Page 60 of Seduced By the Rakish Duke

“Looking for that hairbrush so I can throw it at you again.”

Frances held up her hand that was holding the brush. “Sorry, dear sister, I know how much your family likes to throw things when they’re pitying themselves. I’ve learned to hold onto easily thrown items.”

Jenny narrowed her eyes at her sister-in-law. “Clever.”

“I like to think so,” Frances said with a wink. “Now, come on. We shouldn’t leave the Duke waiting.”

With one more glance in the mirror, Jenny followed Frances out of her bedroom and made her way downstairs.

“We’ve been blessed with another lovely day.”

Harry escorted her down the pathway through the park, with Martha trailing behind them.

Jenny looked up into the lush trees, noting the sunlight filtering through their branches. “We really have. It’s beautiful out.”

“Jenny, there is something I was hoping to discuss with you today.”

Jenny turned her attention back to the man at her side.

“I was thinking it was time I brought my daughter Elizabeth to meet you.”

Jenny’s lips formed the shape of a small ‘o’. She knew he had a daughter—he mentioned her early on in their courtship—but she never considered that she would meet her one day. That one day, she would become her mother.

“I see I’ve surprised you.”

“No, no.” She paused. “Well, yes. But not because I don’t want to. It’s just I didn’t realize we were there yet.”

Harry laid his free hand over the arm that was tucked into his and looked into her eyes. “I think we are there.”

Jenny could only swallow and nod her head.

“Am I alone in thinking that?” Confusion and hurt laced his words.

“Oh no. No.” She lifted her hand and put it on top of his. “Forgive me. I know where we are headed. Becoming a wife is one thing, but becoming a mother to a small child is another, and I’m afraid I haven’t given it much thought. That was terribly wrong of me.”

Relief flooded Harry’s features. “No, it’s my fault. I don’t talk much about her. But we are a package deal. She needs a mother.”

Jenny looked at the path ahead of them. “Tell me about her.”

Harry smiled and sighed. She could tell he was happy to finally be able to share the weight of childrearing with someone. Feeling needed made her steps feel lighter, but she couldn’t deny there was still a small lead ball of regret that rolled in her stomach whenever she thought of the future.

Harry blushed. “Oh, where to start? She has my eyes and coloring,” he said, his eyes flicking up to his blonde hairline.

Jenny smiled.

“She loves to read… Well, she’s just learning, but she’s doing quite well. However, she is a precocious young girl with a love of the outdoors. No matter how many times we scold her, we continue to find her outside without her stockings or shoes on.”

Jenny cocked her head. “We?”

“Her nanny and myself. She’s a wonderful older woman my wife hired before she passed. We had other nannies before, her but she’s been with us since my wife’s death. A godsend, really. Elizabeth can be a handful.”

“She sounds like a lively, little girl with whom I shall get along brilliantly.”

For a moment, Jenny allowed herself to imagine what it would be like to be a mother to the young girl. She could see herself walking hand in hand with a little girl who had her father’s eyes. She, too, was known for enjoying the cool earth underneath her bare feet.

The girl was smiling up at her, possibly missing a tooth or two. Jenny could feel the love for the child swell in her heart. Only, the girl’s eyes were no longer blue, but deep green. Her hairwasn’t blonde like before, but darker, with wild curls that would push pins out of her hair just like Jenny’s did.

The solid rock of regret turned into searing pain that stole her breath. Jenny shook the vision from her head. That dream was not to be. Harry was the one who was courting her. Not… him.

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