Historical Romance – The Best Of The Year. Кэрол Мортимер

afraid so, I have workmen waiting upon my return to Chalcots.’ Work he had deliberately set up so that he could not be tempted to remain at Rotham, but Gideon now found he did not want to part from Nicky. ‘I wish you could come with me—’

      The words came out in a rush, as if he had spoken on impulse. They gave her some comfort, but she knew it was not practical and shook her head.

      ‘I wish I could, but such a journey would be very tiring for me now and, knowing how anxious you and your father are for my health, it would be inadvisable.’

      ‘Then I shall return again as soon as possible,’ he told her. ‘And I must set Judd to finding staff for us...’

      ‘Mrs Ellis has a daughter who is looking for a position as housekeeper,’ said Dominique, not looking at him. ‘She has a sweetheart, Thomas, the first footman, who is very anxious to become a butler. They would make an ideal couple to look after Chalcots.’

      ‘What if they should start breeding?’

      Gideon took the opportunity to place his hand on the swell of her belly. The life she was carrying there never ceased to amaze him.

      Dominique shrugged. ‘We can always find extra help for a few months, if we need to. And you told me there is a cottage adjoining the stables at Chalcots. They might like to live there, even if it takes a little work to make it comfortable.’

      ‘You have thought it all out. Very well, I will mention it to Mrs Ellis today. If the couple marry in the New Year, then they can run Chalcots for us.’ He stood up and held out his hand for her. ‘Come, it is nearly time for dinner and I must change—and I have yet to show you the plans I have drawn up for our new home.’

      * * *

      As Gideon made his way back to London he pondered on the change that had come over Rotham—and his father. He was surprised at the way the viscount had taken to Nicky—after all, his father had as little cause to like the French as Gideon and yet, not only had he welcomed his daughter-in-law, he had even suggested that her mother should join them at Rotham. Of course, it could be merely that he was anxious for the unborn child, which might well be heir to Rotham, but somehow Gideon did not think so. It was Nicky’s doing. She had beguiled the viscount, just as she had beguiled him.

      He thought back to their time in the gardens yesterday, the way his heart had stopped when he had looked down into her eyes. Not only his heart, but the whole world. He had wanted to catch her up in his arms and cover her face with kisses, to show her how much he...

      His hands tightened on the reins, causing his horse to shy nervously. Madness even to think of it. She was the daughter of Jerome Rainault, a member of the hated Girondins who had murdered his brother. To feel anything for her would be to betray James.

      Yet she was his wife and he could not deny he cared for her—as a friend, perhaps, and a companion, but it could not, must not ever be, more than that.

       Chapter Thirteen

      The first flakes of snow were falling from leaden skies when Gideon returned to Rotham. It was Christmas Eve and he had been fretting for days about the delays that had kept him in London. The baby—his baby—was due at any time and he was anxious to be with his wife. Since he had left her at the end of October their letters to each other had become even more frequent. When she wrote to tell him Gwen and Ribblestone were now at Fairlawns and that they visited almost every day, for the first time in his life he found himself envious of his sister.

      At last the old house was before him, the windows glowing with candlelight as the short winter’s day drew to a close. Leaving Sam to take the curricle to the stables, he jumped down and ran quickly indoors, only to stop in amazement when he reached the great hall. He placed his hands on his hips and gazed about him, a laugh trembling on his lips. After the harvest supper he should have expected something of this sort. The hall glowed with the golden light of the fire blazing in the huge stone fireplace. Swathes of greenery—holly, mistletoe and ivy—decorated the walls and trailed from the minstrels’ gallery.

      A discreet cough brought his attention to the butler, who was descending the stairs towards him.

      ‘Well, Colne, it has been some years since we last saw the hall like this.’

      ‘Quite so, sir. Mrs Albury was anxious to keep up the tradition.’

      He grinned.

      ‘Of course. Where is she, in the drawing room?’

      ‘No, sir. She—’

      He was interrupted by a shriek and Gideon saw his sister flying down the stairs towards him.

      ‘Gideon! We did not expect you until tomorrow at the earliest.’

      ‘I cancelled my appointments.’ He caught her hands, saying urgently, ‘Where is Nicky...the baby?’

      Gwen nodded.

      ‘She is in her room and Mrs Rainault is with her. Doctor Bolton has been called.’

      Gideon felt a cold hand clutching at his insides.

      ‘Something is wrong?’

      ‘No, no, only it is her first time and that makes one anxious. Go up and see her, if you like, and then you can wait with Papa, who is so nervous he cannot sit still.’

      ‘That is not surprising,’ muttered Gideon, ‘when you think of Mama—’

      Gwen gave him a little shake.

      ‘Dominique is not Mama, Gideon. Doctor Bolton has every expectation that all will be well.’

      Gideon took the stairs two at a time as he ran up to Nicky’s bedchamber, where he found her pacing the floor. Her dark hair tumbled over her shoulders and she was very pale, almost ethereal in her white nightgown, but she smiled when she saw him.

      ‘I was praying you would be here.’

      ‘So the baby is coming?’

      She put her hands around her belly and nodded.

      ‘Mama says it may be some time yet.’

      He had not noticed Mrs Rainault, sitting by the fire with her embroidery in her lap, and he belatedly made a bow towards her. His first impressions had been of a rather absent-minded woman, pins falling from her hair and quite careless of her appearance, but since coming to Rotham she seemed to have become much more sensible and was now quietly devoted to her daughter’s well-being. He was somewhat reassured by her calm tone when she addressed him.

      ‘This first stage might go on for hours.’

      ‘Then I shall stay and keep you company.’

      Nicky took his hands. ‘I would rather you dined with Lord Rotham. He is so anxious I fear he will not eat anything if he is alone.’

      He pulled her into his arms and rested his head against her dusky curls. It felt so natural, so right, that he wondered why he had not done so more often.

      ‘I am more anxious about you.’

      ‘Thank you, but you need not be.’ She relaxed against him and he could feel the hard swell of her belly pressing against him until she pushed herself free, saying with a little smile, ‘Go now and look after your father. I have Mama here and the doctor is on his way. I shall do very well.’

      It took some time to persuade him, but at last Gideon went off, promising to come back as soon as he had dined. He found Gwen and the viscount in the drawing room, sitting on each side of the fire. Lord Rotham looked up as he entered.

      ‘Well?’

      He said, as cheerfully as he could, ‘I am told there may be no news for hours, perhaps nothing until the morning. My wife is anxious that we should eat.’

      ‘Of course you should,’ said Gwen,