Page 28 of 1797 Club 2nd Epilogue Collection (The 1797 Club #11)

A lthough her marriage to the Duke of Kingsacre had been six months before, Sarah was still sometimes shocked by it.

Often when the servants or tenants said Your Grace it took her a moment to realize they were referring to her and answer.

Or when she was writing a letter and signing it with her title, it almost looked like someone else’s hand.

When it felt most right, however, was when she was sitting next to her husband. Kit made it right. He made everything right. Even now, curled up next to him on a settee, her book drooping in her fingers as she watched him read his own, that felt perfect.

He glanced down at her. “If you insist on reading over my shoulder, I’m happy to regale you with the scintillating details of crop rotation.”

She laughed and rested her chin on his shoulder. “As fascinating as that sounds, I think I’ll skip it. It’s far too early in the day to excite me so.”

“It’s never too early for that,” he murmured and cupped her chin to tilt it up toward him.

She let out a little sigh as his mouth found hers for a kiss. This man. This wonderful man who loved her so deeply, who she loved so powerfully in return. He was almost her whole world.

He pulled away a little and she smiled up at him. He returned the expression before he reached down and settled a hand on the tiniest swell of her belly that was hardly noticeable beneath her high waisted gown.

“How are you feeling today?” he asked.

“The mornings are better now,” she said. “Diana says the worst is likely over as far as sickness goes.”

Her friend and fellow duchess, Diana, was also a healer and was checking in regularly to follow the course of Sarah’s pregnancy. Her heart fluttered with that thought. A baby. Her baby coming soon.

“I’ll start to well and truly show any time now, no matter how my gowns lay,” she continued and covered his hand with her own. “Which leads me to the subject of Phoebe.”

Kit nodded. “Do you think it’s time to tell her?”

“I do,” she said.

His grin grew wide. “My little sister loves babies. She’s still going on and on about when everyone was here last and she got to play with the other children. I’m sure she’s going to be thrilled.”

Sarah shifted a little. Kit’s half-sister Phoebe had just turned six a month before. She was bright and kind…but she was still grieving the loss of her father, just as Kit still did. Sarah wasn’t as certain of her reaction as he was.

“We should still be gentle. Recall that after your father died, she briefly believed she’d be sent away.”

Kit shook his head. “God, I wish I knew who told her that. I’d have words with them they wouldn’t soon forget.”

“It was probably another child, perhaps in the village,” she said.

“Ah,” he said with a little smile for her. “Then pistols at dawn it is.”

“You are hopeless,” she said, slapping his arm lightly before she got up and paced across the room. “I know she’s happier now. She’s nothing but delighted that you and I are married. ”

“She has parents again, though I’m a poor replacement for my father and you are leagues more worthy than her mother.”

They were both silent a moment and she knew that just like her, he was thinking of the horrible events of a few months before when Phoebe’s birth mother had tried to take her.

It hadn’t been an act of love, but of greed and cruelty.

Sarah had nearly lost her life to protect the little girl.

Now the woman was long gone, off to America where she would never be able to harm her daughter.

“You are exactly what she needs, my love,” Sarah said softly.

He took her hand and lifted it to his lips. “And you are exactly what I need. What we need. Why don’t we tell her tonight over supper?”

Sarah nodded. “It’s a fine idea. Once she knows, we can begin readying the nursery and she can help me pick out some toys and clothing for the baby. It will feel more real when everyone in the family is aware.”

He took her in his arms, his strong hands holding her and making her feel so safe. So loved. “It already feels very real to me, Sarah. I can’t wait to meet my son or daughter.”

He kissed her again and she leaned into him, reveling the solidness of him, the warmth. He believed that the best would happen when they told Phoebe their news. She chose to do the same, and if it was different then they’d deal with that when it came.

Just as they dealt with everything…together.

K it sat at the head of the dining table, Sarah on one side and Phoebe on the other.

As usual, his sister had been regaling them with stories of her day spent with her governess, Miss Twitchell.

He couldn’t help but smile as Phoebe’s dark brown eyes, the ones so like his own, so like their late father’s, lit up with excitement.

She was always a vibrant presence, boisterous and clever and quick to laugh.

How lucky his children would be to grow up with her as their aunt.

He looked at Sarah and she nodded slightly, as if to encourage him to make the announcement they had earlier discussed.

“It sounds like a wonderful time,” Kit said. “I love hearing of all your stories and imaginings, Phoebe.”

She took a bite of the little bit of food that was left on her plate. “Will you come help me with the playhouse now that it’s getting warm, Kit?”

He nodded as he thought of the renovation of the old estate playhouse he had started with his sister the previous fall. A project they’d had to abandon with the first snow. “I will. I promised to come finish it with you in the spring and I shall.”

“Will you help, too, Sarah?”

That was the perfect opening and Kit took it. “Sarah may not be able to help us work on it this year, love.”

“Why not?” Phoebe asked with a quick, worried glance toward Sarah.

Kit reached out to take his wife’s hand. “Because Sarah has to be a little more careful now. She’s…we’re having a baby, Phoebe.”

His sister adored little ones, dragging around the other children of his close group of friends like they were living dolls. But if he expected her to burst into a rainbow of excitement at the idea, instead Phoebe’s face fell.

“A baby?” she repeated.

Sarah wasn’t looking at Kit, but focused on Phoebe. “Yes, sweet. A baby in the autumn.”

Phoebe’s eyes welled with tears and she looked down at her plate. She dropped her little hands beneath the table, but not before Kit saw them clenched into trembling fists.

“Oh,” was all she said.

“Tell me what you’re thinking,” Sarah said softly. “What is upsetting you? ”

“Nothing,” Phoebe said. “May I go to my room?”

Kit leaned forward. “Phoebe-” he began.

But Sarah touched his hand and shook her head slightly. “Of course, love. Run along and play if you’d like.”

Phoebe pushed her chair back and fled the room silently. Kit pursed his lips. “Well. That didn’t go as well as I expected.”

“No.” Sarah leaned back in her chair and covered her stomach with a hand. Her usually bright face was lined with troubles.

“I should talk to her,” Kit said and moved to stand.

“Not yet,” Sarah said, holding his hand a little tighter. He sank back in the chair and tilted his head to urge her to explain. “She wasn’t expecting the information. I think we let her digest it for a little bit and then talk to her. Together.”

He pressed his lips together. “I know you’re right. You always are when it comes to her. A natural. While I’m…well, I’m not.”

“You are,” she insisted and leaned closer, cupping his cheeks gently.

“If she didn’t cherish and adore the life we’ve built together, she wouldn’t be afraid that it would change.

You love her, you take care of her, you treat her with kindness and understanding.

You are the best brother and best father already. ”

“Not the best father,” he said softly.

She stroked her fingers over his cheek. “You miss him.”

He nodded. “I would have loved to see him be a grandfather. I would have loved his advice on how to be a father.”

“He gave that to you every day he lived,” she said. “All his lessons are in you. And you’ll also forge your own path, just as you’re doing as duke.”

He turned his mouth into her palm and kissed there. “I do love you.”

“I love you, too.” She pulled her hands away. “Now let’s stop scandalizing the poor servants and let them bring in dessert, yes? And we’ll talk to Phoebe afterward.”

“Perhaps even bring her some of that dessert?” he asked .

She laughed. “You see. You are the perfect father.”

He returned the smile and nodded to the servant lingering at the door to bring in the final course. But he wasn’t entirely put at ease by Sarah’s gentle reassurance. He wouldn’t be until he could reduce the pain that had caused his sister’s reaction to what should have been the happiest news.