Page 78 of The Secret Love of a Gentleman (The Marlow Family Secrets #3)

Because his family would know if he did not visit the doctor, Rob left Harry to his own devices and walked to the doctor’s house. He and Caro were due to marry tomorrow, but he would not risk the child. If the doctor said Caro should remain in bed, their marriage would have to wait.

When he returned to John’s, Caro was in bed, lying back against pillows, looking pale.

Mary was sitting beside her, with a book open on her lap. She had been reading to Caro.

‘Have you felt our daughter kick again?’ he asked as he walked into the room.

She nodded. ‘And there has been no more blood.’

‘That is good.’

‘Why did you go out?’

‘To see the doctor who came to you. He will come again this evening, to listen for the heartbeat, and tomorrow morning. He will tell us in the morning if you are well enough to come to the church. I was thinking, perhaps you could be pushed up the aisle in a bath chair…’ He smiled at his jest .

A choked sound of humour slipped from her lips and she held her stomach. ‘Do not make me laugh, it jolts me.’ Her eyes widened. ‘Oh. She kicked.’

‘You have decided it is a girl,’ Mary said.

‘Rob decided.’

Mary smiled. ‘That sounds like him. He is like Papa, he must organise everything.’

He sat down on the edge of the bed, next to Caro, lifted her hand and pressed the back of her fingers to his lips.

‘I will leave you alone.’ Mary closed the book and put it on the bed as she stood. ‘Call if you need me,’ she said, then left them.

‘I missed you when I woke,’ Caro said after the door had closed.

‘Sorry, but I still hope to marry you tomorrow.’

‘I want to marry you too.’ Her fingers separated then wove between his. ‘Would you read to me? It is distracting my thoughts.’

‘Of course.’

Rob stayed with her all evening, eating dinner beside her. The only time he left was when the doctor asked him to.

‘The child’s heartbeat is strong,’ the doctor said when he came out.

‘All is well. I will come back and check on Lady Kilbride in the morning. My belief is that as there has been no fluid then it must be a dislodgement of the placenta. It must have partially torn from the lining of the womb. It will not heal, and it means the mother will need to take care and avoid any strenuous activity. I would recommend complete bed rest. But there is a good possibility the child will survive.’

Rob had returned to her then.

Tomorrow, I want her to be Mrs Marlow.