Alex had no idea just how much he was counting on finding a large, bulky Charlotte waiting for him at Downes Manor until he was directed to the new summer house, behind the manor. And there she was. He stood for quite a while, an eternity, it seemed. Charlotte was sitting on the floor of the breezy terrazzo.

Pippa was sitting across from her, and they were playing with dolls. Charlotte’s doll was talking, and now Pippa’s doll seemed to be clumsily dancing on the floor … but it was Charlotte’s waist that commanded Alex’s eyes. She was clearly pregnant. Her beautiful figure had bloomed around the waist; her breasts, softly caught up in a white muslin day dress, looked lush and generous, blooming from her low-cut gown. And she was glowing, lovely, more beautiful than he remembered. Soft curls fell down her neck, and from his angle long, inky eyelashes brushed her cheeks. She was so lovely that he felt a twist of agony around his heart, as if someone had twisted a key in his chest.

Just then Pippa’s nanny looked up and saw her master standing just outside the summer house. One glimpse of the earl’s hard, hard eyes and Katy nearly panicked, something she never did. Instead she acted instinctively to protect Pippa from whatever unpleasantness was about to happen.

“My lady, Pippa and I will be in the schoolroom.” Katy stooped and picked up Pippa, totally ignoring the angry wail that accompanied her rapid decision. Pippa hated to be abruptly swooped into the air. Her small doll fell from her hand and her wail turned to a howl.

Charlotte pushed dark curls out of her eyes and looked up, utterly confused. Katy was already walking briskly toward the main house, Pippa’s voice growing smaller and smaller as Katy walked. Then Charlotte knew. She turned her head to the left, and there he was, staring down at her.

Her heart leaped with joy to see him. “Alex!” she cried, her face lighting up. He didn’t move. Charlotte smoothly rose from her place on the ground, adjusting her white high-waisted gown. The French styles suited pregnant women terribly well; there was nothing like a waistline under the breasts to diminish one’s girth, Charlotte thought self-consciously. Alex was staring at her middle.

Charlotte’s eyes danced. Well, of course, he didn’t know she was pregnant. “We’re having a baby,” she said happily. He still didn’t move or speak. Charlotte was beginning to feel uncomfortable. She took a few tentative steps toward him and stopped.