One year later.

“I must speak with you, Harrington.”

James looked up from where he had been working on his accounts. “Mother?”

“I know, I have come unexpectedly,” she said, quickly. “The Dower house is not far and I could have sent a note but I thought it best to come to see you at once.”

“Is it Anna?” James rose to his feet, concern running through him. “Or Salisbury?” His sister had been married shortly after James himself, marrying Lord Salisbury who had proven himself to be a truly excellent gentleman. These last nine months, there had been nothing but joy within both James’ household and in Anna’s. The fact that Lord Salisbury was not very far from James’ own estate, only a day’s drive, meant that they were able to see each other just as often as they wished. 

“No, no, it is not your sister nor Salisbury.” His mother sank down into a chair. “It is your brother.”

James swallowed hard, not quite certain what to say.

“I think it would be good if you could send for Theodora also, before I begin to explain,” his mother continued. “That is, if she is able to come and sit with us? I know she must be very weary now that her confinement is almost at an end.”

“She is resting but I will have the maid ask her if she wishes to join us.” His voice a little hoarse, James cleared it gruffly. “Tea, Mother?”

With a nod, she smiled at him and then sat back in her chair. James rang the bell, quickly directed the maid as to what he wanted and then went to sit down, wondering what it was his mother had learned about Rowland.

“You need not look so concerned,” the Duchess said, with a small smile. “It is not a dreadful thing, my son. There is no-one in immediate danger or the like.”

James swallowed hard but nodded. The door opened and Theodora came in, walking a little more slowly than usual. 

“My dear.” The Duchess rose, just as James made his way towards his wife, taking her arm so that he could support her as she walked to a sofa. “Are you very fatigued?”

“Very,” Theodora said, giving the Duchess a weary smile. “It will not be too long now, however.” Sitting down, she took James’ hand as he sat next to her. “It is very good to see you.”

“And you,” the Duchess replied, as the tea tray was brought in. “I hear Anna came to see you recently?”

“Yes, she was here last week, staying only two days, however. I think she wished to see just how terribly tiring it is to be so far into one’s confinement! It will not be long until she is in the very same position as I!”

James’ jaw tightened. “Mother came to tell me something about Rowland.” As much as he was glad for the warm relationship between his mother and his wife, he wanted to know exactly what it was his mother had come to tell them. “What is it?”

The Duchess rose to pour the tea, shooing Theodora back into her seat. “You are concerned. I understand that but you must not be so. I received a letter from him only this morning.”

His eyebrows shooting towards his hairline, James stared at his mother. “A letter?”

She nodded. “Indeed. It must have taken an inordinate amount of time to reach my house, given where it came from.”

“And where is that?” Theodora asked, reaching for her tea cup but struggling to bend forward enough. James quickly fetched it for her, garnering him a warm look from his wife. 

“Not in England, that is for certain!” With a wry smile, the Duchess looked back at James. “From the West Indies. He has set himself up there, it seems, perhaps going to where he feared you might send him one day.”

James blinked rapidly. “My brother has chosen to leave England and to remain away?”

“So it would seem. His letter, however, was most extraordinary. He writes to tell me how deeply sorry he is for all that he has done wrong, beginning with when he was in Eton, squandering his education.”

This, James immediately became suspicious of.

“You will say that he is writing to me in such terms because he desires to return to England and to, mayhap, financially supportive people also?” His mother smiled at him. “I can well understand your suspicions. I think that too but I will say that his letter was something so unlike him, it has made me consider whether or not it might have some truth in it.”

“You think then that he could be genuine in all that he has said?” Theodora asked, shifting in her seat, grimacing as she did so. “That would be astonishing, would it not?”

“Very much so,” James agreed, grimacing. “I am surprised that he has chosen to reside in the West Indies but, then again, mayhap he…”

“I am sure that your mind will go in all manner of directions and you will think the very worst of him, which you have every right to do,” his mother said, gently, “but there is something more to say in all of this.” She took a deep breath. “He is to marry.”

James’ mouth felt open.

“To a young lady of a wealthy landowner,” his mother continued. “That should be simple enough to verify, but it does mean that he might remain away from England for a very long time indeed.”

“Goodness.” Theodora was the first to speak, her hand reaching James’ and squeezing it hard. “That would be most astonishing but it might also explain the change you have seen in him from the letter.”

Unable to hide his smile, James nodded. “I suppose that falling in love does change a good many things.”

“Indeed, it does.” Theodora smiled back at him, only for her eyes to flare wide as a gasp escaped from her. James frowned, hastily setting his tea cup down and reaching for her. 

