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"Might I inquire as to your future plans, my lady, now that Lord Brookshire has taken control of Oak Run?"

Meredith fidgeted, twisting her linen napkin in her lap The news of her approaching motherhood had not yet spread, and she dreaded the revelation, fearing the reaction froe Gossip was inescapable

Sir Hiram especially knew her relationship with Edmund had been less than devoted Edmund’s abandonment had paved the way for his amorous attentions these many years A er of middle years, he lacked the sophistication to be called a rake Left alone to raise a set of troublesome twins that had successfully terrorized every resident of Attingham at one time or another, Meredith believed his attentions were motivated solely by his desperation for companionship

Especially as no female was inclined to take on his two terrors in a ehtest interest had not swayed the lected wife such as she appeared the natural coleamed hopefully, as if he believed his chances i her answer, he touched her hand where it rested on her knee beneath the table She ju her knees-- his hand included--crashing against the table and jarring both their place settings

Hira the injured appendage to his chest Nick looked on, his eyes hard with interest… and soo now?" Felicia tore her attention fro As if the prospect of Meredith leaving were of no account at all, she continued chewing, her cheeks stuffed fat with food A quick glance around the table revealed that everyone waited for her response Evidently, no one expected her to stay on

"Lady Meredith is not going anywhere"

All heads swiveled in Nick’s direction He stabbed a small roasted potato with his fork At that moment, he appeared indifferent to their stares, si of wine before adding, "Lady Meredith will remain here of course This is her holets swinging as she looked back and forth between Nick and Meredith For the first tiirl’s eyes Jealousy shined in the china blue depths "That is highly i his lack of interest in as proper

Meredith wanted to laugh at Felicia’s reddening face If the girl’s outrage weren’t at the cost of her own reputation, she would have been overjoyed

Mr Browne’s unsolicited opinion rang out in strident tones "It cannot be appropriate for two unattached persons to live together out of wedlock--"

"With her aunt to act as chaperone?" Nick shook his head in dissent "I hardly think we are stretching the bounds of propriety" His eyes drilled into the gentleood na differently"

Mr Browne sniffed at the indiscreet warning, but wisely chose not to offer further opinion

"Besides," Nick added in see with uard to her virtue I could not fathoainst the i her eyes, she aze and read the question there You haven’t told them?

In a voice that sounded small and weak even to her own ears, Meredith tried to explain, "I did not know the best ti there never see to the point The young woman’s voice rose over her father and Mr Browne’s ishes "Well, are you the earl or not?"

Nick leaned back in his chair, appearing to enjoy himself as everyone watched him with bated breath, anticipation writ on their faces "That depends"

"Depends?" Felicia snapped, clearly anxious to know if he was a prize worth winning "On what?"

"On the sex of the child"

All eyes swung back to Meredith, drilling into her with unnerving intensity--as if they could strip away her clothes to seek the answer buried within

At her side, Sir Hiram’s voice dropped to a frantic whisper "Lady Meredith, how can this be?"

Indignation welled up inside her Who was he to ask such a question of her? She desired nothing more than to relieve Sir Hiraing set down she wished to vent "I do not understand your led for words, Nick voiced his own question "Yes, what do youhow close he was to insulting his host and hostess, Sir Hiralass in a toast "Felicitations and s on the safe delivery of your child"

Meredith nodded in polite acknowledgment and slasses

She watched Nick drink deeply, his dark eyes trained on her over the riratitude for sratitude

By toha the neould be out of the way Even if no one believed it

Meredith could not say what exactly woke her She lay still in bed for a fewto the silence Then she heard it Voices Floating from the first floor They rumbled in the air like a distant drone of bees The hour had to be very late The night sky was pitch-black out her balconyand the air alht rail, she pulled it over her cotton gown and hurried to investigate She stopped at the top of the stairs, eyeing the scene below

Young Ben Finney stood on the threshold, his hands waving wildly with his excited speech Nels stood there as well, nodding as he listened to the boy

"Nels?" Meredith called froht rail to her throat "Is anything aun The lad here is to fetch Maree"