Page 86 of Love a Lady at Midnight

He shrugged, nodded, smiled. Let her say what she must. The time had come to share their news.

She nodded. “I truly cannot go upside down today, Nora.”

“Don’t be silly,” Nora said. “Max and I will help. It’s—”

“I’m with child.” Gwendolyn grinned.

Nora’s mouth dropped open.

Even the birds stopped singing to hear the news.

“For such a usually loquacious lot,” Jackson said, “you are awfully quiet.”

More silence, in which Gwendolyn’s smile wavered. Jackson strode to her side.

“You know,” Max finally said, “I’ve seen women with child walk on their hands. Perhaps not in the final months, but—”

“Absolutely not!” Sarah said, jumping to her feet and rushing toward Gwendolyn to smother her in a hug.

“I’m sure it would be fine,” Nora said with a chuckle. She linked her arm through her husband’s. “I’ve been doing them, and—”

He tipped her chin up and kissed her. Silencing. The words “not today, darling,” seemed lost in the warmth of the kiss he placed on his wife’s neck.

Jackson should not have heard. He seemed the only one who had, and by Jove, he was glad he had, though. Cousins of a same age. Family growing.

“Brilliant news,” Cass said as Ada took Aunt Sarah’s place in Gwendolyn’s embrace.

“What language do you think your little one will most wish to learn?” Ada asked. “I’ll start buying books now. French? Perhaps Italian. There is some delicious love poetry in Italian.”

Gwendolyn swallowed a smile and put a hand on her belly. “I’m sure you’ll know what’s best.”

Uncle Henry found his feet slowly, placed one hand on Jackson’s shoulder and the other on Gwendolyn’s. Tears glittered in his eyes like fine diamonds. “I am filled with joy. And pride. And”—his gaze dropped into the shadows of seriousness—“you must name the child for me.”

“Henry!” Sarah slapped his arm.

“Papa, no!” Ada and Nora said together.

“Name the baby after one of us,” Thomas said.

“After a flower,” Pansy offered.

“Uncle,” Jackson said, “what if it’s a girl?”

Uncle Henry huffed. “Especially name it for me if it’s a girl.”

“It will be,” Ada said. “It must be. We always need another Cavendish woman about.”

The women ushered Gwendolyn back to the blanket, peppering her with questions.

“She’s right of course,” Henry said, patting Jackson on the back. “There’s never enough of them. Thank you for bringing one more into the family. She’s always been an honorary Cavendish, even if she didn’t know it.”

“Now she has the name to prove it, to make it official.”

Uncle Henry placed his hands on his hips, beamed at his family. “My first grandchild.”

He’d be a great-uncle not a grandfather, but Jackson wouldn’t quibble.

Uncle Henry glared at Cass and Max. “I expect a few more.”