A Scandalous Deception (33 page)

She shook her head, even though there was no
one in her chambers to see her do it. But she’d have to wait. Make
certain before she told him.

A knock came at her door and Lissy glanced
toward the sound. “Come,” she called.

Her door opened and Fin strode through the
door, his brow furrowed in concern. “Ames said Doctor Watts was
here.” He crossed the floor and was about to touch a hand to her
head when his frown deepened. “Good God, Lissy, you’re green.”

She was still a bit nauseous, but she hadn’t
thought about any of that ever since the young doctor had left that
afternoon. “I’m sure I’ll feel better tomorrow,” she lied.

Fin didn’t seem so sure. He sat gently on the
side of her bed. “Is there something I can get you, sweetheart? Did
he leave anything for you to take?”

“I’m fine, Fin.” Lissy shook her head. “Tell
me how things went with Liverpool.”

His dark eyes narrowed perceptibly. “There’s
something you’re not telling me. What did Watts say, Lissy?”

She shook her head once more. “It
wasn’t
Doctor Watts, it was his son, and I—”

“His son?” he interrupted her. “You mean the
fellow who was the top of his class at Edinburgh and is a leader in
medical research? That son?”

She shrugged in response. Just because young
Doctor Watts was heralded as a brilliant mind, didn’t mean he was
right about this.

“The man has even consulted the King, Lissy.
Now what did he say?”

“Fin,” she complained. “I think I’ll just lie
down a bit. I’m certain I’ll feel better after a nap.”

“Felicity Corinna St. Claire Carraway,” he
began rather sternly. “What did the renowned doctor have to say?
You
are
scaring me.”

Lissy winced. She hadn’t meant to scare him.
That was the last thing she ever wanted to do. So she heaved a sigh
and said very softly, “He said I’m expecting.”

Fin’s eyes rounded in surprise. “Expecting?”
he echoed cautiously. Then he swallowed.

Lissy nodded, unable to take her eyes from
her husband. “I didn’t want to tell you. I wanted to be absolutely
certain first. But you—”

Fin leaned forward and pressed his lips
against hers. Lissy slid her arms around his shoulders and held him
close. Joy radiated from him and she couldn’t help but be caught up
in his excitement.

He pulled back slightly from her and looked
her up and down. “How are you feeling? Can I get you anything?”

Lissy laughed as she shook her head. “You
already asked me that, silly man.”

He nodded in agreement. “Silly, indeed. I
shall be silly from here on out.” His smile could light up a
darkened room on a moonless night. “We’re going to have child.”

“If Doctor Watts is right and—”

“He’s right,” Fin declared. “I’d put more
weight on his words than his father’s.”

Lissy heaved a sigh. “All that aside, Fin. I
don’t want to take any chances. I—”

“No chances, indeed,” he cut her off. “I’ll
hire a doctor today. We’ll bring him in fulltime and he’ll see that
you get care around the clock. And—”

Lissy laughed. She couldn’t help it. His
exuberance was more than contagious. “So you are happy, then?” she
teased.

His warm eyes focused on her so intently, she
barely dared to breathe. “Felicity, you have made me happy everyday
of our lives together. Never doubt that.”

And she never had.

If you enjoyed
A SCANDALOUS DECEPTION
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~ Ava

The author of several Regency Noir Romances,
Ava Stone first fell in love with Mr. Darcy, Jane Austen and
Regency England at the age of twelve. And in the years since, that
love has never diminished. If she isn't writing Regency Era
romance, she can be found reading it.


Her bestselling Scandalous
Series is filled with witty humor and centers around the friends
and family of the Machiavellian-like Lady Staveley, exploring deep
themes but with a light touch. A single mother, Ava lives outside
Raleigh NC, but she travels extensively, always looking for
inspiration for new stories and characters in the various locales
she visits.



Ava can be found at
www.avastoneauthor.com
and at Lady Jane's Salon Raleigh-Durham, where she is one of
the salon's directors. You can also find her at
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The SCANDALOUS world continues in…

A
Scandalous Wife

A
Scandalous Charade

A
Scandalous Secret

A
Scandalous Pursuit

A
Scandalous Past

My
Favorite Major

The
English Lieutenant’s Lady

To
Catch a Captain

An Encounter With
an Adventurer

In the
Stars

Promises Made
(Encounter With Hyde Park)

And the Regency Seasons Novellas…

A
Counterfeit Christmas Summons

By
Any Other Name

My
Lord Hercules

A
Bit of Mistletoe

The
Lady Vanishes (One Haunted Evening)