“Tell me everything. How did you two meet? Where did you marry? And couldn’t you have waited until you reached home?” There was a twinge of hurt in her voice and Rose’s guilt escalated.

  She opened her mouth to explain, but Kenelm spoke first. “Mother, after I rescued Rose, our feelings rekindled naturally.”

  “And you participated in a tribal ceremony, but that wasn’t legitimate.”

  “Which is why we married on my ship.” He held Rose’s hand as he spoke. She needed the support.

  “What about the bans and—”

  “I’ve taken care of that. Which brings me to my next question. We’d like to have another, more public ceremony. Would you help us?”

  Eleanor shifted her gaze to Rose. “Are you sure, dear?”

  Rose clasped her hands. “I would love your assistance… Mother.”

  She’d taken a risk, but Eleanor seemed pleased.

  “Then I shall be delighted to assist.” She clapped her hands and began to pace. “We’ll need to invite guests. And order food. And the gown, we must find a seamstress to design the most unique gown in all of England.”

  Kenelm looked at her and shrugged.

  “You two settle in, and I’ll speak with the cook about dinner. After we eat, we’ll discuss details.” She almost skipped to the door. “This is so exciting.”

  Then she was gone and they were alone.

  Kenelm pulled her down onto his lap. “Are you regretting your decision to marry me?”

  “Hardly.” She found Eleanor quite charming. And the fact that she loved her son made him and her all that more appealing.

  “My mother can be—”

  “She is wonderful.’

  “Are you sure?”

  “Too much love is better than disdain.” Or no love at all. She would know.

  “Oh, my love.”

  She laid her head on his shoulder and wept.

  Chapter Nine: Renewal

  “Put the flowers over there and straighten the chairs.” Eleanor was as involved as any mother of the bride would be.

  Rose was happy for the help; morning nausea had kept her in bed until noon. She wasn’t making a very good impression. She would have spent the time before she fell asleep talking to Kenelm about the situation but during the last two months of wedding preparations Eleanor had required they sleep in separate rooms. Two nights of being held in her husband’s arms and then it was just gone. She was beginning to think it had been a dream.

  A warm hand fell to her waist. “You look green. Do you need to lie down?”

  She shook her head—a big mistake. She clamped her hand over her mouth and ran toward the rose bushes. Hunkered behind their breadth the contents of her meager breakfast resurfaced.

  She fell onto her backside. The earth was moist from dew and it seeped into her gown and made her shiver with cold. Then the tears came. She tried to staunch them, but it was of no use.

  “Ah, my love.” Kenelm placed his arm beneath her knees and hoisted her against his chest. “Let’s go to your room and grab a cold cloth. Then we’ll summon the physician.”

  She wasn’t arguing. She wrapped her arms around his neck and laid her head against his chest. It was the most relaxed she’d felt in days.

  ****

  Kenelm buried his panic. Rose was as white as a sheet. She’d been ill for at least a week. Unable to keep down food. Unable to walk straight. She spent half the day abed. It wasn’t like her.

  He’d wanted to mention a physician before but his mother had insisted it was merely the new environment and Rose would improve—Mother had been wrong.

  Rose was light as if she’d lost weight in recent weeks. He knew she’d struggled to keep food down, but hadn’t realized how much she’d stopped eating.

  He laid her on a pile of colorful pillows. She curled on her side and placed her hands beneath her cheeks. “I just need to rest for a moment.” Her eyelids were already drooping.

  He slipped from the room. Downstairs, he penned a message to the local village physician. He snagged a servant and gave him instructions to retrieve the physician.

  Mother still paced, pointing left and right and barking orders. The formal wedding ceremony was to take place in two days’ time, and Mother declared half the work was unfinished. He had no idea which half she meant, but he was afraid to question. His concern was whether Rose would be ready for a wedding in two days.

  He lost track of how many times he ran upstairs to peek at Rose while he awaited the physician. The elderly gentleman arrived, his hair wildly out of place.

  “This young fellow and your note imply that a young lady is ill.”

  “Yes, this way.”

  “What can you tell me?”

  “My wife has been ill for about two weeks—”

  “Wife?”

  “Yes.” It still felt odd to say, but it was the word he’d longed to use for years.

  “I heard in town that the young Kennaway gent was getting married. Isn’t that you?”

  He scratched a spot between his brows. “My wife and I married at sea.”

  “Ah, so this is the official ceremony.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “What are your wife’s symptoms?”

  Kenelm listed everything he could remember, finishing when they reached Rose’s door. He pushed it open slowly so as not to startle her. Rose still hadn’t moved.

  Kenelm approached the bed and laid his hand on her forehead. “Rose, darling?”

  She blinked and yawned behind her hand. “Did you need something?”

  She must have forgotten that he’d sent for a physician. Maybe she was more ill than he’d thought. “The physician has arrived to see you.”

  “There is no need for alarm. He didn’t need to be called.” She frowned at him as she peered around his side at the weaselly type gentleman at the door. His appearance did not affect his skill, Kenelm would testify to that.

  “Yes, I did need to call him.” He picked up her hand. So much paler than ever before.

  The physician stepped forward. “If you’ll just step outside.”

