But his mind was already racing ahead to the rest of his day. He’d better go see the viscountess next—a mother of four whom he rather thought would give birth today. The birth was going to be easy, as she’d had no problems with the last four girls, but if the babe was another female, he was likely to have a hysterical mother on his hands, not to mention the viscount himself. The viscount had not taken the arrival of his fourth daughter well. If there was a fifth …

So Dr. Lambeth nimbly bowed again in the foyer and took his leave, promising again to visit in the morning. He hopped into his carriage and directed his driver to the viscount’s residence, thinking intently of soothing phrases.

Chapter 26

Chapter 26

Sophie showed the doctor out, quite as if she weren’t shaking inside. As she walked up the stairs, Patrick stepped out of the library.

“Weren’t you planning to tell me what the doctor said?”

“Yes, later.”

“No.” Patrick’s denial came through clenched teeth. “Join me, please. I should like to know why you summoned the doctor to the house.”

Sophie took a quick look about. No footmen happened to be assigned to the hallway at that moment.

“I don’t think I shall, at the moment. I am going to my room.”

“Sophie!”

They probably heard that bellow all the way to the servants’ quarters, Sophie thought. She walked back down the stairs to within three steps of the bottom and paused.

“He said … he said …” She could not say what he had said. “He said that he will return tomorrow morning.” That was half the truth, less than half. Sophie’s heart twisted in unbearable anguish. Oh God, she had to get upstairs, away from Patrick’s hard, questioning face. Her head was throbbing in heavy, unending waves of pain.

“You didn’t want the baby,” she heard herself say, hearing her own words dully, as if from under water.

The savage look on Patrick’s face made her grasp the railing in alarm. What was happening to her head? Patrick was speaking, but she didn’t hear. Her heart was thudding, heavier than her head, two claustrophobic rhythms going on at once. Sophie clutched the railing tightly, the sensation of clenched fingers pulling her out of the maelstrom of pain for a moment.

Patrick was shouting at her. And behind him, down the hallway, Clemens paused, his face startled and horrified. Sophie forced her mind to clear, to concentrate on what Patrick was saying to her. She looked down at him. His black eyes were flashing at her … with disgust, probably, she thought dully.

“What in bloody hell are you saying?” Patrick’s voice was thick with rage. “How can you say such a thing to me? I do want the child!”