‘Yes, of course I do.’ Rosalind laid her silver-backed hairbrush on the dressing table. ‘I do have some news for you, Piers. I just wasn’t sure when to tell you.’ She hesitated, choosing her words carefully. ‘I think – no, I’m almost sure – that I’m … that we’re going to have a baby in the autumn.’ She waited, hardly daring to breathe as he remained silent for a moment, and then he leaped to his feet and lifted her from the stool, holding her in a close embrace.

‘I thought it would never happen. I was afraid we would never have a child of our own, and when I saw young Nancy I was afraid you might want to adopt her.’

‘No, that never occurred to me. You are pleased, aren’t you?’

He kissed her soundly. ‘Of course I’m delighted. What man doesn’t want a son to carry on the family name?’

Rosalind could have cried with relief. ‘Or daughter. It might be a girl.’

‘Then I’ll love her as I love her mother, and we’ll have a boy next time.’ He studied her face, with a crease between his brows. ‘So that’s why you look so pale. We must remedy that, my love. There’ll be no more riding round the estate to visit tenants for you. You must trust Lambert to do everything necessary, and I will stay at home as much as possible.’

Rosalind smiled, shaking her head. ‘It’s a perfectly normal state to be in, Piers. I’m young and healthy and I don’t need coddling.’

‘You must allow me to be the judge of that,’ Piers said firmly. ‘I’ll soon be a family man and I’ll take care of you and our child. Pedrick has the mine under control and I will only go away in order to get new business. I am fortunate to have recovered so well from the head injury and the illness.’

Rosalind sank back on the dressing table stool. ‘I haven’t told Patsy yet.’

‘I want everyone to share our good news. I suppose Hester knows already.’

‘It was Hester who told me why I fainted at breakfast. There is no keeping anything secret from her.’

Piers nodded. ‘Then you must tell Patsy this evening before we sit down to dinner. I’m sure she will be delighted to know she is soon to become an aunt.’

Patricia threw up her hands. ‘I refuse to be called Aunt Patricia. It makes me sound middle-aged or, even worse, elderly.’

‘We thought you would be pleased,’ Piers said, smiling.

‘I don’t like children, especially babies.’ Patricia tossed her head. ‘I’m beginning to wish I’d stayed at Trevenor.’

‘It won’t affect you, Patsy.’ Rosalind eyed her curiously. ‘What would you have done had you married Alex? You would have wanted children, wouldn’t you?’