“You’re not a failure if you don’t conceive. You told me that you wanted people to see that you were more than your beauty. Lena, you’re more than your womb.”

Sitting, he claimed her mouth even as he lifted her up, brought her down, and filled her heated tunnel with the long, hard length of him, determined to give her all she longed for. He now understood that love made one reckless. And he embraced the knowledge as he embraced her, with all that was within him.

Chapter 20

They journeyed back to London in the carriage in silence, but it was a comfortable quiet. Sitting across from Selena, Aiden wore a small satisfied smile that no doubt matched the one on her face.

She fought against folding her hands over her belly and holding close what might already be growing there. After seven long years, the odds were against her. She knew this. Yet still she held out hope, hope he’d given to her when he’d spoken about odds. Even when they were low, it still meant there was a chance. While the realist in her revolted, the dreamer she’d long ago been peered out as though from a lengthy sleep and refused to retreat.

Being with him was like running barefoot over clover, wild with abandon. It was joyous. She would find a way to keep him in her life while protecting their child.

“Why have you grown sad?”

His voice brought her from her reverie, and she wondered if anyone else in the world would ever know her as well as he did.

“I’m not sad.”

“What are the other estates like?”

“Smaller, but no less opulent. The Dukes of Lushing took their responsibilities quite seriously. Ensuring their estates were the envy of all was seen as a duty, a requirement of the position.” She glanced out the window. “Commoners resent the nobility their place in Society, but it comes with sacrifice.”

“All positions in Society come with sacrifice.”

She glanced over at him. “True enough, I suppose. Have you ever visited your father’s estate?”

He shook his head. “I have as little to do with him as possible. Speaking of him, has he made an appearance on your doorstep since his atrocious proposal?”

“Not as far as I know, although I’ve not been at home that much. You’re keeping me rather busy.”

“You will let me know if he does.”

His voice contained something dark and foreboding. “What will you do if he does?”

“Pay him another visit.”

She felt her eyes widen with her alarm. “You paid him a visit? When? Why?”

“A couple of nights ago. Because he’s not to bother you.”

She was more than slightly distressed. “He knows about us?”

He shifted on his seat. “Whatever he may think he knows, he won’t tell anyone. There is little he fears more than he fears the wrath of the Trewlove brothers.”