The Duke's Reform (23 page)

      Alexander was glowing with
happiness. 'See, darling, if you stand here you may take a shower bath, the
water escapes through the drain hole and goes down pipes attached to the
outside wall. I think perhaps it might be wise not to use the bath until you're
delivered.'

      She viewed the enormous
bath,
it was long enough for Alexander himself to stretch
out in. She would be obliged to swim if the water were to be filled to the
brim. 'You're quite right, Alexander, not only might I drown in there, I fear I
might also be unable to get out again without assistance.'

      'I hope you'll give me
permission to use this bathing room sometimes, sweetheart. I don't have one
installed at my end of the house.'

      Her eyes widened. It had not
occurred to her she had been moved on her own to this end of the building. He
could not have made it plainer. He was giving her the freedom to choose. Her
throat closed, she held out her hand and he took it. He was quite right, today
was the start of a new life for both of them.

'There's just one more thing to
show you, darling, and then we shall go downstairs and eat.'

      What else could there be?
Hadn't she got everything she could possibly want in this apartment? Keeping
hold of her hand he led her back into the corridor and across the passage-way.

      'I remembered what you said
about your baby being taken away and brought up in the nursery by a regiment of
nannies and nursemaids. It's what's customary in a household such as this, but
I intend to set a precedent. I hope you approve.' This time he opened the door
and stepped in with her.

      He had converted this suite
of rooms into a nursery wing. Here there was everything a new baby could
possibly require. There was even a bathing room for the use of the nursery
staff as well as the baby when he or she was old enough. The rooms were freshly
plastered, each with a substantial grate, but there was no furniture or
curtains as there had been in
her own
domain.

      'I thought you would like to
choose for yourself how this will be decorated. The nanny's room, the
nursemaids' room and the small kitchen for making nursery teas are
finished,
the furniture and fittings are the same as
everywhere else in the staff quarters. But the rest I shall leave to you.'

      'Are you saying I can have my
baby with me down here? Can I also select those who will have charge of the
infant in my absence?'

      He frowned. 'Did I not just
say exactly that?'

      'You did, but a while ago you
said it would be your prerogative to select the nursery staff. I was just
checking you had changed your mind.'

      'Damn it, Isobel, must you
keep throwing my idiocies back to me? I thought this was to be a new beginning,
the past put behind us? How can we move on if you're constantly reminding me of
my past failings?'

Flustered by his unexpected
irritation she stepped back treading on the hem of her skirt. She lost her
balance and even his lightning reactions were not quick enough to save her from
a crashing fall. The air was knocked from her lungs and for a moment she gasped
for breath like a fish landed on the riverbank.

      'My God, let me get you
upright— it will help you regain your breath.' He snapped his fingers and Ellie
appeared, her eyes round with horror. 'Downstairs. Go at once and have Watkins
send for the physician.'

      Slowly the band of pain
around her chest eased, her breath rasped in her lungs and then she was breathing
normally once more. 'That was a stupid thing to do. I've almost fallen several
times doing the same thing.' Experimentally she sat up, away from the comfort
of his support. 'I believe, with your assistance, I can regain my feet. This
tumble was not your fault, Alexander. I've been increasing long enough to
remember I can't move with the alacrity I used to.'

      'Here, slip your arm around
my neck and I shall carry you to your chamber. I think it would be wise to rest
until the doctor can examine you. You fell heavily; it does not do to take
chances, not at this stage of the pregnancy.'

      He carried her back across
the passage and into her splendid apartment. Her eyes prickled— she had ruined
the day by her clumsiness. She would not argue, her back ached unpleasantly and
she feared she had done herself a mischief in the fall. However, she had no
intention of worrying Alexander until the physician had examined her.

Chapter Eighteen

Dr Jamieson stepped back, courteously turning away in order
to allow Ellie to pull down the bed sheet. Isobel shuffled upright before
attracting the venerable gentleman's attention. 'Doctor, is there any danger of
my delivering prematurely?'

      He smiled, his startlingly
blue eyes twinkling.
'If you're asking me if the baby is
going to arrive early because of your fall, then the answer is a categorical
no.
However, I must warn you, my lady, that you won't go full term. I
suggest you have everything in place for the middle of June not the first week
in July.'

      This was good news indeed,
the sooner she was delivered the happier she'd be.
'But the
backache?
I understood this could be a sign labour is imminent.'

      'That is sometimes the case,
but not for you. The fall has put additional strain on your back muscles; it is
that you can feel. I can assure you, if you remain in your apartments for the
next week, the pain will go.'

     
'A week?
I shall go mad from the inactivity, I like to walk every day and I've yet to
see all the improvements that have been made here.'

      He shook his head. 'I must
insist you rest. No doubt you've noticed your baby isn't moving much at the
moment. The accident will have put a strain on it. I'm sure you don't wish any
harm to come to your child through your inattention?'

      'Of course I don't, I shall
do as you suggest. Do I have to remain in bed for the whole week or can I walk
about in this part of the house?'

