Page 45 of The Bachelor Spy
“Thank you, Blake.”
“Happy to steer you in the right direction, my lady.” Blake sat back, his expression turning more serious. “Now listen to me. You’re going to write a letter to Frederick. You’re going to tell him about the baby. And you’re going to let him share in this joy, even from a distance.”
He hesitated a moment, his gaze growing shadowed before his attention returned to her. “It will give him something wonderful to hold on to. Something to fight his way home for.”
The sudden earnestness pulled her focus away from herself, whom she realized she’d been much too focused on. And in that moment when Blake’s charming shield gave way to such solemnity, she realized she knew very little about what Blake had been doing all these months during the war. Frederick had mentioned something about “near the Front” and “away in France,” but nothing specific. She could see the wounds in Blake’s eyes sometimes, like now, but they were rare and short-lived, usually gone as quickly as they appeared.
An amazing skill.
Skill? Why would he have practiced something like that so well? It just proved another question about her dear friend who didn’t quite add up to a gentleman of leisure.
Or at least what she’d been told a gentleman of leisure was supposed to be.
His lips crooked, a glimmer reentering his eyes. “And you’re going to start delegating more of the hospital work to Nurse Wilson and the others. No more running yourself ragged twelve hours a day.”
Her curiosity about him suddenly left her head. “But—”
“No buts. You have a tiny person to grow, and that’s a full-time occupation. Everything else is secondary.” He wagged a finger at her. “And don’t think I won’t be watching. If I catch you reorganizing the medical supplies at midnight or reading Conan Doyle to convalescent soldiers until all hours, I shall be very cross.”
“You can’t order me about,” Grace protested, crossing her arms and narrowing her eyes at him in challenge.
“Can’t I? I’m standing in for Frederick, which means I have proxy husband authority. It’s a legitimate occupation.” Blake’s expression was perfectly innocent, and she almost lost hold of her pseudo-serious expression. “I read about it somewhere.”
“Well, it didn’t work for him sometimes either.”
This time, Blake laughed. “You are right. I must trust you to know your own limits, but do try to listen to me, just a little, for Freddie’s sake?”
“I will try, but don’t expect miracles.” Grace’s smile spread wide. “My vices are enough to keep the sternest of protectors a little in doubt, don’t you think?”
“There she is,” Blake said softly, his smile genuine now. “That’s the Grace that Freddie fell in love with. The sharp, optimistic, determined woman who is quite strong enough to handle all of this. Or at least strong enough with the right perspective.” He tipped his gaze pointedly skyward and then drew in a breath before glancing toward the door. “Now, I do believe we should see if Mrs. Lennox has any of her excellent seed cake so we might celebrate this news properly. And once you’ve written to Frederick, I shall look forward to seeing how your darling Zahra takes it.”
Zahra! Grace’s heart lifted. She’d seen how Zahra took to helping care for her sister’s baby. Wouldn’t she adore this news? She’d asked about it on several occasions.
Grace nodded to herself. And she was determined to give Zahra far more information about marriage and babies than she’d ever received from her own family. She frowned slightly. It was very likely Zahra already knew considerably more about such things at eleven than Grace had known at almost twenty-one.
Her eyes widened. Had Zahra known she was with child too?
That would prove disappointing on every front.
As they walked toward the downstairs breakfast room—which they’d kept as a private dining area for family—Blake kept up a steady stream of cheerful nonsense about Mrs. Lennox’s superior baking skills and the relative merits of seed cake versus lemon cake.
And the fear in Grace’s chest began to loosen with each step.
She was still terrified. Still wished Frederick were here. Still wasn’t entirely certain she’d survive what was coming.
But she had Blake’s steadying presence and Zahra’s love. And she had this baby—this tiny, impossible miracle growing inside her.
And she wanted to tell Frederick. Wanted him to know from afar that this Christmas season would bring a gift they hadn’t expected but had been hoping for.
Even if she was terrified.
Even if everything felt uncertain and frightening and completely overwhelming.
She almost smiled. But wasn’t that just another example of trusting God? When she couldn’t see the future and didn’t understand all the reasons, if she believed He loved her as much as He promised, she could trust His timing.
She could rest inHisplan for one of the most remarkable mysteries of all.
Even with all her imaginings, she never would have planned to marry Frederick all those months ago. In fact, at first she’d thought her life was ruined. But here she was, living in the love of the most wonderful man.
