Something Scandalous

“There is no date,” she said, striding toward him as she pinned her hair. “There is no wedding.”

“Indeed?”

“If you think I plan to marry a man who is still in love with another woman, you are mad!”

“So you have no issue having a child out of wedlock?” he asked.

She blinked as the reality of the situation finally seemed to hit her. “A child?” she whispered.

“Yes. That is how they are made.”

“I know that,” she cried. “But we most certainly did not make a child just then.”

Will understood her denial. “We won’t know for sure until—”

“A few days,” she cut him off. “We will know in a few days. I’m never late.”

“Very well, then. You will give me your answer within the week.”

“All right. But I will not marry you unless there is a child.” Elizabeth pushed past him and walked down the hallway. She must have made some excuse to the children because she didn’t even slow her pace as she passed them in the front hall.

“Will!”

The excited sound of the children made him smile. After spending the last two years taking care of them, he would have thought the idea of his own child less appealing. And yet, it warmed his heart to think about holding his little son or daughter. He had always thought it would be he and Abigail in a small farmhouse in Virginia.

But if Elizabeth agreed to marry him or truly was pregnant, all his dreams of leaving England would be for naught. She would never leave here, and he could not ask her to go with him.

“Will, were you and Elizabeth arguing?” Ellie walked up to him with a scowl on her face.

“No,” he answered.

“She certainly didn’t seem happy when she just ran up to her room.”

“We just finished our lesson on family history. That is all. Perhaps something upset her. If so, she didn’t tell me about it.” Will walked toward his study. “Now, I have work to do.”

He had nothing to do but wanted to be finished talking to his sister about Elizabeth. Sitting behind the desk, he looked at the picture of the former duke. Imposing seemed the best word to describe him. He must have been furious to discover his wife had been with someone else.

Will knew he would never stand for a wife like that. Although, if the late duchess had been anything like Elizabeth, she must have been in love with the man. He was certain Elizabeth was in love with him. He’d seen it in her eyes. And no matter what she said, she wasn’t the type of woman to be with a man without love being involved.

At the same time, he understood her reason for rejecting his proposal. Did he still love Abigail? The more he pondered the question, the firmer his resolve. Five years ago, he had loved her. Even two years ago. But after she rebuffed his last proposal, his love for her

started to die.

The passage over to England had given him plenty of time to think about their relationship. Against his father’s wishes, Will had offered to become an American for her after the war ended. Doing so would have relinquished his ties to England and the title. She had told him she couldn’t be responsible for him giving up something so noble.

Another excuse, he thought. She had been full of excuses for the past five years. And while maybe he didn’t love Elizabeth, he might come to love her.

A fact that Elizabeth might not accept. She struck him as the type of woman who would never marry a man who didn’t love her.

“What the hell am I supposed to do?”

“Not quite sure. Maybe if I knew the problem I could assist you.”

Will turned his head toward the door where Somerton stood leaning against the frame. “Afternoon, Somerton. Did the footman forget to announce you?”

“He was busy cleaning up a mess the puppy left in the hall.”

Will’s mouth gaped. “What puppy?”