and beckoned to Sally, and when she stood next to him, he whispered something to her. For a moment Sally thought, and then she murmured low to the doctor. The doctor turned to them.

'It is as I suspected,' he said quietly to the duke and Aurora. “Hcr grace is undoubtedly with child. Your lordship will, I can happily say, be a father before the year's end. May I offer you both my congratulations.'

Cally began to cry softly.

'Tears of happiness,' Dr. Michaels pronounced. 'I've seen it many times. Dry your eyes, my dear lady, your prayers are answered.'

'If you say one word to embarrass Valerian, I shall kill you,' Aurora murmured softly to her sister.

'Do not leave me!' Cally begged her sister.

'I will remain at Hawkes Hill as long as you want me to stay,' Aurora assured her sister. 'Now, smile at your husband.'

Cally obeyed her sister, smiling tremulously at the duke, who had a stunned look upon his handsome face.

Aurora arose to her feet. 'Is this not what you wanted, Valerian?' she asked him quietly. 'My sister is giving you an heir.'

'Yes! Yes!' he said, and then turning to his guests, he told them, 'The duchess has just fainted. It would appear, according to Dr. Michaels, that my wife will give me an heir by year's end!'

The room erupted into a cacophony of congratulations.

'Well,' the Dowager Countess of Kempe said to the Dowager Duchess of Farminster, 'this has been a most exciting and fortuitous evening for your family, my dear Mary Rose. A betrothal and the impending arrival of a Hawkesworth heir. Certainly you must be happy.'

'Indeed,' the dowager said, smiling broadly. 'I am delighted I have lived long enough to see a great-grandchild. Well, I shall,' she amended with a chuckle. 'Valerian,' she called, 'I think it is time that we sent everyone home so that Calandra can be put to bed.'

The duke did not have to say anything, for the guests heartily agreed, and were already taking their leave of their host and hostess. Calandra was now seated demurely upon the settee, accepting their compliments and their thanks for a wonderful evening. Valerian stood by her side. George and Betsy had been out on the terrace when Calandra had swooned, and had only just come in. Aurora quickly filled them in on the events that had taken place while they had sat beneath the moon, planning their future. They added their congratulations to the many already received.

'Mama will be absolutely delighted to learn she is to be a grandmother,' George said.

'Remain until the baby is born,' Cally begged him.

'I cannot, sweeting. I must be home to oversee the harvesting of the cane. It is with apprehension that I have left the planting of the Kimberly fields to their foremen under Mother's direction. And Mama should not be alone on St. Timothy with only servants for company for any longer than necessary. I would leave England earlier, Cally, but that the storm season is practically upon us, and I don't want Betsy to experience a rough voyage if I can avoid it. Aurora will be with you, and you will be just fine, little sister.'

The guests were all gone now, and Valerian Hawkesworth picked up his wife in his arms and carried her upstairs to her bedchamber. Setting her down in a chair by the fire, he said quietly, 'You are now free of my attentions, Calandra. You have my gratitude for what you are doing. Deliver my heir safely, and my generosity and tolerance will be almost boundless,' he promised her.

'Almost?' She looked seriously at him.

'Whatever you do, madam, I expect no scandal,' he said quietly. 'As for the rest of the terms of our arrangement, we can discuss them after our child is born. We are civilized people, are we not?'

'What if it is a daughter?' she inquired nervously.

'Then after a season in London, to which I will accompany you, we will return to Hawkes Hill to make another attempt.'

Calandra shuddered openly.

'Boys run in the family, my dear,' he said. 'I think you will be fairly safe