Page 111 of The Danger of Desire

As she trailed off, he could see her mind working. “What?”

A knock came at the door, startling them both. “Milady? You told me to wake you at ten. For the architect?”

Delia jumped up. “Oh, Lord, I hadn’t meant to sleep this late.” She called out to her maid, “Thank you, Rose! I’ll call when I’m ready for you to help me dress.”

“Very good, milady.”

Warren watched as his wife hurried to do her ablutions. “Why is the architect coming? Is there something wrong with your new boudoir?”

She halted, a blush spreading over her cheeks. He hadn’t seen one of those in a while. “No... actually... I wanted him to renovate— You see, I was supposed to tell you something last night at our private dinner... but then we... you know... and I fell asleep and...” She steadied her shoulders. “It turns out there’s a reason I’m snoring. And getting fatter.”

“You are not getting—”

He halted. He’d noticed her middle being a trifle thicker, but he’d assumed that was because she was eating more, on account of having a lusty husband who wore her out most nights.

But that wasn’t why.

His blood began to roar in his ears.

“I spoke to the physician yesterday,” she went on, “and he’s certain that I’m with child.”

Bloody hell. “I’m... having a child?”

She eyed him askance. “Unless you’ve defied nature, no.I’mhaving a child. You’re going to watch.”

He left the bed in a daze. “But you’re havingourchild.”

“Of courseourchild,” she said, looking insulted.

“No, no, I didn’t mean... I’m just... We’re having ababy?”

As if realizing he was flummoxed, she smiled. “You’re adorable when you’re flustered, did you know that?”

He drew himself up. “I’m a man, for God’s sake. We’re never adorable.”

“To me you are.” She came up to take his hands in hers, amusement shining in her face. “All that enthusiastic activity we’ve been engaging in does generally result in children, you know.”

“Now you’re mocking me,” he grumbled. “I’ve only just become used to the idea of having a wife. And now I’m going—you’regoing—to have our child?”

With joy and terror rocketing through him equally, he started pacing the room. “God, I need to speak to my solicitor. And find the finest physician in London to attend you. And look into having the nursery—” When she burst into laughter, he said, “Oh.That’swhy you wanted the architect to come today.”

“Exactly. The old nursery really needs work. And forgive me: I’d intended to tell you about the babe last night, but we were rather preoccupied—”

“Bloody hell! I took you like an animal last night!” With his heart pounding, he pressed his hand against her belly. “I could have hurt you or the baby!”

She rolled her eyes. “I can see you’re going to be just as overprotective a father as you are a husband.” She covered his hand with hers. “And do you really think I would jeopardize our child for even the most amazing intimate encounter with you?”

Now he could hear the faint tremor in her voice that said she was as nervous about this whole thing as he. “No, of course not.” He forced himself to breathe, to calm the racing of his pulse.

It had taken him a while to learn this hard lesson—that his wife was a sensible woman who always had a reason for her behavior. That he didn’t always have to protect her.

That sometimes she could be the one to protect him—from the dark and the quiet and the cellar. From thinking that his way was the only way.

From behaving like an arse when his wife told him he was soon to be a father. She deserved a husband who could reassure her.

He cupped her head in his hands. “If I could choose any woman in the entire world to bear my child, it would always be you. I can’t imagine anyone who would be a finer mother.”

To his horror, she burst into tears. When he looked alarmed, she said, “That has got... to be the sweetest thing... anyone has ever said to me.”