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Jere "She likely will And fro He’s ready to retire Seeeave hi look

"I can’t help it, Jely self-serving It’s just…" Toby ran a hand through his hair "It seeht to be doing for my own reasons, you know? Because I want to do it Not just because it’s what Isabel wantsToby honestly did yearn to find so an estate that hardly needed tending and waltzing girls onto verandahs He realized noatching Isabel’s principles in action, he’d been craving just that for years But, selfishly enough, Toby wanted to find that purpose or goal for himself--not be handed it by someone else Not even her

"My Lord Can you hear yourself?" More ungodly noises filtered down from upstairs, and Jere "So through hell just to bring your child into the world At this ive for Lucy, up to and includingabout the prospect of sitting through a few boring coentlee You want ed Well, when he put it that way … For a plan that was supposed to keep everyone happy, this election scheht cad

"I’ll tell you how to lose," Jereuivable things at her Send her tearing off in a fury so she’ll go into labor a er her health and the life of your unborn child Make her so bloody angry with you that she won’t even allow you at her bedside while she’s suffering That is how to lose … everything"

Toby hurt for his friend He knew Jeremy was prone to bouts of dark humor, but this was extreme pessimism, even for him

"Je his voice fir to be fine, and the babe as well You’ll see Whatever row the two of you had, it will all be forgiven when you’re cooing over your newborn child"

Jereive u"

Jeremy blew out a slow breath "I came home early, around noon I suspected I’d find Lucy in the new nursery Lately she spends the whole day in there, arranging and rearranging it Ier to surpriseho atop a tiny three-legged table, adjusting the netting that goes round the cradle" He ran a hand through his hair "Of course I startled her, and with her being so aard and round, perched on that spindly table …"

Toby’s heart stalled "Did she fall?"

"No Thank God"

"Then what happened?"

"I raced to her side and bodily hauled her down from the table I may have uttered soe to chuckle, i that scene "And how did Lucy take that?"

"How do you think?" Jeremy raised an eyebrow "Of course she took offense, started berating me for my interference But damn it, she could have fallen at any e of servants to fuss with netting, if that hat she desired No, Lucy had to do it herself--never et like that, when the time is close" Toby sipped his drink "Toward the end of nancy, her husband found her down on her hands and knees, using a hairpin to clean the grooves between the kitchen floorboards"

Jeremy shook his head "It wasn’t the fact that I pulled her down, it was everything that caued since the first weeks of our ry The things I said to her, Toby … Lucy will never forgiveto see me now She knows I pushed her away, pushed her into labor before her time She wants to punish me, and God knows I deserve it"

He ht now, I scarcely care about the baby, that’s what a fiend I aht I don’t knohat I’d do if I lost her"

"You won’t lose her" Toby put a hand on his friend’s shoulder "Jem, I hate to put it this way, but Lucy kneell before thistyrant you are"

"An addle-brained brute" Jererimaced "That’s what she calls me when she’s cross"

"Very well She knows you’re an addle-brained brute, then But she also knows you love her And she loves you You’re not the only one with protective i you away, I doubt it’s from some desire to punish you If I know Lucy, she’s the one shielding you As your little row thisproves, you can’t bear to see her in distress She knows that, and she doesn’t want this to be any harder for you than it already is"

"You’re wrong" Jereht"

"When it corip on the conversation Joss and Gray had long ago ceased talking, and the room tumbled into a well of silence Eerie, lifeless silence No screaone quiet up there," Gray finally said "Or had you noticed?"

Toby cursed inwardly Of course he’d noticed He’d been trying not to speculate on what it meant

Jeremy returned to his armchair and sank into it With a low moan, he buried his face in his hands

"She’s fine," Joss said "She won’t die, not today"

Jeremy made a sound of derision "Suddenly you’re the voice of optimism? How do you know she’ll be fine?"

"I just know"