Page 139 of Heartbreaker of the Ton
“Papa!” a voice cried in the distance, and Etty slid off her husband’s lap to sit beside him, smoothing her skirts.
She cast her gaze over the walled garden with the array of rose and lavender bushes, set in a pattern that appeared random, but was specifically designed to give the appearance of natural beauty. “Mr. Baxter is a talented man.”
“I believe we have his wife to thank for the design,” he said. “I would say Baxter is the luckiest man in all England, but for one thing.”
“Which is?”
He smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “But for the fact thatIam the luckiest man in the whole world.” He placed his hand on her stomach. “Isn’t that right, little one?”
The baby moved inside her—minute ripples resembling light fingertips tapping against her skin—and Andrew’s eyes sparkled with joy.
“How did I deserve such good fortune?”
She took his hand and slid her fingers along his. “By being a good man.”
“Papa!” the voice cried again, and Gabriel appeared at the entrance to the garden, cantering across the path with his toy horse. “Mama, Papa! See my horse?”
The boy reached them and lifted his arms toward Etty.
“Not so fast, sir,” Andrew said, lifting the boy into his arms. “Your mother’s in a delicate state. Come sit on your papa’s lap.”
Gabriel settled, and Etty blinked back a tear at the sight of her son nestling in the arms of the man he called father.
No—the man whowashis father, in every aspect that mattered.
“Did you see me ride, Papa?” Gabriel asked.
“I did,” Andrew replied. “And when you’re older, I’ll buy you a real horse to ride, then we can all ride together. Would you like that?”
“And Mama also?” Gabriel asked, turning his expressive blue gaze toward Etty.
“After the baby’s arrived, my love,” she said. “Until then I fear I’d be too ungainly for my poor horse to bear. My riding days are over for a while, I’m afraid.”
“Oh, I don’t know about that,” Andrew said, a wicked glint in his eyes. “We’ve already enjoyed a good, long ride today.”
“Andrew!” Etty cried, but could not suppress the laughter in her voice.
“But your horse has been in the stables today, Papa,” Gabriel said. “Florrie and I have been feeding him.
“Quite right, son,” Andrew said, winking at Etty. “Your papa is mistaken.”
“Can we all ride when the baby comes?” Gabriel asked, looking to Etty’s belly.
“Of course, my love,” she replied. “Would you like a brother or a sister?”
“A brother!” Gabriel said. “All I want is a brother. And a sister. And another brother. And another…”
Footsteps approached, and Florence appeared, panting.
“There you are, Gabriel! Cook’s been looking for you. She has a batch of biscuits fresh from the oven and has said we can have one each—you, me, and Anna. Those fruit biscuits that are your favorite.”
“Fruit biscuits!” Gabriel’s eyes lit up, and he scrambled off Andrew’s lap and picked up his horse.
“Say goodbye to your mama, sir,” Andrew said sternly.
Gabriel blushed and took Etty’s hand. “Goodbye, Mama,” he said. “Do you want a biscuit?”
“No thank you, my darling,” Etty said, smiling at the formality with which her son bowed over her hand.
