Lord Freddie's First Love
Page 16
He shrugged his shoulders. “In time, she will come around.”
“There is one thing more I should tell you,” Anne said. “When I left here, I went to see Sarah’s lover, Captain Montgomery.”
Freddie nodded, but did not release her from his arms. “I had guessed as much,” he said.
“Captain Montgomery never knew that Sarah was pregnant. He only learned of Ian’s existence by accident and had called here to see if he could learn any news of the boy. His wife can not have children, so they asked to raise Ian as their own. Of course I refused, however I did agree to tell Ian about his father, and to let Ian visit with the Montgomerys from time to time.” The words came out of her in a rush.
“Why did you not tell me?” he asked. “You can not imagine how worried I was when you disappeared without a word.” He had imagined all sorts of dreadful things, including the possibility that Anne had run off with the captain. Only his faith in her had seen him through these last days.
“I wanted to. But I felt I had to make this decision as my own,” she answered.
He nodded, his eyes full of understanding. He drew her back in his arms, and she rested her head against his chest, while he stroked her hair.
“Mama?”
She lifted her head and saw Ian standing in the doorway. “Mama, why is Lord Frederick hugging you?”
“Because we are to be married,” Freddie said firmly. He relinquished his hold on her and turned to face the child. “That is, if you agree?”
“I do,” Ian said, nodding his head firmly. “I like you because you make Mama smile.”
Anne blinked back the start of tears.
“Does this mean that you will be my father?” Ian asked.
“In a way, yes,” Freddie replied.
Ian turned to Anne. “And Captain Montgomery, he is my father, too?”
“Yes,” Anne answered. “But you will live with us.”
Ian grinned, from ear to ear. “Two papas! I’ll bet I’m the first boy to ever have two papas! I must go tell Sammy,” he declared, and then dashed off.
“Will he be gone for long?” Freddie asked.
“Probably not,” Anne replied. “So if you want to kiss me, you had better do so now. We are not likely to get this much privacy again till the wedding night.”
He smiled uncertainly, as if unused to being the object of such affection. So she reached up and pulled his head down to hers. He might have much to teach her about making love, but she already knew all she needed to show him how much she loved him in return.
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