Ten Lords a Leaping (The Twelve Days of Christmas Book 3) by Emily E K Murdoch

Author:Emily E K Murdoch [Murdoch, Emily E K]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Historical
Publisher: Dragonblade Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2022-10-20T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

“I do not quite understand,” Caroline’s Papa said, putting down his small cup of coffee, something he indulged in every morning. “You are telling me Dr. Walsingham—your Walsingham—has inherited an earldom?”

The looks of concern from both her parents did nothing to calm Caroline’s nerves.

A constant stream of worry poured from them to her as soon as they heard the news, when there was already more than enough worry within her.

How could she and Stuart have been so rash yesterday? After months of calm—well, relative calm—they had made just one mistake. A mistake that could have a very real consequence, an unavoidable one, in just nine months.

Caroline swallowed. She had always thought women who were with child would always know they were. Was that why her stomach felt so conflicted, so nauseated? Surely, she would not know yet if she was with child.

This was not going to be the Christmas she had expected.

If only her mother had given more details than the vaguest understanding of how a child could be made. If only her fluttering hands across her stomach could tell…

“I do not know all of the details,” Caroline said quietly, trying not to meet her sisters’ eyes—not that Jemima would have noticed, she seemed unreasonably happy for some unknown reason, with curling papers left in her hair. “He is having to spend a little time with some lawyers to…to fully ascertain the details of his Great Uncle Edward’s estate.”

“Well, I am sure much will have to change in the wedding if you are truly to become a countess!” said her mother, picking up a peach from the bowl on the table. “It is not every day a wedding of this kind occurs, after all, and we shall certainly want a much larger trousseau for you now.”

Caroline shuffled uncomfortably on her chair. She was wearing one of her older gowns, a cream one with sky blue edging, and it had always fitted her perfectly before. Was it a little tighter?

“It is true then?” Arabella’s voice was delicate and soft. “He really is the new Earl of Cheshire.”

Caroline nodded. The last thing she wanted to do was to discuss this with her family, because she knew eventually the other truth—that Mabel Walsingham was set against the marriage taking place—would eventually follow.

She was relieved Jemima was talking hurriedly with their father, for it meant her stepsister was not going to carry on about it all.

“You see, Papa, I wanted to ask you—”

“But an earldom!” Arabella’s eyes were wide. “Caroline, that will mean you’ll be—”

“Please,” Caroline managed to say, breath tight in her lungs. Oh, this was unbearable! “Can we speak of something else. Anything else?”

“I must congratulate Mrs. Castle on finding these peaches, in December of all times!” her Mama said with a breathless smile. “She certainly works wonders.”

“I just wish we could have oranges as well,” piped up Sophia. “I do not see why we should have peaches all of the time!”

“Fie, Sophia,” said Arabella with a slight smile. “Peaches all

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.