Page 39 of The Duke’s Replacement Bride (The Wild Brides #6)

“ C aroline, there’s someone very important I’d like you to meet. This is my mother, Mrs. Frances Richards. Mother, this is Caroline.”

“Your Grace.” Levi’s mother smiled and offered a curtsy. “It’s so good to be spending time with you at last. You must thank your sister for me, for her generous offer to include me in this party.”

“Nonsense, Mrs. Richards,” Caroline said with a smile. “Arabella always feels that when it comes to parties, you can’t have too many guests. I know she’s thrilled that you’ll be in attendance at this one. And the rest of my family and all our friends will be thrilled to meet you as well.”

“Including Modesty?” Levi teased her.

Caroline laughed. “Fortunately, Modesty will not be in attendance! I hear she’s finally courting some gentleman from France, and I wish her every happiness.”

“Do you?” Levi raised an eyebrow.

“The happier she is, the less likely she is to stick her nose into other people’s affairs,” Caroline said. “So yes, I hope she marries and is very happy with her life, and that she never speaks to me again. I truly can’t think of anything I would like more.”

“Who is this Modesty?” Mrs. Richards asked as the group approached the front door of the home Arabella and William shared. “A friend of yours?”

“That’s one way to describe it, but I wouldn’t say that,” Caroline said. “I would say…an acquaintance. And not one who likes me very much. I’ll be more than happy to be finished with her presence in my life.”

“Oh, I have missed the drama and intrigue of society,” Mrs. Richards sighed wistfully.

“Have you, Mother?” Levi grinned. “I seem to recall you having a bit of a complaint about the drama and intrigue when it was our family that was being spoken about.”

“Yes, well, you seem to have put an end to that very successfully,” Mrs. Richards said primly. “When was the last time anyone heard a word from Charles?”

“He’s in Ireland now, apparently,” Levi said. “And good riddance to him, I must say. I’ll be all too happy to never see his face again. But enough about Charles—let’s enjoy ourselves today.” He knocked at the door.

It was Arabella who opened it and flung herself into Caroline’s arms. “You’re here!

Oh, I’ve been so excited for everyone to arrive—and this must be your mother-in-law,” she added, catching sight of Mrs. Richards.

“Our parents are in the sitting room enjoying a bit of shade and tea, if you would like to join them. The children are in the garden running around, and William is setting up a game of pall mall for those who would like to play.” She looked expectantly from Caroline to Levi.

“I’d happily join in that enterprise,” Levi said with a smile. “Though I hope everyone enjoys losing!”

The sisters laughed. “Come into the back,” Arabella encouraged. “Everyone is there.”

They were indeed. As they emerged into the yard, Caroline saw friends and family—the Duke and Duchess of Loxburgh, Seth and Lavinia; the Duke and Duchess of Harbeck, Allan and Edwina; the Duke and Duchess of Stormwell; James and Victoria, her own younger sister; Levi’s friend Gregory.

Arabella’s husband, William, was setting up the wickets for the game.

She and Levi made their way over to the group to greet everyone.

“We have to be careful,” Arabella warned. “His Grace the Duke of Mowbray has just been letting me know that he’s a real danger in a game of pall mall.”

“Ha,” Gregory snorted. “A danger if you’re worried about getting hit with the mallet, maybe. I wouldn’t worry about him winning the game. My friend has no aim to speak of.”

“I’d watch your mouth if you don’t want to be my rival in this match,” Levi said, but he was grinning. “I might not be a perfect player, but I could block any of your shots with considerable ease.”

The two fell into gentle bickering, and the ladies clustered together. “I’m so glad you’re here, Caroline,” Edwina said. “But I almost can’t believe it. I’d heard you were considering going to Spain a few months ago!”

“I couldn’t bring myself to leave my husband,” Caroline said with a smile—it seemed unbelievable now that she had ever even considered such a thing. “Perhaps Levi will take me to Spain one day when the time is right for both of us, but until then, I’m glad to be here.”

“I just can’t believe you would pass up on the adventure of a lifetime,” Edwina said. “I think, had I been in your shoes, I would have insisted on taking the trip right away I would have made it a condition of returning to my husband’s home.”

Caroline laughed. “And what would Allan say if I were to tell him that?”

“I assure you, Allan would be thoroughly unsurprised,” Lavinia grinned.

