Page 87 of The Bachelor

Although Heywood, himself a retired officer, looked a bit skeptical, Sheridan seemed to accept Joshua’s story, for he nodded to the servants to obey Joshua’s orders.

“We should also send for Thorn,” Heywood said. “He’ll want to be included in this, because it involves Gwyn.”

“Of course,” Joshua said. “Feel free to handle that.” He turned to Mama. “Aunt Lydia, why don’t you call for tea to be served in the drawing room? I imagine Gwyn could use a cup.”

“Indeed,” Mama said, then took Gwyn by the arm to draw her off.

Normally, Gwyn would want to be in the midst of all the excitement, but this had been a very long day, and right now she would relish some quiet moments alone with Mama. She knew it was probably neither the time nor the place for her to talk to Mama about her own experiences giving birth, but ever since Beatrice and Joshua had planted doubts in her own head about her miscarriage, she’d been burning to question Mama. She just had to find a way to broach the subject.

As soon as they were settled in the drawing room with the door closed and their pot of tea steeping, Mama sat Gwyn down on the sofa next to her. “Are you all right, my dear? It cannot be easy to see a man shot dead before your very eyes.”

It had been much easier than watching Joshua shot dead would have been, so she couldn’t find it in her heart to mourn Lionel.

“I’m fine, Mama. Or I will be soon enough. Mr. Malet proved to be an awful fellow in more ways than you can possibly imagine. Trust me when I say that Joshua had no choice but to shoot him.”

“I’ve no doubt of that. My nephew isn’t reckless in the least. But you’re sure you weren’t harmed?”

“I wasn’t harmed, Mama.” She patted her mother’s hand. “But I do need to talk to you about something important.”

Her mother paled. “I swear, Gwyn, I didn’t speak a word to Sheridan. He must have hoped for the same thing himself becausehewas the one who mentioned it tome.”

“What are you talking about?”

Mama blinked. “Oh. What you wanted to discuss wasn’t the possibility of you and Joshua marrying?”

“Wait—Sheridan is hoping I’ll marry Joshua?”

“I told him not to even mention it to you because you get very annoyed by the subject, but he insisted—”

“This isn’t about me and Joshua!” She paused a moment. “Well, wearegetting married, but—”

“Iknewit!” Mama seized her hands. “I amsohappy!”

“Mama! I need you to pay attention for a moment. I have a question that I promised a friend I’d ask you, and it’s been weighing heavily on me.”

Her mother narrowed her gaze suspiciously. “Which friend?”

“It doesn’t matter. I promised not to reveal her name.”

“All right,” Mama said in a wary voice. “What’s the question?”

“Did you ever lose a baby?”

“What do you mean? While I was taking a walk with one in the park or something?”

Gwyn sighed. “No. I mean, have a miscarriage.”

“Oh.” Her mother pondered that a moment, then eyed Gwyn warily. “You and Joshua haven’t—”

“Mama!” she said with all the outrage she could muster, knowing that she would have a hard time lying to her mother.

“Wait a minute—did Bea lose Grey’s child?” her mother asked, heartbreak in her voice.

“No, Mama,” Gwyn said hastily.

“Oh, I do hope it’s not Cass and Heywood,” Mama said worriedly.

“They’ve only been married a month,” Gwyn pointed out. “There hasn’t been enough time for that.”