The Cursed Countess (The Daring Drake Sisters 1)

“Are you still convinced she’s having a boy?”

“I have money on it. I plan to collect before this night is over.”

“Good luck. My money is on another beautiful girl like the two standing in the doorway.” Neville smiled over at his daughters. “Come along, girls. Say goodnight.”

“I won’t be able to sleep with Mamma screaming like that,” Winnie said in a sad tone. “I don’t like it.”

“Me either,” Sadie added.

“Sadie dear, do you not remember your mamma screaming when she brought your sister into the world?” Neville asked, holding his arms out for both his daughters to climb up on his lap.

“No,” Sadie said as she rested her check against Neville’s chest.

“Well, she did. Just ask Uncle Jack. He was here when both of you girls were born.”

“Yes, your mother does get very dramatic about it all,” Jack said lightly with a forced smile to help ease their worries. “I believe it is all to get your papa to buy her a nice diamond pendant.”

Neville and the girls laughed. “You might be right, Jack.” He glanced over at the nurse and then back at his daughters. “Let them stay with me,” he said to the nurse. “My brother and I will carry them up once they fall asleep.”

“As you wish, my lord.” The older woman gave them both a quick curtsy and left the room.

“We can stay up late?” Sadie asked now looking wide-eyed and far from sleep.

“Yes, you can await your new sister.”

“Or brother,” Jack added.

Everyone looked toward the hall as footsteps sounded on the stairs. Jack’s mother entered the room looking tired from the wait. “No, she hasn’t delivered the babe yet,” she said before anyone asked her. “Your grandmother is sitting with her.”

“Is she progressing?” Neville asked.

“Yes, but slowly just as she did with these two moppets. What are you both doing up so late?” she asked as she walked by them and rubbed both their heads.

“Papa said we could,” Winnie announced loudly.

“Well,” his mother said softly. “It is good to have company while we wait. Speaking of, what happened to Regina’s companion?”

“Companion?” Jack asked. He hadn’t heard that grandmamma had brought anyone with her. The idea seemed a little odd considering she normally preferred to travel alone.

“She brought a companion with her but my understanding is the poor woman was exhausted from the trip and took a tray in her room.” Neville shifted the girls in his lap. “I pity the woman having to listen to Grandmamma’s chatter for days. No wonder she retired early.”

“I wouldn’t wish that trip on anyone,” Jack added.

“Not in front of the girls, you two,” his mother scolded. “I suppose I should return and relieve her. She must be tired from her trip, too.”

“Mother,” Neville started.

“I will tell you as soon as I know anything, son.” She bent over the girls and kissed their cheeks before doing the same to Neville. “Everything will be fine.”

Jack wondered how Neville could keep so calm. If it was his wife up there, Jack knew he would be a dreadful mess of worries. He had never heard from Tessa so he assumed nothing had come from their time together. A part of him had hoped that she would be with child to force her to see him again. Now he knew he had to attempt to move on with his life, even though he hadn’t one idea how to do that.

As he and Neville conversed about politics, both girls slowly drifted off to sleep. A stab of envy struck him as watched the girls curled up in his brother’s arms. Neville nodded toward Winnie indicating that Jack should take the four-year-old up to her bed. He lifted her gently into his arms and her small arms hugged his neck. She smelled clean like daisies and fresh air. Jack realized just how much he longed for his own children and a wife to love.

Perhaps his age was the cause of his yearning for things he might never have due to his financial position. He had no desire to marry purely for money. If he were being honest with himself, the only person he had an interest in marrying was Tessa. After a fortnight of attempting to contact her, he understood she wanted nothing to do with him.

It might be time to pursue the position he had trained for at Cambridge. After putting Winnie gently down on her bed and covering her with a blanket, he returned to Neville’s study. His brother followed him in and refilled their glasses.

“I just checked again and Mother said it might take a few more hours,” Neville said in a defeated tone.