Page 63 of Landen

She also had theregal bearing of a queen, her head lifted and her stance rigid. Shewas wearing a dark green wool skirt suit that startlingly contrastedher milky white skin.

“Mrs. - I meanLady Chapman, would you like to come in?” Suddenly, the officeshe was so proud of looked dingy and accommodating.

“I think thatwould be best.” Stepping inside, the woman closed the door andlooked at the faded roses on the chairs as if deciding if she shouldrisk sitting.

“Would you likesomething to drink?” Tessa looked around wildly and wondered ifshe should offer tea.

“No, thank you.I will not be here for long. You were involved with my son.”

“Yes.”Tessa stood behind her desk and wondered if the woman would sit.

“And you areaware of who he is.”

“I am.”

Jade green eyeswandered over Tessa’s black pantsuit scathingly and she decidedthat the woman did not portray Landen’s warmth, nor were hereyes as beautiful as his were. “This ends now, Ms. Chambers. Idon’t know what my son told you, but he will not marry you ifthat’s what you are hoping for.”

“Did he sendyou here to deliver that message?” Tessa lifted her chin,refusing to be intimidated. She was pregnant, miserable, and in lovewith a man who was thousands of miles away. She certainly did notneed this woman coming here to warn her away.

“He has manyresponsibilities, and with my husband still in the hospital, he hastaken his role as the man of the family very seriously.” Shelooked down her nose at the girl standing behind the desk. “Didhe tell you he has a paramour stashed in one of our cottages?

He has been footingher bill and giving her gifts—a common tavern girl fromScotland. We have not interfered because he is a man who needs to sowhis wild oats. But he will not return to pick up where he has leftoff, Ms. Chambers, and I would like you to understand that.”

Tessa felt as ifthe entire world was crumbling around her feet. She had no doubt thewoman was telling the truth about the girl Landen had been seeing,but the problem was if he was still seeing her.

“You came tothe States to tell me this? How kind you are to go to all theinconveniences of traveling the distance. I don’t know whetherto thank you or to tell you to go to hell.”

Lady Margaret’slips pursed, her eyes flashing. Tessa watched the woman composeherself, a detached look settling on her lovely yet cold face. “Icame here to ensure that you have no intention of shaking my son downfor money.

You are not his type,Ms. Chambers, and whatever he told you-” Her lips curled inscorn. “While you were fornicating with him, it meant nothing.I wish you a good day.”

Tessa stood rooted tothe spot before sinking on the chair, her entire body trembling.

*****

“Hello, love. Iwas just-”

“This is Brian,Tessa’s brother.”

Landen felt thepainful bump of his heart slamming against his ribs.

“What’swrong? Where is Tessa?”

“In thehospital.”

Landen felt his heartslow, and for a minute, he could not breathe. Dismissing hisassistant, he walked over and closed the door, his limbs weak andtrembling.

“An accident?”He asked hoarsely.

The man on the otherline swore softly. “She did not tell you.”

“Tell me what?”He had to force himself to remain calm as he returned to sit on theedge of his desk.

“She ispregnant.”

Landen felt his headspinning and his heart racing. “Pardon?”

“She ispregnant. More than two months, and it is not going well. She cannotkeep anything down - I think the medical term is hyperemesis. Thishas been happening for several weeks, and she has lost a lot ofweight. She fainted at work today and had to be rushed to thehospital.”

---