The Accidental Countess (The Aristocrat Diaries 3)

“Oh, interesting. Did he say what he wanted?”

“He did not. My accountant just pulled up, so I’ll talk to you later.”

“Wait until you get back before you call him!” I said quickly. “I want to know what the shark wants.”

Matthew chuckled. “Talk later.” Then he hung up.

I put the phone down on the island and finished my cup of tea, then fished in the bread for two more slices.

Ffion jerked her head around and looked at me. “Are you sure you read the result of that test right?”

I stared at her as I put the two fresh slices in the toaster and pushed the thingy down. “What are you doing in that fridge?”

“Eating grapes out of the punnet,” Christopher replied, taking an apple from a paper bag. He shone it up on a paper towel before he put the apple in the fruit bowl and peered over at me. “I must ask the same question as Ffion. Are you sure the test was negative?”

“Would you like me to get it and show you?” I replied dryly. “I don’t particularly want to cart it about the house, but I will put it in my pocket and put it on that nice clean, sanitary kitchen counter over there.”

Christopher balked, horror flashing across his features.

Ffion sniggered and took grapes and cheese out of the fridge. “She’s in charge already. This is fun.”

I was glad someone thought so.

• • •

The sound of two knocks on the sunroom doors pulled me out of my painting reverie, waking Lucy from her sleep on the sofa at the same moment.

I looked back over my head and called a, “Come in,” out.

Christopher pushed the door open a crack and poked his head in. “I’m either seeing two of you, or I need a lie down.”

Adelaide!

I grinned, dropping my paintbrush in the pot of water. “You’re seeing double, Christopher.”

He pushed the door wide open with a smile. “Your guests, milady.”

Adelaide’s grin matched my own, and I rushed across the sunroom, barrelling into her hard as I wrapped my arms around my twin sister. She hugged me back just as tightly, rocking me side to side, and I squeezed my eyes shut.

Emotion welled into a lump in my throat, and I kept my eyes as tightly closed as I could so it didn’t spill out that way. The last thing I needed was Christopher to see me cry and tell Ffion so she could add that to the apparent list of pregnancy symptoms she was keeping.

She asked me if I had a bump earlier.

No, no, I didn’t, Ffion.

That was just toast, but thanks anyway.

“Aunt Eva!” Olympia grabbed my waist and leaned her whole weight against me.

“Hey, Oly!” I half-released Adelaide and wrapped one arm around Olympia. “Have you grown again already?”

“Yep! Addy had to buy me new trousers, look!” She stepped back and showed off some leggings covered in flowers.

“Wow, look at those!” I made a show of looking up and down her legs. “They’re the coolest. I wish I had leggings like that.”

“Did they come in her size?” Olympia asked Adelaide with her eyes wide with hope.

Balls.

I forgot Olympia’s autism meant that she took everything literally. She really did think I wanted a pair.

Well, at least I knew to pretend to be excited when I opened my birthday present from her this year.

Olympia gasped. “Is that a dog?”

“That’s one of three,” I replied, smiling over at Lucy. “That’s Lucy, she’s a springer spaniel, but she’s quite old so please be gentle with her.”

She slowly walked over to her and sat on the sofa. Lucy opened her brown eyes slowly and sniffed the hand Olympia offered to her. Apparently deeming her safe to be around, Lucy licked her hand, shuffled over to her, and put her head on Olympia’s lap.

Oly giggled, smoothing the top of her head and her fluffy ears gently.

“Well, that’s her amused for a while,” Adelaide mused, tucking her hair behind her ear. “Do you have any ibuprofen? I have cramps. I’m not due on for another few days so I’m not—wait, are you due?”

I grimaced. “Two days. Sorry.”

“Ugh. Stupid twin things.”

“We have some stuff in the kitchen. Come on.”

“Oly, are you all right there? We’re just going to the kitchen. Remember Christopher showed us the way?”

“Uh-huh.” Olympia swung her legs on the sofa, giggling when Lucy licked her hand.

“She’s fine.” I patted Adelaide’s shoulder and guided her to the kitchen. It was all kept in a high cabinet away from Olympia’s reach, and I reached up to pull the box down.

“Paracetamol only.”

I jumped at the sound of Ffion’s voice. She was sitting in the corner, knitting silently, and she didn’t even look up from her crafting for a second.

“I’m sorry, what?” I asked.

“Paracetamol only,” Ffion repeated. “You can’t have ibuprofen if you’re pregnant, dear.”

Adelaide stared at me.