Vicar's Daughter to Viscount's Lady (Transformation of the Shelley Sisters 2)

‘Which is another reason why we are not going up to Town until February. We can but hope that he is a small baby and can appear convincingly premature after an interval of a couple of months. People will do the sums, but by then it will be old news.’

‘But Lady Abbotsbury will know and tell them.’

‘I am sure she knows—there is nothing wrong with her eyesight or her ability to add up. I expect to get a stiff lecture and then to be forgiven. She likes you—she will not want to damage your reputation with the family.’

Reassured, Bella turned to the last letter. ‘It is from Mrs Baynton in response to your invitation for next Wednesday. She says they will be delighted. I am so—’

‘Hell’s teeth!’ Elliott flung a sheet of heavy, embossed writing paper down on the table, narrowly missing the marmalade. Bella craned to see it; there was an embossed crest with what looked like a mitre and crossed crosiers. ‘Your father has written to the bishop, complaining that I have seduced you away from your home and duty and demanding that he annul the marriage forthwith.’

‘He cannot! Can he?’ Bella gasped. Twinges of pain shot across her stomach and she flattened her hand to it. ‘Elliott?’

‘No, of course he cannot. There are no grounds. You were single, of age and of sound mind. We told no lies in obtaining the licence. The bishop expresses himself quite satisfied with our application. However, he wants to talk to me—presumably he is not happy to have an incumbent from another diocese threatening scandal.’

‘I am so sorry.’ She gazed at him, aghast. ‘I never dreamt Papa would do anything but disown me.’

‘He has lost his unpaid housekeeper, has he not? And you are out of range—this is the only way to punish you,’ Elliott said. ‘I will go to Worcester today; Bishop Huntingford invites me to stay until Monday.’

‘So long?’ She felt bereft. And guilty. So much for being a suitable viscountess.

‘I can hardly march in, insist he fits this into his doubtless extremely busy schedule and then bolt back here. If I stay for Saturday he will not want me to travel on a Sunday, so that will make it Monday. But it will give me the opportunity for a discreet word about your father—we will be able to nip any scandal in the bud, do not fret, Bella.’

‘What if Papa complains to his own bishop?’

‘Then he will write to Huntingford who will reassure him—all the more reason for me to put some effort into it now. I am sure your bishop is only too well aware of the foibles of his own clergy.’

‘Yes, I suppose he must be. Oh!’ The cramp clenched at her belly again. ‘Elliott—’

‘What is it?’ He was on his knees beside the chair, one arm around her. ‘The baby?’

‘I don’t know. Cramping pains. Not severe,’ she said, trying not to panic. ‘Twinges under the skin. But I have never felt anything like it before.’

Elliott got to his feet and yanked the bell cord. ‘Henlow, send a groom for Dr Hamilton immediately. Tell him it is urgent. He’s a good man,’ he said, turning back to her.

‘I am sure he is.’ Bella did her best to smile. ‘I will just go up to my sitting room.’

‘You will go to bed.’ Elliott scooped her out of her chair and carried her across the room. ‘We will say you pulled a muscle by standing awkwardly just now. All right? I will tell Hamilton to say nothing that might give the staff any other impression.’

‘Yes, Elliott. That would be best.’ She laid her head on his shoulder and tried to keep calm while the fear clawed at her heart.

Elliott paced outside the door, cursing under his breath. He wasn’t supposed to be doing this for another six months and here he was, thrown out of his own wife’s bedchamber by Hamilton when Arabella needed him.

She had been so brave, only the painful grip on his fingers while she lay on the bed waiting for the doctor betrayed her agitation. ‘It is not a bad pain,’ she kept reassuring him, as though he were the one to be worried about. ‘Only I have no idea whether I should expect it or not.’

Hamilton had come quickly, that was one mercy. If anything was wrong with the baby Arabella would be bereft and he couldn’t do a damn thing to help her. He felt frustrated, helpless and angry. Damn Rafe. If he hadn’t seduced Arabella she would be blamelessly at home in Suffolk, he would be engaged to Freddie and in control of his life and not pacing…

‘My lord?’ Dr Hamilton came out smiling and Elliott released the breath he had held from the moment he saw the door handle begin to turn. ‘All quite normal and nothing to be alarmed about. It is a pity Lady Hadleigh has no female friends or relatives to confide in.’

‘Yes,’ he agreed. ‘I am as ignorant on the subject as she is. However, I hope Mrs Baynton and she will form a friendship. I am sorry we had you over here on a wild goose chase, Hamilton.’

‘Not at all. As well to be safe, not sorry, my lord. Your wife is in excellent health, I am glad to say. However, if you would like me to call every few weeks or so, I would be more than happy to do so.’

‘Thank you.’ With Anne Baynton and Dr Hamilton both aware of Arabella’s secret she should worry less, he was sure. ‘I will be happier when we can abandon this pretence about the pregnancy,’ he added.

Hamilton nodded. ‘It will start to show in about another week,’ he said. ‘Perhaps if I call in a fortnight, just to check things out?’

‘Thank you,’ Elliott said, shaking hands. ‘I must confess to finding this a somewhat unnerving experience.’

‘Oh, it gets better after the third one,’ the doctor said, still obviously amused by Elliott’s nerves. ‘I’ll show myself out, my lord.’