An Heir of Uncertainty
Page 29
“Lady Serena Vaughan,” Lina said as he came to stand beside the bed. “Julia will be happy we could use the name she picked out, though next time I’m convinced it will be a boy.”
“Next time?” he managed with a good imitation of nonchalance.
“Well, of course.” She gazed down at the sleeping baby. “You’ll need an heir, now that you’re Earl of Radbourne. I’m sure Freddie would make a fine peer, but he’s much happier looking after his birds.”
Win started to laugh. He couldn’t help it—the joy just came bubbling out of him for no good reason. Was it really possible to be so happy one couldn’t keep from laughing, or had the experience of becoming a new stepfather and a nobleman on the same day propelled him into near-hysteria? He decided it didn’t matter.
Lina gave him a doubtful look that told him she had no idea what was so funny, though she soon joined in a little, adding a giggle or two of her own. “Are you all right?”
“Yes,” he said when his hilarity subsided a bit. “Or no. I can’t help it.” He wiped at his eyes, which were actually tearing up, and broke into a fresh fit of laughter. “I was picturing Freddie taking a seat in Parliament, sponsoring bill after bill favoring pigeons.” He gulped. “I suppose we really ought to have a boy, when you’re ready to give it a try.”
She smiled up at him, looking tired but every bit as happy as he was. He sat down gently on the bed beside her and waited for the hysterical lightness to fade. When eventually it did, he leaned across the sleeping baby to kiss her. “I think I must have paced a furrow at the foot of the stairs, waiting to hear you were safely delivered.”
“Don’t tell me you waited in the hall the whole time.”
“Well, Dr. Strickland didn’t seem to need my help, and I wasn’t about to waste the time it would take to fetch me from the study or the drawing room once there was news.” Giddy joy bubbled up inside him again. He tried to hold it in, but the most sobriety he could manage was a smile that stretched from ear to ear, ending in a convulsive hiccup of laughter.
Lina looked sidelong at him. “You’re sure you’re all right?”
“Don’t worry, there’s no cause to fear for my reason. I just never expected to be this happy.”
“O ye of little faith,” she said, and slipped her hand into his. “You’d better get used to it.”
* * * * *
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About the Author
Alyssa Everett grew up in Florida, where from an early age her favorite books typically had dukes in them. As a teen she worked in an amusement park, doing just about every kind of odd job a person can do, from collecting garbage to captaining an African boat cruise.
She met her future husband at Harvard University. They currently live with their three children and a springer spaniel in small-town Pennsylvania.
An Heir of Uncertainty is her fourth regency romance.
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ISBN-13: 9781426898068
AN HEIR OF UNCERTAINTY
Copyright © 2014 by Alyssa Everett
Edited by Deborah Nemeth
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