“Are you quite all right?” His hand went to her shoulder, the other to her hand. “Theodora, are you…”

“I think… I think you might need to send for the physician,” she said, hoarsely, her eyes huge. “The baby…”

“The baby is coming?” James exclaimed, leaping up out of his chair, terror striking him. “Now? When? What am I to do?”

His mother clicked her tongue at him. “Goodness, Harrington, you need not lose your head! Do as your wife have asked you and send for the physician. Then you will need to have the cook boil lots of hot water. We shall need clean towels, sheets and plenty for Theodora to drink also, for she will need more than one cup of tea to sustain her!”

James swallowed hard, looking back at his wife. “Theodora, are you going to be all right?”

She nodded, her eyes still rounded and beads of sweat on her forehead. “Your mother knows what is needed,” she said, hoarsely. “But I will need your help to get to my bedchamber, I think.”

“I want to stay with you,” he said, but his mother instantly shook her head. 

“No, you are to stay back until the baby has been safely delivered,” she instructed, as, with one arm around Theodora, James supported her as they walked to the door. “Given the state of you at this moment, I do not think you would be much help, do you?”

***

It was an agony unlike anything James had experienced. Walking up and down the drawing room, he refused all offers of food and water and did not so much as look at his brandy. All he could think of was Theodora, worrying about her, fearful of the many hours that were passing. He knew his mother had been right to send him away, just as every gentleman did when it came time for his wife to birth their child, for he was in a truly dreadful state. 

“Harrington, do stop pacing.” 

The practical voice of his mother broke through James’ thoughts and he turned swiftly. He did not hurry towards her but stood stock still, a trembling running through him. “How is she?”

“Theodora is robustly healthy and has done marvelously,” came the reply, his mother coming towards him as James let out a huge breath of relief, feeling all the tension that had curled within him beginning to fade. “Your child is also very well indeed, quite stout for a baby, I must say!”

James let out something that was between a laugh and a cry of relief. 

“You are not just going to stand there, are you?” His mother smiled at him and then hugged him tightly. “My congratulations, James. This is one of the happiest days of my life.”

“As it is mine,” James answered, bending to kiss her cheek before hurrying from the room. His heart pounded with anticipation, a weakness in his limbs preventing him from running. With stumbling steps, he made it to Theodora’s bedchamber and, after a moment’s pause to collect himself, he stepped inside.

“There you are! I was wondering what was keeping you so long.” 

The warm, strong voice of his wife filled the room and, overwhelmed with joy, he hurried to her, taking her hand and looking down into her beautiful face. “My darling Theodora.” Kissing her gently, he took her in, marveling at just how well she looked. “I was worried.”

“You need not be, Your Grace.” The voice of the nursemaid had him turning, only for a small bundle to be presented to him. “The Duchess is a strong woman, I must say. Your baby shall be too, no doubt.”

James, who had not held a baby in his life, stared down at the tiny child in his arms. The baby was sound asleep, dark eyelashes matching the soft dusting of dark hair on his head. His heart broke apart and then formed again, love like he had never known before swamping him. 

“Is he not beautiful?”

“He?” James lifted his head, looking straight at Theodora. “We have a son?”

“And an heir,” she whispered, her eyes filled with tears but her lips curved in a smile. “I do not think I have ever felt such joy as I feel in this moment, seeing the man I love holding our child.”

“Nor I.” James looked down again at the child in his arms, then gently sat down on the edge of his wife’s bed, cradling the baby carefully. “Thank you, Theodora.”

She smiled at him. “For what?”

“For bringing me more love, happiness and contentment than I have ever known,” he said, a little hoarsely. “For giving me not only your heart but, in doing so, giving me this most precious gift. It is more than I thought I should ever have.” Leaning towards her, he kissed her gently, seeing the paleness of her cheeks but the brightness of her eyes. “You are the most remarkable, beautiful, wonderful creature I have ever known and I love you with all of my heart.”

“As I love you, James,” she answered, leaning back against the pillows now. “And as we shall love this child together.”

James nodded, brushing one finger gently down the baby’s cheek.

“What will you name him?”

Looking back at his wife, James thought about his past and all the darkness that had swirled around him for so long. This baby was the start of a new future for not only them as a family but also for the Dukedom. “Andrew, I think. After my father.”

Theodora smiled her agreement. “It will mean so very much to your mother.”

“It will,” James answered, seeing her eyes close. “Rest now, my love.” Leaning over, he kissed her cheek gently. “I will be here when you awaken.”

“You will stay with Andrew?” She did not open her eyes, her voice faint. “You will hold him close?”

“Both now and always,” he swore. “Just as I will hold you.”

THE END