The Brigadier's Runaway Bride by Ridley Erica

Author:Ridley, Erica [Ridley, Erica]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Intrepid Reads
Published: 2015-08-31T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

In his three years at war, in the long, blood-drenched hours of Waterloo, in the eight arduous months it took to finally make his way home, Brigadier Edmund Blackpool had not once succumbed to panic.

Until now.

His heart banged as he approached his townhouse. He didn’t have a baby. He had two babies. Two tiny, helpless, completely identical infant sons. Timothy was the one in Sarah’s arms. Edmund was holding little Noah.

Probably. Had he mentioned they were completely identical?

Edmund inched up the freshly cleared front walk with slow, careful steps. He did not want his first act as a father to be slipping on an ice patch and flinging his newborn baby into the sky.

London wasn’t helping matters. The babies were as displeased with the noise and the crowds as Edmund was, although their red-faced cries were much louder. The stink of the waste and the layer of soot from a city of burning coal were as unpleasant for the babies as the bitter wind and the blinding yellow sun.

His first goal was to get them tucked away inside as quickly and safely as possible.

His second goal was to figure out what the devil to do next.

The cradle was a good size, but was it large enough for two babies? Or would they have to keep one in their arms while the other one slept until Edmund could get an additional cradle delivered?

Presuming the babies would ever sleep. Or that Sarah would allow them to leave her arms. So far Edmund hadn’t seen much evidence of either possibility.

As soon as they drew near the front step, the footman swung open the door and ushered them inside. Edmund and Sarah stared at each other for a long moment as the cozy interior warmth replaced the chill of the city.

There. Now they were inside. With their coats and scarves and hats and boots and winter gloves still on.

Holding two tiny babies.

“Er,” said Edmund.

Sarah raised her brows in question.

He smiled awkwardly and wished he hadn’t said anything. Sweat dripped down his spine.

Edmund had earned the title of brigadier because of his skill at organizing and deploying soldiers. He wasn’t good at developing a winning battle plan that encompassed an exhausted bride, married life, and two infant children.

His blood boiled in frustration. He hated not knowing what to do. All his dreams—romantic waltzes, long walks along the river, fireworks under the stars—had disappeared the moment Sarah was actually within his sight.

He’d wanted this to be perfect. He’d wanted to be perfect. He longed to have her look at him again the way she used to do before. When she’d thought he was magnificent and capable of anything. When she’d loved him.

Instead, they were slowly sweating to death in the middle of his austere bachelor townhouse.

Which Sarah had never before seen. Edmund straightened. That was something he could do!

“Come,” he said gruffly. “Let me show you your new home.”

She followed him through the parlor to the dining room, around the kitchen and up the stairway to the master bedroom, and the nursery that had once been his study.

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