Page 105 of His Stolen Duchess

“Her husband—or ex-husband—is the one I feel most sorry for,” Lysander admitted. “If I were ever caught in a situation like that, I would leave the country, too. Although with his ties to London, perhaps he can’t.”

“Who knows,” Thomas said. “Who knows?”

“Three’s a crowd. They should all be plucked!”

Lysander burst into a guffaw and looked up to see Mr. Squawksby perched on a branch above him.

“You certainly have a way with words and a daring that most of us lack!” Lysander called up. He reached into his pocket, fished out a piece of dried fruit, then tossed it up into the air.

They hadn’t practiced the maneuver more than twice in the last month, but the piece of fruit flew close enough for the parrot to grab it in mid-air.

“So, tossing children into lakes, tossing fruit to parrots, what other parlor tricks do you have up your sleeve, Lysander?” Thomas asked.

“You’ll just have to wait and see.” Lysander winked.

“Lysander!”

The Duke’s attention now centered on his wife, who sat on the edge of the lake, but on the opposite side where the children weren’t jumping and splashing. The lake had been divided—naturally—into two areas: One for children and one for adults.

“Excuse me.” Lysander left Thomas and went to see his wife.

The terror brought on by loving someone so deeply had disappeared quickly, but there was a new fear growing.

“I was thinking about going for a swim and thought you might like to join me,” Georgina said. “Everyone in the water looks like they are having so much fun.”

“Yes, of course, but don’t you think you should be resting. I mean… you know.”

“I’m sure it will be fine, my love. It won’t exhaust me.”

“I know, I know, but I worry about Dottie,” he pointed out.

“Yes, but she is doing fine. And that was all thanks to you.”

There had been some minor complications in Dottie’s pregnancy, but she had overcome them with lots of rest and was recovering in a private residence paid for by Lysander until she could return to work.

“What is all this about?” Ava asked from close by.

“Nothing, Ava,” Georgina replied. “I don’t eavesdrop on your conversations.”

“I didn’t know your public conversation in front of everyone spoken at a regular volume was top secret. Now, what is this about not exerting yourself? Are you…?”

Georgina looked at Lysander and smiled. “I think the cat is out of the bag.”

“Are you?” Ava squealed.

“What’s going on over here?” Emily asked as she ran over to be a part of the conversation.

“Georgie is… I don’t know if it’s my place to say,” Ava said.

“Go ahead.” Georgina shook her head and smiled.

“She’s pregnant!” Ava announced.

Emily squealed and jumped up and down. Juliana soon joined them, and the three sisters crowded around Georgina, embracing her and exclaiming their congratulations. There were only a few of them around Georgina, but it felt like she was surrounded by a crowd.

“I think you need some time with your sisters,” Lysander told her.

Before he left them to it, he stood with his hands clasped behind his back, watching how happy the four of them were. He was terrified that he was soon to be a father, but it was the happiest he had ever been in his life.