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Breathing out slowly, he stepped inside.

The Duke and Duchess both turned to look at him.

Beatrice rose to her feet.

“Edward,” she said, her voice soft and a little wobbly. “I… We… That is, I just came on account of everything. We came post-haste as soon as we heard. The Belmonts are close friends of ours, and I’ve known Daphne and Emily since they were little girls. I thought of writing to you, but we can travel just as fast as a letter. And anyway, I thought you might say no,” she added.

Edward smiled despite himself. “Well, you’re both welcome here, of course. Rooms are being prepared.”

“Are we welcome here?” the Duke of Blackwood spoke up. “Because Beatrice didn’t think that we were. It seems that sinceyour late Duchess’s demise, you all but vanished from Society. We had no idea what might await us here.”

“Stephen, hush,” Beatrice scolded, shooting her husband a glare.

She was with child, Edward noticed, her belly pushing out the front of her gown. Almost subconsciously, her hand hovered over her stomach protectively.

Edward swallowed hard. “Congratulations, by the way. On the marriage. On the…” He paused, gesturing towards Beatrice’s belly.

He met her gaze and knew that she was thinking the same thing—Jane’s screams, echoing through the house. Her pale face, her eyes closed, the bed soaked with blood.

Beatrice lifted her chin. “I won’t die, Edward. I won’t.”

“I hope you don’t. I’ll pray for it,” he murmured, although he couldn’t remember the last time he’d prayed for anything.

“You didn’t come to the wedding,” Stephen remarked, lifting one well-polished Hessian and admiring its shine. “We invited you. Beatrice hoped you’d come.”

“Never mind that now,” Beatrice said, shooting him another glare. He flashed her a mischievous smile. “Edward, I hope you’re glad to see us because I’m glad to seeyou. It’s been too long.”

Edward swallowed hard, a lump forming in his throat. “Yes, I suppose it has. But you’re here now. I imagine you’ve heard about… about everything.”

“About the scandal? Yes, we have, along with the whole of the country,” Stephen said, yawning and stretching like a cat. “I’d congratulate you on your upcoming nuptials, but I don’t think they’d be well received.”

Beatrice sighed, rolling her eyes. “I am sorry abouthim, Edward. You’ll have to be forgiving because I’m unfortunately very fond of him.”

“I’ll try not to harm him.”

“Good. Now that we’re here, I was hoping…” She hesitated, fidgeting with the cuffs of her sleeves. “I thought perhaps… Well, I want to meet him. My nephew. Alexander.”

Edward nodded. “I thought you might. I sent for him before I came here. He should be here at any moment.”

Beatrice’s eyes widened, and she sucked in a breath.

On cue, footsteps and a high, childish voice sounded outside, and she reflexively began to fidget with her clothes, smoothing out her hair as if an eight-year-old boy was going to notice.

The Duke of Blackwood was on his feet in an instant, standing beside his wife. He smiled down at her, winking.

“Don’t worry, love. Everything will be fine, I promise,” he murmured, barely loud enough for Edward to hear.

Beatrice smiled up at him affectionately, and he kissed her forehead.

Feeling as though he were witnessing a private moment, Edward turned away.

The door opened. One of the maids stepped inside, hand in hand with Alex.

Alex paused, obviously disconcerted to see strangers standing in the room, and blinked around at them. Nobody spoke for a long minute.

Edward nodded at the maid, dismissing her.

Alex glanced up at his father. “Papa? What is it? Who are these people?”