Persuasive in Pink (Colors of Scandal, #13) by Sandra Sookoo

Author:Sandra Sookoo
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Colors of Scandal, Sandra Sookoo, Regency romance, friends to lovers, unwed mother, scandal, pregnancy, Garbed in Purple, London
Publisher: New Independence Books
Published: 2022-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

August 31, 1819

“Quentin.” Somewhere within the haze of sleep he became aware of an insistent poking into his ribcage. “Quentin. Are you awake?” The sound of Phoebe’s voice and the excitement therein prodded him into consciousness more than anything else.

Concern immediately shot down his spine as he rolled over onto his side to face her. “What is amiss? Has something happened?” He’d been married to her for nearly three months, and in that time, his friendship and affection had only increased. They’d gotten along together rather splendidly, and there was a content comfort in having her beside him during slumber.

“No, nothing is wrong.” Amusement threaded through her words. In the predawn shadows as a gentle rain fell, she grabbed one of his hands and pressed his palm to her growing belly. “Can you feel this?”

“Feel what?” What the devil was she on about?

“Concentrate.” A giggle came from her. “It’s extremely faint, but it’s the babe either moving or kicking, I’ll wager.”

For long moments he waited with his hand to her belly. Through the thin silk of her nightdress there came a tiny tickle of sorts against his palm. He gasped and held his hand closer. “Truly, that’s the babe moving about?” It was a miracle and something he couldn’t begin to fathom. To think there was new life contained in her belly, alive as either of them.

“Yes.” Phoebe giggled. “Can you believe it?”

“No.” God, he adored that sound almost as much as he liked these intimate little moments with her that weren’t fraught with meaning or needed puzzled out. When the barely there movement occurred again, it was he who chuckled, sheerly from the marvel of it. “Do you think the babe can hear us?” he whispered, even though there was no one else in the room.

“Who can say?” She released his hand. “However, in the event that is true, we should spend a few minutes each day talking to the child. Don’t you think?”

“It couldn’t hurt.” The concept was new and foreign and a touch insane, but it held merit. He rather liked the idea of a child learning the sound of his voice. “A way to introduce ourselves to the babe before it arrives?”

“Yes, of course.” Phoebe rolled onto her back. Since the heat of summer was already building even in the morning, she hadn’t covered herself with the top sheet. The swell of her growing belly was an endearing bump as yet, but it was certainly evident she was increasing. “It’s both amazing and frightening.”

“How so?”

“To think I’m holding a life within my body, a child who can hear, perhaps feel... It’s staggering.” Emotion thickened her voice. “Right now, it’s safe. I protect it, but once the babe is born? What if I’m a terrible mother? What if I don’t know how to care for it, raise it into a strong, independent, decent person?”

“I understand those concerns.” With regularity, he was racked with them himself. “It’s a weighty responsibility and one I don’t take lightly.” He rested a hand atop her belly.

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