“We’re having a baby?” Alex finally said, his voice rasping. His eyebrow flew up, in the way she loved, except that now he was looking at her with utter disdain. “Shouldn’t you say, I am having a baby?” His voice settled to its normal deep tones; he was practically purring. “Or let’s see, I think I like this phrasing: The Countess and the Twin are having a baby. Congratulations, everyone!”

Charlotte’s heart dropped to the bottom of her stomach. She literally couldn’t find any words. She had pictured Alex’s rage over their butler’s depiction of the wedding night. Of course, she knew that he would be furious about the scurrilous innuendo regarding his brother and her. But she had never thought he would actually believe the article. Because he promised to trust her … She didn’t say a word, just stared at him, eyes wide.

As for Alex—all his planned calmness and control flew out the window. His wife was so beautiful, gazing at him in bewilderment, as if she had no idea what he was talking about! And yet she was so clearly only a few months pregnant. Black, filthy rage slashed his heart.

“You’re a doxy,” he said, almost casually. “It seems I have a remarkable affinity for women of that stamp.” His laugh was like nothing Charlotte had heard before. “Yes, indeed,” Alex said savagely. “You might say I specialize in whores. But this—this was something special! Why are you looking so surprised? Did you think I would forget that you had your flux when I left?”

He strolled toward her, his large, lithe body as controlled as a pacing tiger. Charlotte opened her mouth, but he took her chin in his strong hand, holding it brutally tight. “I don’t think so, darling. I don’t want to hear any pleas, this time. The calendar is so deadly factual, isn’t it? I don’t think even you can talk your way out of this one.

“If Patrick wants you, he can have you. I’ve instructed my solicitor to make up a bill of divorce. If Patrick doesn’t—and I don’t see why he should, given that he’s already had the goods—you can go and live in Scotland. If the baby is born in the near future, he or she will come with me to London. I’m not having my children, either of my children if there are two, brought up by a tart.”

Charlotte instinctively wrapped her arms around her stomach. He was mad, absolutely mad. She pulled her chin away from his hand. Alex looked at her, a muscle jumping in his jaw. His eyes were as black as pitch. Charlotte shook her head a little, to clear it. Could this really be happening? Was this the man she had waited for and dreamed so passionately about?