“Lili?” he said, swallowing hard at the sight of her looking so pale. She held a cup of something, and peered at it with an expression of acute distaste.
“I am told if I drink this herbal concoction I will feel better,” she grumbled. “But I think this cure might be worse than what ails me. It smells as bad as your balm.”
He sat down on the edge of the bed, his stomach twisting into a knot. “So the physician knows…what is wrong?”
“He is reasonably confident, yes.”
“Do not worry. I’ll get the best doctors…the best treatments…travel anywhere…”
She took a gulp from the cup and made a face. “Ugh. I was right. And I’ll politely decline any travel, thank you. I prefer the familiarity of my own chamber pots.”
Confused, he stared at her. “What do you mean?”
Setting down the cup on a tray, Lilian shifted closer to him on the bed and rested her head on his shoulder. “It seems I am a duchess in a delicate condition. So no ships or rocking carriages, if you please.”
Shock surged through him, making it hard to breathe. “You’re with child?”
Lilian laughed. “Surely you aren’t surprised, Gabriel. We don’t just use the bed for sleeping. Or the desk for working. Or the copper tub for bathing…”
“And you will persist…in pouncing on me…in the middle of the night.”
“Nonsense. Duchesses are far too proper to pounce,” she said pertly.
“Mmmm. Indeed. So very proper,” Gabriel replied with a snort, curling an arm around her and kissing the top of her head. Just when he thought their life together couldn’t get any better, Lili made it so. “When?”
“The physician thinks January or early February. Admirably efficient of you.”
“We’ll have to start on…preparations right away,” he muttered. “Hobbs and I will draw up plans…for the nursery.”
“I think we still have a little time for strategy yet, Colonel.”
“Bah. Pippa hurls cushions at me when I even broach the subject, and I’m afraid one day it will be some heavy Greek tome. But Georgiana is getting more and more impatient. Good heavens, I hope she doesn’t do anything foolish. Poor Xavier is caught in the middle, and you know Father will just hide in his library.”
“And Lady Kingsford?”
Lilian sighed. “Down, but not out. I think Grandmother may be regathering her forces, so heaven help London.”
“Then for now, I insist you rest.” Gabriel said sternly.
“Are you going to rest with me?” she replied, turning in his arms and delicately pouncing on him.
“Feeling better, are we?”
“Much better.”
And as their lips met in a kiss that started sweet and turned scorching hot in the blink of an eye, Gabriel again silently thanked providence for the gift he’d been given.
No longer was he a duke in darkness, but a man with everything to live for.
Because of Lili.
His love.
THE END
Also by Nicola Davidson
Regency
The London Lords
Rake to Riches (#2)
Tempting the Marquess (#3)
Fallen
Surrender to Sin (#1)
The Devil's Submission (#2)
The Seduction of Viscount Vice (#3)
Surrey SFS
My Lady’s Lover (#1)
To Tame a Wicked Widow (#2)
My Lord, Lady, and Gentleman (#3)
At His Lady's Command (#4)
Wickedly Wed
Duke in Darkness (#1)
Standalones
Standalones
Joy to the Earl
Tudor
His Forbidden Lady
One Forbidden Knight
Contemporary
Ladies First (erotic short stories)
About the Author
NICOLA DAVIDSON worked for many years in communications and marketing, as well as television and print journalism, but hasn’t looked back since she decided writing wicked historical romance was infinitely more fun. When not chained to a computer she can be found ambling along one of New Zealand’s beautiful beaches, cheering on the champion All Blacks rugby team, history geeking on the internet, or daydreaming. If this includes chocolate—even better!
www.nicola-davidson.com
nicoladauthor@gmail.com