Page 7 of Defending the Duke (The St. Clairs 4)

They all laughed and seated themselves. Luke handed Catherine a box.

“I stopped at Evie’s Tearoom for a few treats,” he said. “Caroline had business with Mr. Walton. I made good use of my time and visited Mrs. Baker and Mrs. Stinch. When they learned we were headed to see you, they insisted on sending along something.”

Catherine opened the box. “Oh, you brought scones. How lovely.”

Luke took his wife’s hand and kissed it, then rubbed it against his cheek. “Caroline is still mad for their scones. It was the only thing she could keep down for a few months.”

Catherine smiled at her sister-in-law. “I’ve had the same problem. Especially with the twins. You are glowing, though, Caroline.”

Luke smiled. “She is radiant, isn’t she?”

“I don’t always feel radiant,” Caroline grumbled good-naturedly. “My ankles are thickening as fast as my waist. I’m more than ready for June to arrive.”

“So am I,” declared Luke. “Our first baby. Of many.”

Jeremy smiled. His brother had always been wild about children. For a few years, Jeremy had wondered if Luke would ever come to his senses and settle down. He’d been one of London’s most famous rogues, bedding women left and right. Thank goodness, Caroline had come into his life. Luke was positively batty for his wife.

As he should be.

“Do I have time to pop up to the nursery before tea?” Luke asked.

Catherine nodded. “You better make the time. The children would be positively crushed if their Uncle Luke didn’t visit them.”

“I’ll be right back,” he promised and left the drawing room.

Caroline patted her belly. “I can’t wait for Luke to see this little one. I’ve never known a man who adores children as much as he does. I think I fell in love with him as I watched Delia make him her own personal pony. He wrestled with Timothy. Read to Jenny.” She smiled at the memory. “He will be a wonderful father.”

Cor entered the room at that moment and Jeremy rushed to her. His grandmother had raised him and his siblings since each of the three had lost their mothers in childbirth. Now seventy-six, Cor was moving a little more slowly than in past years but her mind was still as sharp as a razor and her tongue could slice a man to pieces with little effort.

“How is my favorite grandmother doing?” he asked, taking her arm and leading her to a seat.

“Better now that I can visit with these two lovely ladies,” Cor replied. “How are you feeling, Caroline, dear?”

The women began talking and Jeremy’s mind wandered. The teacart arrived and Catherine busied herself pouring out tea.

“Shall I go drag Luke from the nursery?” he asked. “If I don’t, Caroline might gobble up all of the scones and he’ll have none.”

“Go ahead, Duke,” his wife encouraged, her eyes bright.

He knew she was thinking of what they’d be doing after teatime and winked at her.

“I’ll be back shortly,” he promised.

As Jeremy left the drawing room and closed the door, he went to the staircase and found Barton ascending it. He’d never seen the butler ruffled in all his years of service.

Until now.

“Barton? What’s wrong?”

“Your Grace...” The man’s voice faded. He shook his head. “I always feared this day would come.”

“You’re worrying me, Barton. Spit it out.”

“It’s the young lady, Your Grace.”

“What young lady?” he demanded.

“The young lady that wishes to see you.”

---