Bewitching the Duke

As they reached the steps, the front door opened and Mrs. Featherstone and her daughter arrived. “Why isn’t she in bed yet?” Mrs. Featherstone demanded.

“That’s where we were going,” Selina replied, unaffected by Mrs. Featherstone’s harsh tone.

Colin helped Selina up the stairs to their bedchamber.

“And this is where you leave, Your Grace.”

“I need to stay.” He couldn’t leave her alone.

“Your Grace,” Mia said softly. “You will only be in our way and a distraction for Selina. She needs to work very hard over the next few hours to get your baby out. Please go to your study. Hart is down there waiting for you.”

“Colin, wait,” Selina said after changing into a nightgown. She put her arms around him and kissed him softly. “I love you. Please try not to worry. Everything will be all right.”

“I love you, Selina.” God, he couldn’t lose her.

“Go, Your Grace,” Mrs. Featherstone said as she helped Selina into bed.

He closed the door behind him as Selina let out a loud moan. This would be the longest night of his life. He walked down to his study and found Hart pouring two glasses of brandy.

“Here,” he said, handing one to Colin. “How do they do this?”

“I have no idea.”

The men barely spoke as the night wore on. A few times, Colin could have sworn he heard Selina’s screams. Five hours later, Mia came into the room. “Your Grace, my mother would like to see you.”

Oh, God. It was just like nine years ago when the maid had told him that Mrs. White needed to speak to him. He looked over at Mia’s pale and drawn face. Dread filled him. It felt like hours before he finally reached their bedchamber. It was too quiet in there. He knocked lightly on the door.

“It’s about time you got up here,” Mrs. Featherstone said, opening the door for him. “You wife has someone for you to meet.”

“What?” He glanced over at the bed and found Selina propped

against the pillows holding a baby wrapped in a white blanket.

“Go to your wife, Your Grace.” She picked up her bags. “Selina, I shall call on you in the afternoon to see how you are doing.”

“Thank you again, Mrs. Featherstone.”

She closed the door behind them, cloaking them in privacy. Colin walked to the bed and stared down at the perfect infant.

“Meet your son, Your Grace,” Selina said with a smile. “He looks just like you with all that dark hair and those blue eyes.”

Colin sat down on the bed and Selina placed their son in his arms. “He’s beautiful.” He reached out a finger and his son grabbed on. “Ten fingers.”

“And ten toes. I counted.” She leaned forward and kissed their son before kissing Colin. “Did you manage? I tried to hurry things along, you know.”

He stared at the wife he loved and then moved his gaze to his newborn son. “I have everything I ever wanted.”