Page 34 of His By Sunrise (Disreputable Dukes of Club Damnation #3)

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Portman Square

Marylebone, London

Edwin paced the corridor directly outside his suite at his townhouse.

His heart was in his throat, for he’d been in and out of the bedroom for the past eighteen hours while Charlotte had been in labor with their third child—fourth, really, if he counted the one they’d lost to miscarriage six years into their first marriage.

What was happening behind that closed door racked him with worry, but there was nothing for him to do.

Each time he’d gone into the room to support her, his wife had sent him away after thirty minutes.

God, she was strong, and he admired the hell out of her for that, but he should be in there as she worked to deliver that child.

In July of 1816, she’d given birth to their son, Adam. His birth had come quickly and there had been no delay. Truthfully, Charlotte labored for barely ten hours with the boy, but this new child was different. And difficult.

No doubt it will prove a girl.

While he paced, every once in a while, Olivia—his oldest daughter—came out to check on him, and when he’d had to tell her there was no news, she’d returned to the drawing room, where Charlotte’s parents waited.

That was another worry of his. Olivia was a young lady of fourteen. In another few years, she would have her Come Out, and then he would have his hands full keeping unsavory would-be suitors away from her.

But for now, his life was full with a two-year-old son, and soon he’d have a new baby.

How in the hell am I going to survive?

But he couldn’t be any happier. A large family was exactly what he’d wanted with Charlotte.

Yet this birth was taking far too long. Worry twisted down his spine and played havoc with his brain.

Was there a complication? When another scream rent the air, somewhat muffled behind the closed door, he swallowed several times in succession to stave off the urge to retch.

“Breathe, Nottingham.” The Duke of Steppingford drifted into the corridor to join him in his vigil.

“I well know what you’re going through, for my wife struggled when she was finally delivered of our twins.

” Lines of strain were etched into his face, a clear indication the duke shared his anxiety.

“After all the heartbreak we went through to even have her fall pregnant, there was a time when I thought I might lose her during the labor, yet she pulled through.” The duke shook his head.

“Women are the true miracle of our existence, I think.”

“I quite agree.” He nodded but shoved a hand through his hair as a horrible thought sneaked into his mind. “What if Charlotte dies?” His stomach heaved. “I can’t lose her, Steppingford. She is my everything. And the children need her too.”

“You can’t think about that right now.” He dropped a heavy hand on Edwin’s shoulder. “Yes, there is inherent risk in birthing a babe; there’s no getting around it, and when you love a woman as fiercely as you do Charlotte, that risk seems insurmountable, but all will be well.”

“I’m hoping for the best.” Over the years, the men at Club Damnation had been closer to him than blood brothers.

All their lives were changing and shifting, making them into better versions of themselves, including that of their founder, the Duke of Eggleton.

That austere man wasn’t in London just now, for he and his family had chosen to pass the Christmastide season in Rome.

Eventually, Edwin resumed pacing, his mind frozen with fear, his insides tight with worry.

Then, the lusty cry of an infant cut through the mid-afternoon silence. His gaze darted between the closed door and his friend.

Steppingford offered a grin. “The babe has arrived.”

“I have to see Charlotte.”

“I shall go into the drawing room and tell them the babe is here.”

“Thank you.” When Edwin crept into the bedchamber, maids, the housekeeper, and the midwife were busy attending to both Charlotte on the bed amidst a stack of pillows as well as a squirming, bloody infant in the midwife’s arms. The baby’s cry was a good indication it was healthy and quite affronted to have been wrenched from its previous place of existence.

With his heart in his throat, Edwin met the midwife’s gaze. “How is my wife?”

“All is well, Mr. Coatesville.” She nodded and gave him an exhausted smile. “The lady is tired but resilient.”

“Thank you.” He reached Charlotte’s bedside, took her hand. Her brown hair was limp. Sweat plastered baby fine curls to her forehead and neck, but there was elation in her tired, gorgeous brandy-colored eyes as she looked at him. “The babe is here.”

“I know.” Edwin leaned down and pressed a kiss to her damp forehead. Never had he seen more beautiful... except when she’d delivered his other two children or on their second wedding day. “Are you well?” His heart braced, froze, for the words he needed to hear.

“Yes.” She held tight to his hand. “Tired, in pain, but I’m so grateful and quite excited to meet our child.” Her chin trembled. A tear fell to her cheek. “Is the babe healthy?”

