Page 111 of The Viscount and the Vicar's Daughter
Lady Withnall nodded. “Even Lady Alicia is now married to a dolt of a man almost twenty years her senior. But they will suit quite well because neither wants anything to do with the other.”
Viola shook her head. “Then why bother to marry if they don’t like each other?”
“The husband is a commoner but rich as Croesus,” she said, thumping her cane. “Your eyeballs will pop when I tell you how rich he is. He wanted to marry into an established, titled family. She wanted everything his money could buy…and he can buy everything.”
Viola laughed heartily as she turned to Alexander. “I would not trade you in for all the riches in the world. I think I made the best bargain of all.”
“We know,” his grandmother said, casting Viola a doting smile. “We were just worried Alex would never get out of his own way to admit how much he loved you. We knew we had to attend your summer party, if only to give him a nudge in the right direction if he remained too dense.”
“Wait, are you saying you knew I was in love with Viola before you ever met her?”
His grandmother nodded. “Yes, it was obvious the moment you wrote to me regarding your list of diamonds.”
“What do you mean? How was it obvious? And how can you take credit for knowing Viola was the one for me when you approved of our selection of those threetondiamonds?”
His grandmother rolled her eyes. “Dear boy, I called themastoundingchoices because this is what they were. Astonishing in how wrong they were for you. It was clear from your very first letter that the right girl was beside you all along, only your fogged brain would not allow you to see it.”
Lady Withnall thumped her cane again. “We knew we would adore Viola before we ever met her. Anyone with the ability to pull you out of your darkness had to be someone worthy of your love. Besides, every word you wrote about her proved you had lost your heart to her already. She was helping you out. You relied on her judgment. She was talented. Amazing. Incredible. You mentioned her in every sentence.”
He cleared his throat and chuckled. “You exaggerate. I’m sure I did not.”
“Yes, dear boy. You did.” His grandmother smiled at him. “So leave Adela to us. We will find the perfect young man for her.”
Viola turned to him with a broad smile on her face. “You mentioned me in every sentence?”
He arched an eyebrow. “Apparently. I will concede that you two old biddies were quite insightful in this instance. But I am not always so dense. In fact, I pride myself on being quite alert.”
Viola grinned at him. “Is that so?”
He nodded. “Yes, love. Alert enough to realize…” He glanced at the two dowagers and then back at his wife. “Never mind. We’ll talk about it later.”
Her smile faded into a frown of concern. “Talk about what? Is something wrong?”
“No, love. I think it is very right.”
She still appeared perplexed.
His grandmother cleared her throat. “What my grandson is trying to tell you is…he believes you are with child.”
Viola’s eyes rounded in surprise. “I…oh, Alex! I wasn’t sure yet. How could you know? I promise, I wasn’t trying to withhold anything from you.”
He took her hand and gave it a comforting squeeze. “I know. It is all quite new, isn’t it?”
She nodded.
“I’ve suspected for about a week now.” He, insatiable hound that he was when it came to her body, had recognized she was off her cycle, and Viola was the precise sort of girl who was always punctual. Also, he’d noticed her breasts increasing in size. He could not miss such an obvious clue when he had explored those exquisite mounds thoroughly and knew exactly how they fit in the cup of his hands.
She stared at him. “A baby? Our baby? Do you think so? Are you sure?”
He nodded. “Yes, love.”
“Dear heaven. Now I am the dense one.” She laughed as she placed a hand on her stomach.
He reached over and covered it with his own. “A new life, Viola. Although it is still early days.” He looked to the older ladies. “I hope you will say nothing just yet. We’ll let my parents and Gabriel know in due course. But, Lady Withnall…”
The little harridan rolled her eyes. “Give me some credit for common sense, Alex. Besides, I have scandals to spread that must take precedence.”
Viola’s eyes widened. “Really? Anything juicy?”
