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‘Emasculating?’ Mary gave a snort of completely unladylike laughter as the three women turned to scrutinise Adam’s broad back, now only yards away. ‘I rather doubt it!’

At the sound of his wife’s voice Lord Randall looked around, then walked over to them. ‘My dear. Did you cry out? Are you all right? It is very hot.’

‘I was laughing, that is all, Justin.’ Mary tucked her hand into the crook of his elbow. ‘We were just admiring your brother.’

‘Were you indeed? In that case you are definitely overheated and I am going to take you off to a chair in the shade and feed you ice cream. Mrs Flint, Sarah, you’ll excuse us.’ He nodded to Bartlett and strolled off, taking Mary with him.

‘Mrs Flint?’ Bartlett was still looking at her with a rueful expression.

‘Rose,’ she said and smiled. ‘Of course I forgive you for defending your friend. Now, if you will pardon me, I am going to take my husband away to tell him about my wedding gift to him.’

*

‘Rose.’ Adam turned at the touch of her hand on his arm. His eyes on her face were intense. ‘I’ve been neglecting you.’

‘You’ve been mingling with our guests, very properly,’ she said with a smile. ‘But come down to the paddock, I need to tell you about my wedding gift to you.’

‘Have you bought me another horse?’ He took her hand and began to stroll towards the ha-ha that edged the lawn.

‘No.’

‘New boots?’ He vaulted down into the ditch and held up his hands to swing her down.

‘No. Nor a tiepin, nor a hound.’ They walked to the paddock fence and Belladonna trotted across to nuzzle them in the hope of treats.

‘What, then?’ Adam lifted her on to the top rail of the fence and stood looking up at her, his big hands bracketing her waist.

‘It is rather early to be certain, but I believe I am right to hope.’ Rose took his right hand and pressed it, palm down, to her stomach. ‘I’m late, you see, and I am never late. And I feel…different.’

‘Rose?’ Adam’s face was a picture of shock, alarm and delight. ‘You’re pregnant? You are carrying a child? Our child? How?’

She laughed and bent forward to kiss him. ‘How? The usual way, I imagine. And perhaps that very day you proposed over your sword. And it is most certainly ours, my love.’

‘Oh, my God. Get down off that fence.’ He swung her down. ‘And I had you jumping off the ha-ha and you’ve been on your feet all day and it is hot and—’

‘And you are most certainly Justin’s brother. Mary says he is driving her absolutely insane, fussing over her.’ She clapped a hand over her mouth. ‘You won’t repeat that, they haven’t told anyone else yet.’

‘And I suppose, for the sake of your reputation, I had better not rush back up to the lawn, order more champagne and drink a toast to my pregnant bride, had I?’

‘Indeed not. We must stroll back and continue to circulate and do our duty by our guests.’

‘Until they all go and I can take you to our big bed and celebrate with champagne and strawberries and kisses.’

‘That sounds like a perfect plan,’ Rose agreed demurely. ‘Provided I may have just one kiss on account.’

‘Just one,’ Adam agreed, taking her lips with a passion full of unspoken promises, then he swept her up in his arms and carried her back to the house and their guests and the rest of their life together.

***