A maid wearing a white pinafore apron smeared with blood and other fluids approached with a wide grin.

She handed him a tiny, swaddled bundle. “You have a little girl, Mr. Coatesville. Six pounds, two ounces. Twenty inches long. She is tiny but quite a fighter. No doubt she’ll keep you on your toes later in life. ”

Oh, dear God. I have another daughter.

“Thank you.” Edwin cuddled the baby to his chest, kept her cradled in his arms like the treasure that she was.

Then the full of his attention focused on his wife.

“She looks like you, sweeting. Has your brilliant eyes.” With a shaking hand, he peeled back the blanket from her tiny pink face.

“She’s gorgeous, has my curly hair.” Then he glanced at Charlotte.

His breath stalled at the exquisite joy in her expression. “You are amazing, love. You both are.”

“All of our children are miracles.” She held his gaze, and he fell into those dark pools once again. “Truth to tell, our little family is incredible. I have a feeling our children will do wonderful things.”

The older midwife bustled up to them. She nudged him away from the bed. “I’m sorry, Mr. Coatesville, but there are a few things your wife needs to attend to that are crucial after birthing a child.”

“Ah, right. I remember.” He nodded.

Charlotte waved him away. “No need for you to witness this, but stay close.”

“I will.” He left the bedchamber with his daughter secure in his arms. Once in the adjoining dressing room, tears fell unchecked to his cheeks and dotted the baby’s swaddling clothes. “Welcome to the world, darling girl.”

What the devil would they name her?

Not knowing, he cuddled the infant to his chest. So tiny. So helpless. So innocent. She was a product of his union with Charlotte—their second one, which was stronger and healthier than the first. “I already love you so much it terrifies me,” he admitted in a whisper.

The baby made a sound that went straight to his heart.

Possessed of much emotion, he wept unashamedly as he held her.

His son and new daughter would never have been possible if he’d not lost his damned mind years ago and kidnapped her from Ravenhurst’s ball.

He gently kissed the baby’s forehead. “Don’t believe the stories you’ll hear of your father. ” Even if they were true.

Eventually, he returned to the bedchamber where he perched on the side of the bed and tenderly placed his daughter in Charlotte’s arms. “Thank you for this gift.” His voice broke on the last word, and he pressed a kiss to her lips.

When he lifted his head, he looked at the midwife.

“I realize you need to care for my wife and child, but could I have a few minutes in private with them?”

“Of course,” she said with a soft smile. “The maids and I will return in a quarter hour.”

Once alone, Edwin lost his composure again. He wrapped his arms around Charlotte and held her close, paying attention to not smothering the babe. “You are a marvel, Char. Our new daughter is wonderful. To add to our little family...” His voice stalled. “I don’t know what else to say.”

“You are adorable.” Charlotte held a palm to his cheek when he eased away. “Are you happy? Not only with the new baby but how our lives have evolved?”

“So much that it frightens me.”

“I feel much the same.” Her lips trembled as she looked at their daughter. “I hope Olivia and Adam will adore her as much as we do.”

“No doubt they will. I’ll wager Adam will defend her from bounders when they’re older.” He sighed and then kissed her again. “I love you even more than I did the day I married you.”

“Which one?”

“Both?”

“You are amazing yourself.” She slid her hand to his nape and gently encouraged him closer.

The long, lingering kiss they shared held greater poignancy than all the others.

“I love you too.” When he straightened, she grinned.

Her eyes held a certain sparkle that left him breathless with renewed awareness.

“I look forward to the time when my body is healed and we can resume our carnal romps, complete with games.”

Oh, God. He tamped his quick reaction, for it had been a while since he’d laid with his wife due to her confinement. “I look forward to that as well.”

Charlotte’s smile was as brilliant as the sunshine outside. “Thank you. For having patience with me, for being willing to try again, for everything.”

“As if I could have ever done anything else.” He pressed his lips to the top of her head and then gathered her and the baby close again.

The smile his wife flashed held an exhausted edge. “Everything worked out splendidly.”

“Yes, it did.”

What had started as the need to take revenge on his former wife and her suitor had managed to upend his own life in ways he could never anticipate, and he couldn’t be happier with that outcome.

Yes, he’d won her back by the fifth sunrise, but he’d also realized that he had gained something much more valuable.

Security and acceptance.