Page 4 of Reign

When they pulled apart, his eyes darted to her stomach, which was as flat as ever. “Ready to share our news?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be,” she murmured.

A month ago, at the closing banquet of the League of Kings conference, Daphne had told Jefferson that she might be pregnant. She had been desperate, trying frantically to keep him from breaking up with her after he’d kissed Nina earlier that night.

Ever since, she’d been pleading with Jefferson to tell their parents—the crucial first step in her plan. The sooner she could nudge them into a public engagement, the better. She could only keep up her fake pregnancy for so long.

“Jeff! You were wonderful out there!” Queen Adelaide exclaimed as she swept into the room. Belatedly, she remembered to curtsy to her son—which she didn’t normally have to do, but circumstances were far from normal these days.

Jefferson cleared his throat. “Thanks, Mom. Actually…there’s something I need to talk to you about.”

With impeccable timing, a footman materialized in the doorway. “Your Royal Highness. Mr.and Mrs.Deighton are here, as you requested.”

Mr.and Mrs.Deighton.It was still jarring hearing her parents referred to by the common form of their names.

Daphne’s parents entered amid curtsies and bows and murmured pleasantries. They were dressed nicely, though not in gowns and ceremonial wear like Daphne and the Washingtons,because, of course, they hadn’t been at the ceremony. It was only for people with titles.

Daphne’s eyes cut to Queen Adelaide, who treated the Deightons with her usual courtesy; she was too well mannered to act like anything had changed. Still, Daphne swore she caught a fleeting hint of distaste on the queen’s features.

“Thank you all for coming,” Jefferson began. “Daphne and I have something to announce.”

Peter Deighton took a seat on the damask couch, clearly afraid to speak.Heshouldbe afraid,Daphne thought spitefully. He’d already lost their family’s title through his stupidity and carelessness; they couldn’t afford any more of his mistakes.

Daphne’s mother sat next to him, tucking her legs elegantly to one side. Even with a grown daughter, she was still frighteningly beautiful, her lips as red and her hair as blond as they had been in her days as a runway model. She flashed Daphne a knowing glance, and then her eyelashes swiftly swept down.

“Jeff? Is everything all right?” Queen Adelaide asked, a note of concern in her voice.

Jefferson hesitated. “Daphne and I…She’s…I mean…”

Daphne held her breath and said nothing. She sensed instinctively that the news needed to come from him, not from her.

“We’re having a baby,” he finished.

Here goes nothing,Daphne thought, terrified yet at the same time oddly thrilled. This was what she did best. Lie. Improvise. Act.

“Oh,Jeff.” His mother’s voice broke on the words.

To Daphne’s shock, the queen rushed to her feet, tugged Daphne upright, and threw her arms around her.

Daphne tentatively returned the hug, and felt Adelaide’s thin frame shaking with sobs.

“I’m sorry, Your Majesty,” Daphne hurried to say, but Jefferson’s mother pulled back. The queen was crying and laughing at once, her face a confused mess of pain and joy, as if all her emotions had mingled together, leaving her exhausted and…happy?

“Sorry?” Adelaide repeated. “Why on earth would you be sorry?” She sighed. “Oh, young love. No matter what else is happening, it always finds a way, doesn’t it?”

“Mom?” Jefferson seemed alarmed.

“This is entirely out of order and improper, especially given your recent…troubles,” Queen Adelaide announced, with a vague wave at the newly common Deightons. “But it’s been so long since we had a baby at the palace. To think that soon enough we’ll hear little feet pattering up and down the hallways! That’s how Jeff learned to walk, you know,” she said, clutching Daphne’s hand. “He used to toddle up and down the hall, waving at the guards, watching them salute each time he passed. He was the most adorable baby.” Her voice shook a little as she added, “I only wish George were here.”

“I know,” Daphne said soothingly, willing herself not to smile. This was going even better than she’d expected.

“Daphne!” Her mother stepped forward to join the collective embrace. Her arms circled her daughter a bit awkwardly, as if she wasn’t quite sure how this hugging thing worked. “I can’t believe it! Why didn’t you tell us?”

“I was afraid you might be upset,” Daphne murmured.

Rebecca was doing a remarkable job of feigning surprise and motherly concern. She’d already known, of course. There was no one else Daphne could have shared her plan with, no one else she trusted to help; and she didn’t trust her mother, not really. Rebecca could be relied upon for now, as long as her fate was tied to her daughter’s interests. But Daphne knew her mother’s loyalty was only ever to herself.

“People are going to talk.” Queen Adelaide stepped back, wiping at her eyes. “We’ll have to rush your wedding as much as possible.”