      'Remain where you are for
twenty four hours. When I see you tomorrow I will give my final decision. If
the baby is active again, and your back is no longer painful, then walking
around these rooms will be beneficial. Remember, your grace, absolutely no
stairs until I give you leave.'

      Her lips twitched, perhaps
now was not a good time to tell him Alexander was in the habit of carrying her
from floor to floor. 'Please could you ask my husband to come through on your
way out, Dr Jamieson?'

He bowed, collected his bag and
moved briskly into her parlour. The sound of low male voices indicated he was
being interrogated so there would be no need to repeat what she'd been told
when Alexander came in to join her.

The physician gave her permission
to get dressed when he called the following day and she did so forthwith. The
infant was once more pummelling her stomach and from the strength of the kicks
and punches she was convinced the baby would be a boy.

      'Alexander, place your hand
here. Did you feel that?'

     
'God's
teeth!
You have a pugilist in there, my love. If I put my ear against your
bump can I hear the heartbeat?'

      The idea of having his face
resting so close sent a frisson of excitement along her spine. How ridiculous!
She was an unnatural woman thinking of making love when she was so vastly
pregnant. 'Dr Jamieson listened through a cow horn, why don't you try the same
thing with a glass?'

      Should she offer to pull back
her skirts as she had done for the physician? Instead she pulled the muslin
tight and laid-back whilst he placed the open end of the glass against her belly.
He was on his knees beside her, his jacket casually
discarded,
his cravat untied— when he spent time with her nowadays there was no tension
between them. He was as relaxed as she. The momentary irritation which had
caused her to step back unwarily was forgotten. After all she could not expect
him to be in perfect humour every moment of the day.

      His hair was longer than
previously and flopped endearingly over his collar. She barely resisted the
urge to sink her fingers into it, the last thing either of them needed was
excitement of
that
sort. Had he not said he would take care of such
urges himself? A wave of bitter disappointment engulfed her. He'd told her he
would not be unfaithful, but visiting a bawdy house might not be considered as
infidelity by a gentleman in his position.

      She pressed herself into the
back of the
chaise-longue
and attempted to quell her dismay. He had
given her his word he would not renew his liaison with his mistress. She could
hardly demand to know if he slaked his physical needs with a lady of the night.
All desire to touch him had gone. Now she wanted him to remove his head and
leave her in peace.

      He sat back, a rueful grin
making him dangerously attractive. 'All I got for my effort was a bruised cheek.
Do you think this baby of ours is a boy?'

      Something prompted her to say
the opposite of what she intended. 'I sincerely hope so. I've no wish to be
obliged to produce more children in order to protect your title.'

Her words were like a slap. He
was back on his feet, his expression closed— a formidable man replacing the
approachable friend she'd been sharing a comfortable interlude with. There was
no point in apologising, the damage was done. She'd all but destroyed the
fragile affection that had been growing between them.

      'I had thought your antipathy
towards me was gone, Isobel. I can do no more. If you won't accept I've
changed, meet me halfway in order to make this marriage work, then it will be
best for both of us if I no longer spend time with you.'

Helplessly she gazed at him,
willing him to understand that sometimes she spoke without thought, did not
mean what she said. Pregnancy was making a veritable shrew of her. 'I enjoy
your company, I shall be sad if you decide to return to Grosvenor Square after
all.'

      'I've no intention of
returning to London, this barracks of a place is more than big enough for us to
avoid contact, if that's what you wish. I must attend to estate business,
Reynolds has been clamouring for an interview since yesterday.' He nodded and
strode away. The bed chamber seemed unpleasantly empty without him.

      Life confined to her
apartment was going to be tedious without his company. These past weeks she'd
come to eagerly anticipate the evenings, looking forward to the time they spent
together. Now her sharp tongue had driven him away— her life would be so much
simpler if she could finally learn to trust him again.

*

'What do you think, Mary? Is lemon yellow a suitable colour
for the curtains and upholstery in the nursery?' Isobel viewed the samples
spread out on the table in her sitting room. 'I must make a decision today as
it could be as little as four weeks before I'm delivered.'

      'It's an unusual choice, my
lady, but will suit either a boy or a girl. I know you have selected two girls
from the staff already working here, but what about the nanny? Does his
lordship have someone in mind for that position?'

      'No, he is leaving all such
domestic details to me. When he went to Town last week he set enquiries in
motion. It would seem there's always a family who can recommend someone
suitable.' She heaved herself to her feet. Her mobility was sadly restricted
lately as her girth had dramatically increased. Alexander had laughingly he
told her that very morning if she did not give birth soon she would pop. She
had not found the comment particularly amusing.

      Fortunately since her
outburst a few weeks ago their relationship had drifted back to amicable.
Unlike her
, he
did not bear a grudge. 'Mary, do you think he has
changed? That he is no longer the violent and arrogant gentleman who abused me
last year?'