  Kenelm had very little choice as the elderly fellow practically pushed him out the door. The hallway was empty so he paced the length. He stopped at the door each time, waiting for word. If something happened to Rose how would he survive?

  The door opened. The physician exited, a smile tugging at his lips. Why was he smiling when Rose was so ill? Perhaps he’d been incorrect about the gentleman’s credentials.

  “Go in Sir Kennaway, and speak with your wife.”

  “Is she all right?” He squeezed his hands into fists.

  The physician patted his shoulder. “She will be just fine. Now you must converse with her.”

  Kenelm watched him disappear down the stairs before he pushed the bedroom door open and entered. Rose was sitting up. Her delicate hand lay on her stomach. She didn’t appear worried, more like relieved.

  He settled on the bed beside her, took hold of her hand, and placed it in his lap. “The physician said you had something to tell me.” He should have added how irritated he was that the gentleman hadn’t revealed his wife’s condition so he could be prepared, but he would keep that to himself.

  She looked at him, her eyes wide. He couldn’t read her. It was disconcerting.

  She licked her lips. “We should marry soon.”

  “Well officially we are married, and our second, well third, ceremony will occur again in two days.” He didn’t see how they could get sooner than that.

  “Kenelm, I know we haven’t discussed the future or settling down permanently, but how do you feel about that?”

  “You’re confusing me.”

  She drew in a deep breath and squeezed his hand. “You’re going to be a father.”

  He thought he should clean his ears. He couldn’t have heard correctly. “What did you say?”

  She placed his hand over her stomach. Her smile broadened even more. “We’re having a baby.”

  ****

  Kenelm had been very attentive, a little more so than she wanted him to be. At least after they were married, then he might calm down.

  Eleanor entered. “Ready to dress, dear?”

  They had yet to tell Eleanor the news, preferring to save the information until after the ceremony. At least the ginger from the cook had settled her stomach somewhat or she would never have made it this far.

  “I am.”

  The material was ivory in nature. The waist under the bust and the skirt fell in a straight, shimmering line to her feet. The ruche bust held a piece of lace. The sleeves were puffy at the shoulder then narrowed as they descended to the wrist.

  She stripped to her chemise. The looking glass showed no evidence of the change happening within. Which kept her in awe. How could a life grow inside her and no one be able to tell?

  Eleanor flitted about her. The corset went on first. She pushed air into her lungs as Eleanor grunted and tightened. Rose didn’t want it to be too tight against the baby. Next, she stepped into the gown, and Eleanor lifted it and began to weave the clips in the back.

  “My, my, with as little as you’ve kept down I would have thought the dress would be too large, but I seem to be struggling to place it together.”

  Rose let the air from her lungs, hoping the gown would fit better. Perhaps her girth had changed more than she’d realized.

  “There.” Eleanor turned her. She smoothed every piece of the gown. And patted Rose’s already arranged hair. “You’re perfect, my dear.”

  Tears coated her eyes and clogged her throat. Today was perfect.

  Eleanor clutched her hand. “I know that you haven’t had a mother in a long time, and I can never replace yours, but maybe we can be friends.”

  She sniffled. “I would like that very much.” She was going to need an experienced mother when the baby came.

  A knock on the door jolted them both. The knocking persisted. “All right, I’m coming.” Eleanor stalked to the door. Rose felt for the person who had interrupted them.

  Eleanor barely parted it and let out a rush of air. “Kenelm, whatever are you about?”

  “I’d like to see Rose.”

  “Absolutely not. She has been arrayed in her gown.”

  “But—”

  Now Rose really felt for her visitor. Kenelm hadn’t gone a day without seeing her multiple times. Despite his responsibilities on the estate and assisting with wedding preparations, he found time for her.

  “You will be married soon. You will see her then.”

  “Mother, I must see she is all right.”

  “I am well, husband.” She hoped her voice would suffice.

  “There, now you know she is well.”

  “What am I to do with myself?”

  “Away to your room and dress in your own wedding clothes. It will make the time pass more quickly.”

  Kenelm muttered as he stalked away. Eleanor secured the door.

  “At least the boy is anxious for his nuptials.”

  If she only knew…

  ****

  Kenelm paced his room at least twenty-seven times. He’d been rummaging through his father’s things and found a bronze locket. It was shaped like a heart. Inside was an inscription:

  My love, my heart.

  He remembered when Father had returned from a voyage and given the bronze heart to Mother. She had flung it into the ocean, declaring she was returning it to his true love.

  Father hadn’t hesitated but dove in after the necklace and retrieved it. Back on the dock, he shook like a wet dog, then strolled to Mother, lifted her hair and clasped the necklace around her neck. She had trembled, and he’d kissed the back of her hand and said, “You are my heart.”

  It had been that moment that sealed what kind of relationship he wanted. He sought that passion and fire with the ability to love the right woman completely. Not just a business relationship. He’d seen that passion in Rose from the very beginning, which was why he’d run when Evander squeezed in—he couldn’t bear to watch as he lost her. But he’d done that to himself.

