Page 41 of Bad Duke

“Alex, that would be pointless, just give it a few more days and my period will come.”

“I don’t want to wait a few days, if you are carrying my child I want to know, right now.” He kisses his way up my jaw and whispers in my ear.

“Well, you can’t know, right now. We don’t even have a test.” I shrug.

“That’s where you are wrong.” He pulls away, leaving me frustrated as he heads for his chest of drawers. I watch as he digs under his socks and pulls out a pregnancy testing kit.

“And does the Duke of Hatherly always keep a pregnancy test in his sock drawer?” I laugh some more as I roll my body to face him and prop my head up on my hand.

I know Alex can be brutal, I’ve seen it with my own eyes but there are times when he can be undeniably adorable.

“He does when he’s determined to knock up his duchess.” He comes back towards me and places the box on the mattress.

“Take the test, Olivia.” He gets all commanding and serious with me, and when it sets sparks off in my abdomen, I sigh in defeat.

“Fine, but only if you promise not to be disappointed when it comes back negative.” I snatch the box from his hand and make my way to the toilet.

Closing the door, I open the box and flick my eyes over the instructions. Then I pop the cap off and take a seat.

“You done in there yet?” Alex calls from the other side of the door.

“No! Give me a chance,” I shout back, while somehow managing to pee on the stick. I pop the cap back on before laying it on the basin unit while I clean myself up and wash my hands. Picking it up, I make my way back out to Alex. He’s pacing the room and looks up at me expectantly when I step back inside.

“So, what does it say?’ he asks.

“It says be patient, the test takes three minutes to work.” I hand him the stick and climb back into bed, already knowing what the result is going to say. I just hope it doesn’t put Alex in a bad mood. Apart from Lewis’s unfortunate encounter, I’ve noticed how he’s lightened up a lot lately.

Alex continues to pace clutching the stick in his hand and checking his watch.

“It’s been two, add to that however long you were faffing in the bathroom. I’m looking,” he warns.

“Fine, take a look.” I shrug back, confidently.

He looks down at the result, making it impossible for me to read his face. He stares at it for ages, and I start to wonder if it’s out of shock or disappointment.

“Alex…”

“You're pregnant.” He looks up at me with wild, shocked eyes like he can’t believe it himself.

“No, I’m not.” I shake my head and get back out of bed, moving towards him and snatching it out of his hand. I start to shake when, sure enough, there in the window, is the word that confirms it.

PREGNANT

“I can’t be, I’m?—”

“You're pregnant.” He squashes my face between his hands and makes me look at him. The shocked look on his face lifts into a huge grin before he kisses me, and suddenly all the knots that are twisting in my stomach turn to flutters.

“You're pregnant.” He says the words again, picking me up off my feet and carrying me over to the bed so he can lie me down on the mattress.

“Are you happy?” He frowns at me as if my answer has the power to hurt him.

“Yes.” I nod my head back, realising that, of all the emotions I’m feeling right now, one of them is undeniable happiness. How is it possible to be so excited and scared all at the same time?

“We need to get you to a doctor.” He kisses me again before he gets up and quickly starts to get dressed.

“Whoa, wait, we only just found out and it takes ages to get an appointment at my surgery.”

“Your surgery.” He laughs as he zips up his trousers. “I’ve been doing some research and I’ve got the contacts for the best obstetricians in London. I’ll have Barnaby call and get us an appointment.” He goes to rush out the door but I call him back.

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