Tears came to his wife’s eyes, but he knew they were happy tears. “I don’t know what I did to deserve you,” she murmured.
“I suppose you are right,” he joked. “You are quite lucky to have me.”
She laughed, as he hoped she would.
“But, as it turns out, I have a gift for you, as well,” Madalene said as she turned to face him.
Placing his hand on her right cheek, he replied, “Every day with you is a gift.”
“Do you truly mean that?”
“I choose you, and I will keep choosing you for as long as I live,” he promised, hoping his eyes conveyed his sincerity.
A tear slipped out of her eye and rolled down her cheek. As he went to wipe it away, she surprised him by saying, “I am with child.”
Fearing he misheard her, he asked, “I beg your pardon?”
She smiled tenderly as she repeated, “I am with child.”
Leaning back, he asked, “Are you sure?” He glanced down at her stomach. “I mean… have you spoken to the doctor—”
His words were stilled when she pressed her lips against his, earning disapproving looks from people that walked past them on the pavement.
“You talk too much, Baldwin,” she said, leaning back.
“I am just flabbergasted,” he declared, running a hand through his hair.
“Does it please you?”
He chuckled at the absurdity of that question. “Nothing could please me more than to have you be the mother of my children.”
“I am relieved to hear you say that,” she replied. “I was planning on telling you over supper tonight, but I found I couldn’t wait.”
“I have no doubt that my family will be elated when we share the good news.”
She gave him a sheepish grin. “I’m afraid I may have already confided in Jane.”
“That does not surprise me,” Baldwin remarked. “You two have only appeared to have gotten closer since we wed.”
“That we have.”
Baldwin glanced at the building. “I had intended that we should take a tour of the workhouse and infirmary before it officially opened up to the public,” he said. “But perhaps we should take you home to rest.”
“I am perfectly capable of touring the workhouse,” Madalene said stubbornly as she approached the door. “You do not need to coddle me now that I am with child.”
Taking a step around his wife, he opened the door wide and replied, “That is exactly what I intend to do. I can’t risk anything happening to you or the baby.”
“You need not fear,” she said with a smile. “We will be together for the rest of forever.”
Baldwin offered his arm to her. “You promise?”
“I do,” Madalene replied, leaning against him. “I don’t intend to ever let you go.”
The End
Enjoy an excerpt from A Dangerous Game!
Chapter One
England, 1814
Miss Emmeline Lockhart found herself in the most peculiar situation. She had been told that she should feel immense gratitude for the position that she was in, but all she felt was dread at the thought of marrying the Duke of Billingham.
She snuck a glance at the aged duke, who was sitting at the head of the table, and studied him without his knowledge. His thin, worn face was covered with deep wrinkles, he had tufts of white hair around his balding, mottled scalp, and his shoulders were hunched over.
The duke was speaking to her aunt, Lady Taylor, and she saw a large piece of food stuck in his crooked, yellow teeth. She shuddered as she reached for her glass, knowing this was destined to be her future.
Turning his attention towards her, the duke asked in a thin, breathy voice, “Are you cold, my dear?”
Emmeline shook her head. “No, Your Grace, but I thank you kindly for asking.” She took a sip of her drink, hoping he would continue his conversation with her aunt. But she was not so fortunate.
The duke considered her for a moment before saying, “It is rather drafty in the dining room. I can’t risk you catching a cold before our nuptials.”
“I assure you that I am perfectly well.”
Appearing unconvinced, the duke snapped his fingers and a footman promptly appeared at his side. “Will you stoke the fire and bring a blanket for Miss Lockhart?”
“That isn’t necessary, Your Grace,” she attempted.
He smiled at her, and she grimaced at the piece of food that was still stuck in his teeth. If anything, it appeared to have gotten larger. How was that possible?
“It is my privilege to take care of you,” the duke said.
Her aunt spoke up. “That is very generous of you,” she gushed, giving her niece a look that implied she should behave. “Isn’t it, Emmeline?”
Emmeline brought a smile to her lips. “It is, and I thank you for your concern.”
“We shall have to purchase you some sturdier gowns after we are wed,” the duke remarked. “Billingham House can get rather drafty in the winter months and I daresay your muslin gowns won’t be sufficient.”
“Do you not retire to the country for the winter months?” Emmeline asked.
“I do not,” he replied. “I find that traveling does not suit me. At least not anymore.”
Her uncle, Lord Taylor, wiped the sides of his mouth with his napkin, then said, “I daresay that I would have no desire to leave London if I resided in a beautiful townhouse such as yours.”
The duke bobbed his head in agreement. “My late wife, Diana, spent hours decorating Billingham House before her unexpected death.”
“Our condolences,” Lady Taylor expressed. “It is always hard to lose a loved one, especially a spouse.”
“Thank you,” the duke replied. “We may have only been married for a few years, but I did eventually grow to care for her. She was an agreeable person.”
“What a lovely thing to say,” Emmeline remarked tersely but softened
