Page 34 of Beauty's Beast

“I think I’m dying.”

He laughed softly. “Not quite. You will most likely feel better now. Not used to spirits, are you?”

Kristine shook her head, then groaned. “No.”

“One shouldn’t overindulge on an empty stomach,” he said sympathetically. “Come, let us go home.”

She was unusually quiet in the carriage on the way home.

“Is something wrong?” Erik asked.

“I made a fool of myself,” she replied, not looking at him. “I made you leave the party early.”

He laughed softly as he drew her into his arms. “Did you have a good time?”

“Yes.”

“That’s all that matters.”

“You are so good to me, Erik.” She rested her head on his shoulder. “Why are you so good to me?”

He gazed down at her, at her lips, pink and slightly parted, at the long dark lashes that lay against her cheeks. Why, indeed, he mused as he gave her shoulders a squeeze. Why, indeed.

“Will you make love to me when we get home?”

“You should get some sleep.”

“I am not tired.” She lifted her arms and wrapped them around his neck. “Come, my lord, you must do your husbandly duty.”

He told himself it was the champagne talking, but he didn’t care. She wanted him, and that was all that mattered.

“Yes,” he said gently, “my duty.”

Chapter Ten

Kristine felt slightly nauseous the morning after the ball. She attributed it to a very late night and all the champagne she had consumed. By noon, she felt better. By evening, she had forgotten all about it, so she was surprised to find herself ill again the following morning, as well, and every morning for the next two weeks.

“I don’t know what’s wrong with me,” she groaned as she rinsed her mouth with warm water.

Lilia and Leyla smiled at each other as they changed the soiled linen on her bed.

“You don’t suppose I’m coming down with something, do you?” Kristine asked.

Leyla’s smile widened as she placed her hand over Kristine’s belly, then pretended she was cradling a baby in her arms.

Kristine stared at the woman a moment, and then her mouth dropped open. “A baby? You think I’m with child?”

Leyla and Lilia looked at each other and nodded. Cocking her head to one side, Leyla pressed lightly on Kristine’s breast.

Kristine frowned. Her breasts had been tender for the last few days.

Lilia and Leyla looked at each other and smiled.

“A baby,” Kristine murmured. “Oh, my.” A slow smile spread across her face as she contemplated telling Erik he wasgoing to be a father. It was what he wanted, the reason he had married her in the first place. He had told her so himself.I want nothing from you,he had said, the words cold and blunt and implacable.Nothing but a child.

She felt the smile die on her lips. Would he stop coming nightly to her bed now that the deed had been accomplished and she was carrying his child? Though she was certain it was unseemly, she treasured their lovemaking, had grown accustomed to falling asleep in his arms. And though he was gone in the morning when she awoke, his scent permeated her bedclothes, her pillow, her skin.

She wasn’t ready to give all that up, not yet. “Promise me,” she said, looking from one woman to the other, “promise you won’t tell anyone.”

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