Page 65 of The Secret Love of a Gentleman (The Marlow Family Secrets #3)

Caro spent the days of Christmas with Drew and Mary, looking after the children who had both come down with mumps. Caro had mumps as a child, so she was the obvious nurse.

Mary said her family were not staying on John’s neighbouring estate this year but met in London instead, which was strange.

Why would Rob’s family not come to the country as they normally did?

It made her worry, because Mary had still not received a letter from Rob.

Had Caro hurt him more than she realised?

But meanwhile, while life continued as normal, their child continued to grow in Caro’s womb.

The long hours she spent alone with the children in the nursery gave her time to imagine what it would be like to have her own child – this child she carried.

She had begun to hope the child would survive, and with every single day that passed her hope grew a little more.

Beneath her dress and chemise her body showed her secret.

But she had not yet felt the child move, it was too soon.