Page 74 of Marrying a Reluctant Lady
Ophelia felt a tingle of excitement and she hadn’t been sitting for more than a minute when Leonard appeared in the doorway, followed by Alice, and their maid Mrs. Goodrich. In Alice’s arms was a tiny bundle.
“Alice! Good afternoon,” Ophelia greeted her, heart soaring. “And Leonard. And how is little Alex?”
“He’s very well,” Leonard said fondly, his dark eyes gentle and also a little shy all at once.
“Good. Good,” Owen replied, looking down at the little baby. He was a month younger than Grantham, or thereabouts and so a little smaller, and he regarded them unsmilingly.
“Good morning, Alex,” Ophelia greeted him. He stared up at her, his dark eyes like Alice’s, and she laughed. “He’s beautiful. So beautiful,” she told Alice wonderingly.
“He’s quite mischievous,” she teased.
“A lovely one,” Leonard countered, lifting him up and holding the baby above his head. Alex flapped with his little arms, trying to reach his father’s face.
“Yes. He is very lovely,” Owen agreed. “Come and let’s put them both by the fire. See what they do.”
He took Grantham and put him very gently on the hearthrug on his belly. He was not yet able to move around, but he liked lying on his stomach by the fire. Ophelia watched as Alice placed little Alex close by and the two babies smiled at one another.
“He's smiling!” Alice exclaimed, clapping her hands in delight. “He doesn’t smile all that often.”
“He’s like his father...dark and brooding,” Leonard commented, making them laugh.
“Would the dark, brooding fellow care for some sandwiches or cake?” Owen asked, gesturing at the tea-table, which hosted only two different delicacies. The rest was downstairs for later.
“You needn’t ask again, Owen. You already know the answer. Of course.” Leonard grinned at them both.
They went to sit at the table, Amelia coming to join them. Ophelia put a slice of cake—the cream cake that was her favorite—on her plate and Amelia managed very well with her cake-fork.
“You had a good journey?” Owen asked them.
“Very good. Very fine.”
Ophelia felt her guts twist nervously now that they were here. When there were no guests, it was easier to forget that today was no usual day, but now, with Leonard and Alice here and chatting brightly with Owen and herself, she couldn’t avoid remembering that it was just an hour before she’d have to be in charge downstairs.
“Would you care for some tea?” Owen asked softly.
Ophelia nodded warmly. “Yes, please,” she agreed.
They sat and sipped tea and chatted while Mrs. Goodrich observed the babies on the rug for them, but Mr. Crane appeared in the doorway almost before it seemed possible an hour had passed.
“First coach is in the drive, my lady,” Mr. Crane informed her. “I’m on my way downstairs in a minute to let them in.”
“Thank you,” she murmured. Her hands clenched together, and she felt sweat on her back. She glanced at Owen. He grinned.
“You’ll do marvelous things,” he assured her, giving her a big grin.
“Mrs. Goodrich? Could you take Alex to the nursery, please?” Alice inquired of the maid, who nodded.
“Of course, my lady.”
Ophelia rang for her maid to come and fetch Grantham, and the two nannies carried the babies upstairs.
“It’s all well,” Owen murmured to Ophelia, pressing her fingers. “You look beautiful.”
She smiled at him nervously. “Thank you, Owen,” she whispered back. She felt her heart twist as she looked into his eyes, seeing the care there. He had organized this...he had believed in her and made arrangements and today was the result of that.
She stiffened her back. Owen believed in her. And he always said he knew what a first-rate piece of literature was, even if he couldn’t write one himself.
They walked down the stairs, Alice and Leonard chatting excitedly behind them.