This was a highly unsuitable
topic of conversation between a member of staff and herself, but Mary was first
and foremost her friend. Even Alexander appeared to have accepted the closeness
of their relationship and no longer stared haughtily down his nose when he came
in and found them closeted together. Possibly, the fact Mary was a far better
housekeeper than ever Maynard had been did much to improve his opinion of her.

      'At first I thought it was an
act in order to win you over, but as the months have passed
I
truly believe he loves you and has made himself a better person because of it.'

      'I've always loved him deep
in my heart but was too scared to admit it. I must find him at once and tell
him. He will be so happy.'

****

Alexander rubbed his eyes and yawned, he was finding it
damned difficult to sleep. Having his chambers so far from hers meant he was
constantly on the alert in case she needed him. He had got up three times last
night to check everything was as it should be at the back of the house.

      The list of possible
candidates for the position of nanny was not over long, but the first two
seemed the most likely. One had been with her previous employers for fifteen
years, first as a nursery maid and then promoted to running the nursery
herself. The other had been with the family for a shorter time, but had two
other glowing recommendations from previous positions.

      He would take the information
up to Isobel directly. As Lady Everton had told him, most households would have
everything in place three months before the due date and not have left it so
late. A decision would have to be made today; Jamieson had told him the baby was
readying itself for delivery. Isobel had yet to select the material for the
curtains in the nursery.

He jumped to his feet as the
familiar footsteps of his beloved approached the study. This was no longer a
place where she was not welcome and she often joined him in the afternoon and
sat reading with her feet up whilst he worked on his papers. Hurrying to the
door he stepped out into the spacious corridor to greet her.

      She smiled at him, her face
illuminated by such love his chest squeezed, making breathing impossible. He
couldn't speak, his heart was full, and tears filled his eyes. He opened his
arms and she fell into them.

      'Alexander, I had to come
right away. I've just discovered I still love you, indeed that I love you more
today than I ever did before.'

She was obliged to stand sideways
as even
his
arms were not long enough to embrace her nowadays. 'My
darling, you have made me the happiest of men. Come in, you know you should not
have hurried all this way, you could have sent for me instead.'

'I had no wish to wait another
second to tell you.' Her eyes shone, he wanted to sweep her up and make love to
her despite her advanced pregnancy. 'I've finally chosen the fabric for the
nursery and sent Sam to the warehouse to collect it. Fortunately Mary has a
team of expert seamstresses assembled and the covers for the furniture, the
curtains and everything else will be completed by the end of the week.'

      'I've a list of possible
candidates to take charge of the nursery. There are two that I think we should
interview, but I shall leave the decision to you.'

      He knelt at her side and
tenderly lifted her feet before fetching
her the
various letters of recommendation. Perching himself on the edge of the sofa he
watched her peruse the contents— he loved the way her nose crinkled when she
was concentrating. Carefully he slid in behind her legs and dropped them back
into his lap. As usual she was wearing no stockings and had kicked off her
slippers as soon as she'd sat down.

Whilst she read he massaged her
feet and ankles worried that they were more swollen than they had been
yesterday. Jamieson had warned him that swelling of this sort was a sign that
she needed to do less. He would insist she stayed in bed until noon and then
only got up to rest on her day bed in her parlour.

      'I like the sound of Nanny
Cooper. Which one did you prefer?'

      'She was top of my list; the
woman from the Everton household was the second. Would you like me to write and
offer the position to Nanny Cooper?'

      'Please, it might be better
to send it express. Mary thinks I should be resting more and leaving the
organisation of the nursery to a nanny.'

     
'Exactly
so.
I am going to insist, sweetheart, that until the baby is born you
spend most of the time with your feet up. Jamieson told me swollen ankles are
not a good sign.' He braced himself for the argument but to his surprise she
nodded.

      'I shall do so on one
condition, my
love, that
you move into my apartment
with me.' Her eyes danced as she continued. 'I am quite certain from the size
of the bed you never intended I sleep alone.'

****

His shout of laughter sent the papers flying. 'Thank the
good Lord for that, I've been prowling the corridors these past nights checking
you were well. If I am at your side then I shall have a decent night's sleep at
last.'

      'Then you had better get your
man to bring your belongings down to me. There are, I could not help but
notice, my dear, two quite distinct dressing rooms and enough closet space for
an army to place their garments.' He tickled her feet in a bid to avoid
answering that question but she was having none of it. 'You always intended to
be with me, didn't you?'

      His mischievous smile
answered her question. 'I hoped to one-day, I never dreamt you would welcome me
so soon.'

      'We have been through so much
these past months, but I truly believe I can finally move forward and look to
the future with happiness. There's something I wished to ask you, Alexander,
and now seems as good a time as any.' She needed to have his guidance on a
matter she knew nothing about and could not in all conscience discuss with
Mary. The only person she could talk to was her husband. Until today she had
not believed the matter of any urgency.

     
His eyebrow
quirked.
'Go on, sweetheart, what do you wish to know?'