Page 60 of Love with a Notorious Rake

“Garrett is pleased with his progress. That leaves you. Are you ill?” Hell, now he was worried.

“I don’t know where to begin, except to blurt it out. I’m pregnant, Julian.”

What? He couldn’t have heard her correctly. The room started to spin. His whole world was caught in the vortex. Pregnant. But how? When? His lips moved, but no words came out. His throat had closed.

Alberta gave him an inquisitive look. “I’ve shocked you. I’ve shocked myself. I mean, I will be forty in three months. But Dr. Phillips confirmed my suspicions yesterday. How could it be possible? A stupid question. I mean, I am still having my menses. Obviously I’m able to conceive. But I never had with Reese. I assumed I couldn’t. And then we…we…” She buried her face in her hands.

“But we used protection,” he offered lamely.

She glanced up at him. “Not the first time, at the end of May. Remember?”

How could he forget? It had been one of the most erotic encounters of his life. And the sex that followed had only improved. God. He had spilled inside her. What were the odds of getting her with child on the first shot? Damn it all to hell and back, he was about to be a grandfather! He scrubbed his hand down his face.

“I could sell this house, move away,” Alberta said, her voice shaking. “Or do what most women do in this situation: head to a secluded country spot, give birth, give up the baby, and return and act as if nothing had happened. Or I could have the child and damn society and its censure, but then the child would be forever tainted—”

Julian enfolded her trembling hands with his. “Stop, Alberta.”

“I was rambling, wasn’t I? And I’ve upset you. I could have kept this to myself and left without any word or explanation, but I could not do that to you.”

“I’m shocked, and, yes, upset. My twins were born close to twenty-seven years ago. I am too old to be a father.”

Alberta pulled her hands from his and frowned. “Well, I am not exactly in the prime of life. I’m frightened, Julian. Pregnancies at this age are fraught with complications. I don’t want to go it alone.”

“I’ve put you in danger.” His heart lurched with worry. What had he done?

“Are you speaking of the curse?”

He nodded. “It is not to be dismissed.”

“We must dismiss it, Julian. I’m not with child because of the ghostly specter of an ancient curse. We had unprotected sex. At our age, we should have known better. It’s called life. It happens.” Her voice had an edge, but he couldn’t blame her.

Julian took her hand again. “You’re right. It is time for me to say that I am deeply and irrevocably in love with you, my darling. I’ve hinted at it, and showed you physically, but I held back from speaking the words because, as I said, the scars run deep.” He kissed her hand. “Would you believe me if I told you I was thinking of marriage on my way here? Father announced at dinner last night that he and Mary would be doing the deed come September. It appears we will be beating them to the altar—if you will have me, superstitions and all. If…you love me.”

Alberta’s eyes were moist. “Oh, you dear man. I think I fell in love with you the moment Poppy the llama spit on you all those months ago. The moment you were kind to Jonas, and didn’t talk down to him or treat him as if he were damaged or unacceptable. I fell in love with your dedication to your social causes, how seriously you took your position as a Member of Parliament. How much you love your family. And yes, I even love your curse.” She placed her hand on top of his. “I understand your hesitation, but we cannot allow the past to affect our future. We need each other, Julian. We love each other. And together, we can accomplish anything. Even the uncertain prospect of becoming parents at our age.”

Julian leaned in and kissed her. Then their arms were about each other. When they broke apart, Alberta laid her head on his shoulder. He spread his hand and laid it across her middle. “A child. Our child. My God. What did Phillips say? Are you in fine health?”

She nodded. “If I take care, keep activity to a minimum, and eat well. I must say, I shocked him when I asked about sex. He said if I’m careful, there is no reason I cannot continue relations for the next few months.”

Julian laughed, feeling lighter than he had in ages. Happiness washed over him. A cloud had been lifted from his soul, one that had held a tight grip on him for decades. “Will you marry me? Make my life complete? Love me until the end of our days?”

“Yes. Oh, yes.”

He continued to caress her stomach. “There is much to do. I will procure a special licence immediately. We will be married within days.”

“What about Aidan? Surely you wish for him to be in attendance.”

Right. Of course. “I will send word. By the sound of his last letter, he is near the end of his task. When he gives us an approximate date of when he’ll be home, we will plan. Two weeks at most. We can be married at the hall, or the chapel in Sevenoaks. Entirely up to you.”

She cupped his cheek, and he reveled in the warmth of her touch. “Everything will be all right, Julian, I know it. Our baby will be born healthy, and I will survive the ordeal. You have my word.”

He gently pulled her into his embrace. God, let that be the case. No more dwelling on the past or lingering on loss and grief—or a centuries-old curse.

He was being given another chance at love and life, and damn it, he was going to take it.

* * * *

Cristyn nervously awaited Aidan’s arrival. It was past seven. Had he changed his mind? With the soft rap at the door, her heart sped up. She opened it and there he stood. He bowed slightly, and she stepped aside to allow him to enter. Once she closed the door she was swept up into his hot embrace and he kissed her, delving into her mouth with a scorching heat that ignited her insides. Cristyn couldn’t help herself; she tunneled her fingers into his thick hair, hungrily caressing her tongue with his.