Page 115 of Outrageous

“Hmmph.” James looked about as convinced as he sounded.

Eva chewed her lip; what else could she tell him? That she didn’t think she should marry Tommy, either? That he was her only choice when it came to a husband? That there was no time to find another? That it wouldn’t matter if there was time, because whoever it was still wouldn’t be the right person?

She wanted to scream and smash things, but she simply had no will left to struggle.

This wasn’t about her or Tommy, this was about the child. Bringing a fatherless child into the world was condemning it to a life of slights and ignominy. She had no choice.

“You just got off wrong-footed with Tommy, James. He thinks you should have stopped me from kidnapping, er, him.” Eva couldn’t even say his name.

James snorted. “That just shows how little he knows you, don’t it, my lady?”

“He won’t always be so stiff around you. Things will get better.”

“It’s not me I’m worried about, my lady. It’s the way he is with you.”

“What? He loves me and says he has done for years. He’s the one getting the short end of the bargain.” James had no idea just how true her words were.

“I think—I think … ah, bugger!” He grimaced. “Sorry, my lady.”

“If you apologize to me again for using stable language in a stable, I’m going to hit you, James Brewster. Now, just what do you think? I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t want to hear it. Besides, I’ve got nobody else to talk to. The only person who understands me even half as well as you is the marchioness, and she’s got her own concerns.” Besides, this was one problem there was no solution for. Godric didn’t want children, especially with her, and Eva was pregnant with his child. End of story—at least with him.

Tommy, on the other hand, had been almost delighted to accept another man’s child if it meant she would marry him. When she’d asked whether he could love another man’s child—especially that man’s child—he’d been hurt.

“I will love him or her as my very own.” He’d given her his familiar wry grin. “You must have heard that I’m not my father’s blood son, so I cannot—nor do I—set any store in such things. A child is a child. And yours will be mine and we shall raise him or her together—with the rest of our children.”

That had given her pause, but she’d kept her mouth shut—plenty of time to consider having more children later. What mattered was that she’d believed him; he would love her child as if it were his own. But the days since their engagement had brought out some other parts of his character she’d not expected. She believed Tommy hadn’t expected those reactions, either.

“I think you shouldn’t rush into things, my lady. That’s all,” James said, his words breaking into her thoughts.

“For pity’s sake, James, I can’t wait—I don’t have the time.”

There, she’d said it. Well, it had been simmering for days. Besides, she’d pretty much told James about every other important event in her life. Why would this be any different?

“You’ve got nothin’ but time. His lordship has set you up right pretty here, and by next year we—”

“I must marry now.”

He frowned, his forehead furrowing. “You ain’t sayin’—”

“Yes.”

He dropped his head back against the wall with a loud thunk, his big hands covering his face. “Does the marquess—”

“I haven’t told him.”

He dropped his hands. “Aye, I suppose he’d likely have Lord Byer out at dawn somewhere.”

She pulled a face at him. “Don’t be such a dimwit, James. It’s not his.”

His jaw sagged and he sputtered, “What?”

“Why are you acting so stunned?”

“I ain’t acting!”

Eva sighed.

“If it ain’t the tulip’s, er, that is, his lordship’s,” he corrected when Eva glared, “then why are you marrying him? Lord.” His eyes became even rounder. “Does Byer even know?”