  The bronze heart rolled around his hand. He’d wanted Rose to wear it during the ceremony, but Mother had kept him from entering. Would she be upset when she learned of the baby? He hoped her enthusiasm outweighed her anger or there could be a problem for him.

  The gray cravat tightened as if a noose around his neck. He wanted the ceremony over so he could be with his wife again.

  The gentle knock on the door alerted him.

  “It’s time.”

  He didn’t recognize the servant who spoke, but he stood and straightened his greatcoat. His new life awaited.

  Chapter Ten: Home

  Rose stretched her arms over her head then settled at Kenelm’s side. Her stomach growled.

  “Hungry?”

  “Famished.” Heat flushed her face. She was just glad he couldn’t see her.

  He laughed even as he trailed his fingertip along her arm.

  She shivered.

  “Cold?”

  “Just the opposite.”

  “Hmm, perhaps we should eat first.”

  She propped her chin on his chest and stared into his smoldering blue eyes. “Perhaps.”

  “We need to speak with Mother.”

  A week had passed since the wedding. They’d decided to stay at the country house instead of taking a trip for their honeymoon. She’d had enough adventures for a while.

  She sat up. Her hair fell over her shoulder, and the bronze heart cooled the skin in the valley between her breasts. Kenelm had given it to her after the ceremony, and she’d vowed to never take it off.

  Kenelm rolled to a sitting position on the side of the bed and stretched his muscular arms above his head.

  “I shall go downstairs and ask if the cow is ready.”

  She slapped his back playfully and fell back against the pillows. “That again!”

  He rotated and placed her on his lap. “Admit that you are not that hungry and I’ll take it back.”

  “Hmm, I fear I cannot.”

  His head went back in uproarious laughter. “You do my soul well.”

  She cupped his cheek. “And you mine.”

  He sat her back on the bed. “As much as I would enjoy staying here all day, I do have matters to attend to.”

  “You do?” Her heart sank.

  “Aye. Jones and Duplay are visiting from London, and we have business to discuss.”

  He tugged on his breeches and stockings. His shirt lay open and she admired his chest. Tiny dark hairs curled in random patterns.

  She sighed. She was still clothed in her nightdress.

  She bit her lip. Was he planning to set sail and leave her? Surely, he wouldn’t. Not now that there was a baby to consider.

  He kissed her cheek. “I will see you downstairs.”

  So he expected her to get out of bed today. How detestable.

  ****

  His wife was delectable, and he could have stayed abed with her for a lifetime, but there were matters to take care of.

  Jones and Duplay had agreed to continue working for Mr. Necome for a portion of the profit, and he had agreed to let them use his vessel, The Golden Goose, to run the goods. The gold had been split per his instructions and promise, leaving him with a hefty sum to create a permanent home for Rose, him, and their child. In fact, it should be complete within the week if all went well.

  Jones and Duplay rose from the dining room chairs as he entered the long room. Jones appeared slightly put out by the lateness of the hour, but Duplay was fascinated by the room’s grandeur and took extra time to notice Kenelm’s presence.

  “If I were heir here, I would never depart.”

  Kenelm recognized the envy, but without love, the home had become a prison. “Be that as it may, we should discuss the next voyage.”

  After several minutes of discussion, Jones asked, “And Necome has secured buyers for this fabric?”

  The amount did seem exorbitant, but as of yet they had failed to lose money under Necome’s direction.

  “He assures me we will be reimbursed for the full cost of the trip.”

  The gasp caused him to turn. Rose stood in the doorway clinging to the facing. Her skin was alabaster as if she’d seen a ghost. In his haste to reach her, the chair flung backward and struck the floor.

  He clutched her arms, fearing another swoon. “Darling, what is the matter?”

  “Y-you’re leaving?” The words sounded as if they tore through her body. Such pain, such anguish. “What about the baby? H-how could you?”

  She pulled free, clutched her skirts, and fled. The front door slammed with considerable force, shaking vases along the hallway and threatening to topple them against the marble floor.

  “Baby?” Mother had raced from her office and stared at him.

  Even though Rose was distressed, a smile still came to his face. “Aye, a baby.”

  Tears cascaded along his mother’s aged cheeks. He wrapped her in his arms, but she pushed him away. “Go to Rose. She needs you.”

  Mother was right. He wouldn’t be in a predicament between two women he loved if he’d set Rose straight but he’d been shocked by her outburst. He should have realized she’d be concerned by the possibility of his abandonment. Hadn’t her father pretty much given her up?

  He followed the sound of sobs to the edge of the garden. Rose was on a bench holding the bronze heart necklace in her hand, her shoulders shaking.

  He settled on his haunches before her and clasped her hands in his. She was so small, delicate. He would never leave her to fend for herself unless God Himself deemed it so.

  “Rose, darling, I’m not leaving.”

  “B-but I heard you say…”

  “You heard me discussing Jones and Duplay’s departure. They have agreed to run the shipping business while I live with you and our children.”

  She swallowed. “You aren’t leaving?”

  “We are leaving.”

  “What? I don’t understand.”

  “Trust me when I say that you won’t mind.”

  She sniffled. Her eyes were red and puffy. He’d made his pregnant wife cry. He wouldn’t do it any longer.