The Bachelor Earl - Darcy Burke Page 0,41

to have those,” Titus said.

Nora clutched his arm and gave him a loving squeeze. “I know. Everyone was thrilled to have another. It was long overdue, they said.”

He opened his mouth, but nothing came out. He snapped it shut and nodded. A moment later he turned toward her, the shine of unshed tears in his lush green eyes. “Thank you.”

“Happy Christmas, my love.”

He kissed her again. “Happy Christmas.”

The Magic of Mistletoe

The middle part of this story is the prologue of The Duke of Kisses. Haven’t read it yet? Grab your copy today! To read how the characters in this story met and fell in love, don’t miss The Duke of Daring, The Duke of Deception, and The Duke of Desire!

December 1817

Suffolk, England

Ivy, Duchess of Clare, collapsed onto the bed, her face flushed and tears leaking from her eyes. She wiped her mouth and let out a soft groan.

“Here,” Lucy, Ivy’s friend, the Countess of Dartford, said as she set a cool cloth on Ivy’s brow. “Aquilla’s fetching a glass of water.”

Aquilla, the Countess of Sutton, joined Lucy, a tumbler of water clasped in her hand.

Ivy blinked up at her two closest friends and managed a weak smile. “I’m so glad you’re here. I’m just sorry I’m sick. This is supposed to be a festive, happy time.”

One of Lucy’s dark brows arched high on her forehead. “Are you sure it’s not? When was the last time you had your courses?”

Ivy’s jaw dropped for a moment. She hadn’t even considered... “I don’t know. Leah isn’t even six months old yet. I haven’t bled since she was born.”

Lucy and Aquilla exchanged a pointed look.

“Have either of you?” Ivy asked, feeling slightly panicked. She wasn’t sure she was ready to have another child—if, in fact, that was what was happening.

Both women, who’d had their first children in April, nodded. “Just last month for me,” Aquilla said.

Lucy snorted. “Apparently I was ‘lucky.’ My courses returned by August.”

“You’ve always been the lucky one,” Aquilla said cheerfully, causing them all to giggle.

Ivy’s stomach tilted again, but she didn’t think she had anything left to vacate. “Help me sit up so I can drink that water.”

Lucy scrambled to prop her up and Aquilla handed her the glass. The cool liquid slid down Ivy’s throat and settled into her belly without any fuss, thank goodness. Her hand strayed to that spot, where only recently she’d carried Leah.

Ivy sent a glance toward the cradle at the foot of the bed where her daughter lay sleeping. Miraculously, Ivy’s sudden illness hadn’t awakened the baby, but then the majority of her retching had occurred downstairs in the drawing room into a nearly century-old Wedgwood vase, which one of the maids was now carefully cleaning.

“Better?” Aquilla asked with a hopeful tilt to her mouth.

“Yes, thank you.” Ivy settled back against the pillows as her husband, West, ducked into the chamber.

“All right?” he asked, concern darkening his brow.

“Good enough,” Ivy responded.

“We’ll see you downstairs when you’re recovered,” Lucy said, inclining her head toward Aquilla and then the door.

With a nod, Aquilla followed her out.

Sebastian Westgate, Duke of Clare, the notorious Duke of Desire sat on the edge of the bed next to Ivy and fingered a coppery curl back at her temple. “The vase came clean, you’ll be happy to know.”

“Oh, good.” Ivy had been horrified, but it had been the nearest thing and she hadn’t hesitated when Lucy had scooped it up and handed it to Ivy as she began to convulse with the need to empty her stomach. “I’m sorry to ruin the tree decorating.”

Even though the children were all still babies, they’d decided to erect a tree, making a celebration of it by inviting their dearest friends who’d arrived just yesterday.

“You’ve ruined nothing, my love.” He leaned over and kissed her forehead. “I’m just glad you’re feeling better. Did you eat something that didn’t agree with you?”

Ivy chewed the inside of her cheek, uncertain if she should reveal her suspicions—rather her friends’ suspicions. She wasn’t entirely sure she believed it. She hadn’t been ill like that when she’d been carrying Leah. Ultimately, she decided to make light of it and see what he said. “Lucy suggested I might be with child again. But it’s far too soon.”

West’s reaction started with a flash of surprise followed by a hint of doubt and then unadulterated joy as a smile spread his lips. “I should be thrilled if that were the case.” He sobered, adopting a concentrated expression and a formal tone. “Let me