“Yes, place them in the receiving salon. I will be there presently.” Elizabeth squeezed Michael once more and then detangled herself from his grip.
“Did you tell them already?” Will asked.
“No. I have no idea why they are here. They are both due in a matter of weeks. They should be home in bed.” Elizabeth took Will’s hand. “Why don’t you come with me? We can tell them together.”
“I would enjoy that,” Will said.
They entered the room hand in hand, and both Avis and Jennette gasped.
“What is the matter?” Elizabeth asked.
“It’s true.” Avis’s face grew pale.
“What is true?” Elizabeth demanded.
Jennette cleared her throat. Never one to mince words, she blurted out, “Last night at the Dorchester ball, a rumor made its way through the crowd. The rumor said that you and the duke are actually siblings, and have been having an incestuous affair.”
“Oh, my Lord,” Elizabeth whispered, feeling faint. She dropped to the chair and attempted to swallow. “It is not true, Jennette.”
“The rumor also said you are with child from the relationship,” Avis added quietly.
“Caroline,” Will spat. “I think we need to have a talk with my cousin and his wife.”
“Wait, Will.” Elizabeth caught her breath. “I am not Will’s sister. We have proof that Will’s father was in Russia during the month of my conception.” Elizabeth blew out a long breath. “And my father was a footman for the Langfords.”
Avis and Jennette both sat back in the chairs, looking relieved. “Oh, thank God,” Avis whispered.
“But are you with child?” Jennette asked with a smile.
Elizabeth shook her head. “No.”
“But perhaps rather quickly after the wedding,” Will added with a wink.
Will stormed up the steps of his cousin’s home and flung the door open without waiting for the butler. “Richard! Caroline!”
“Will, do try to have a little patience,” Elizabeth said, placing her hand on his arm.
Richard walked down the hall with a look of confusion on his weathered face. “
Your Grace, what are you doing here?”
“Who is making that noise? There is a sick young woman up—” Caroline stopped when she noticed them in the hallway. Slowly, she walked down the steps. “To what do we owe this honor?”
“As if you did not know,” Will muttered.
“Your Grace, what is this about?” Richard asked.
“A rumor regarding my relationship with Elizabeth,” Will said. “A very untrue rumor, I might add.”
Caroline scoffed. “I highly doubt that. You two cannot seem to keep your eyes off each other.”
“I was speaking of the rumor regarding her father,” Will said.
“No one knows who her father is. It could just as easily have been your father,” Caroline replied, walking into the parlor.
“Except my father was in Russia for six months at the time, making the possibility nonexistent.” Will led Elizabeth into the room with Caroline as Richard followed silently behind.
“So you say,” Caroline rebuffed.