“My sister takes pride in being difficult to manage. I think he values that about her, truth be told. Every gentleman has his own tastes, of course, and it is always a blessing when a lady finds herself with the one who appreciates her for exactly who she is. Don’t you agree? ”

“I do,” Caroline said. “And that’s why I chose to stay here with Levi rather than pursue travel and adventure. I couldn’t let such a wonderful man and a wonderful life get away from me, and I am sure I’ll never regret that decision.”

“And what are you ladies talking about?” Levi had now come over to join them. “Aren’t you going to join us for the game?”

“Oh, I’m going to,” Edwina assured him. “And I’d watch out if I were you, Your Grace. Allan hasn’t won a game of pall mall since the day we were married.”

“That is, unfortunately, the truth,” Allan said ruefully, joining them. “She’s very good. I almost wish I could ask her to sit the game out just to give the rest of us a fighting chance.”

“Afraid of defeat at the hands of a lady?” Edwina teased him.

“I could hardly be afraid of something that happens to me regularly,” Allan said. “But I will admit to feeling rather discouraged by it. Still, I return to battle. Levi? Caroline? Will you join the game?”

“Perhaps the next one,” Caroline said with a smile. “I think I’d like to watch for a while at first. Maybe visit with the children.” Their peals of laughter echoed across the grounds.

“Well, if you head that way, do me a favor and make sure none of them are fighting,” Lavinia said. “They do carry on.”

“I’ll check on them,” Caroline agreed.

“Shall I come with you?” Levi asked her.

“Oh, you don’t have to, if you’d rather play the game.”

“No, I’ll come, if you’d like,” Levi said. “I would much rather spend time with you, Caroline.”

She was glad. It would be good to have a few moments alone with him, particularly in the company of the children. She started down the lawn in the direction of the garden, following the sound of their laughter, and allowed him to take her hand when he reached out for it.

“It’s a lovely day, isn’t it?” he commented. “The perfect day for a garden party, truly.”

“It really is,” Caroline agreed. “I’m sure the children are having the most marvelous time.”

“It’s funny—I never attended parties like this one in my own youth, of course,” he mused.

“And I never would have said that I was missing out on anything much. But being here now, I find there’s a part of me that’s excited for the future—for the days when we have children of our own to bring to these affairs. ”

Caroline hesitated—she hadn’t planned on telling him this now.

But suddenly, it was difficult to imagine a more appropriate time.

With the sun shining on their faces and the sound of children laughing in the background, with his arm in hers—yes, now was the time.

She wanted to tell him. She wanted him to know.

“It might happen sooner than you think,” she told him.

He turned to look at her. “What do you mean?”

“I’m talking about the future. When we have children of our own. I’m saying those days might not be so far in the future after all.” She waited for him to make the connection.

His eyes widened. “Are you saying…what I think you’re saying?”

Caroline felt the smile breaking on her face. She couldn’t hold it back, nor would she have wanted to. “I just found out yesterday. I had suspected for a while, but when the physician made his routine visit to the house, I asked him if he could confirm things for me.”

“And—and he did? We’re going to have a child?”

“Are you happy?”

“Am I happy! Of course I am!” He pulled her into a quick embrace, then released her. “How can that even be a question? We’re going to have a child—I can’t believe it!”

“I wasn’t sure that was something you would want,” she confessed, heat coming into her cheeks.

“And after all, we’ve only had a conventional marriage for a few months now.

I wasn’t sure you would have anticipated something like this happening so soon, even if you were open to it as a possibility for our future.

We never spoke of having children in any detail, even though I hoped… ”

“I wouldn’t have wanted it,” Levi confessed.

“It was never a part of my plan. Not before. But now that I’m with you, everything is different.

I can’t help but want everything life has to offer if it means I’ll be experiencing those things with you.

Oh, Caroline, this is the best news you could have given me in all the world. ”

He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her deeply and passionately, and Caroline was glad they hadn’t yet reached the garden and couldn’t be seen by the children.

Of course, any of their friends who looked this way right now might see them, but that was a risk she was willing to take.

For the sake of this beautiful moment with the man she loved… yes, it was worth it.

We’re going to have a child together. We’re going to be parents—start a family—and it will truly be the adventure of a lifetime. How could I ever long for Spain when I could have this? It’s the greatest blessing I could possibly have been given.

She kissed him back with everything she had in her, grateful for his love, grateful for the life they were building together, and overwhelmed with excitement for everything that lay ahead—for the rest of their days as one.

The End?