Marry in Haste (The Vaughns #2)

Chapter 29

“Y ou didn’t!” gasped Mrs. Stoughton, her hand flying to her mouth as she gaped at Joanna. “I would’ve been mortified.”

The past four months had seen many changes wrought in Mrs. Joanna Vaughn, but the one constant that remained was the ease with which her face flushed at the slightest provocation, and it gave a tell-tale blush at the mere memory. Yet despite her cheeks burning red, Joanna laughed—a warm, genuine sound, which held a hint of self-directed humor but lacked any sharpness.

“Oh, I assure you I was, but mortification and I are old friends,” replied Joanna.

The two jabbered back and forth, and though Eddie tried to maintain a conversation with Mr. Stoughton, his attention was drawn back to his wife. The rest of the guests had long departed, but she and their hostess looked quite pleased to remain standing in the entrance hall until the sun peeked over the horizon.

And as much as he wanted to indulge her, Eddie cleared his throat, drawing her attention to him.

“Is that your way of prodding me?” she said with narrowed eyes.

Mr. Stoughton leaned close and whispered, sotto voce , “Be careful how you answer that.”

“I would never dream of pulling you away a minute earlier than you wish, but you and Mrs. Stoughton are going to spend the afternoon together tomorrow, and the hour is growing late,” said Eddie, which earned him a wince from his brother in arms and an arched brow from the fellow’s wife.

But Joanna gave him a mock scowl before bidding their hosts farewell. “Come, it seems my husband is tired and needs to be put to bed.”

Eddie assisted her with her wrap, and when they were properly attired, they stepped out into the night. In truth, it wasn’t as late as all that. Though the stars shone in the sky above, the informal gathering hadn’t included much beyond dinner, and yet Eddie couldn’t deny that he wanted his bed.

The Stoughtons lived within Thornsby proper, but their home sat far enough away that Eddie wished he had borrowed his parents’ gig, even if the weather was pleasant enough for a stroll. The roads were rather quiet, though there was the odd person about, and their path took them through the quieter parts of the village.

Reaching out with his arm, he glanced at her to take it.

“Thank you for the gallantry, but the ground is even enough,” she replied with a shake of her head. “I can manage quite well.”

Eddie stifled a sigh at the refrain that had become the motto of their marriage over the past month. Joanna didn’t need a steady hand or arm. She didn’t require compliments. And with each and every offer of assistance or kindness, she insisted on “managing” alone. As if by merely touching his arm, she would fall prey to his allures and be unable to control herself. Their marriage was to protect her, but apparently, the only thing she needed protection from was him.

Forcing himself to recall all the many reasons he wasn’t going to press the issue, Eddie lowered his head as they wove their way through town. This was what Joanna wanted. Shoulders dropping, he forced his feet along the path, kicking the odd rock that came within striking distance. Joanna didn’t speak, but then, what was there to say to the husband she neither wanted nor needed?

Giving one particularly irritating stone a good kick, Eddie considered how twisted fate’s humor was. For years, Joanna had hung on his every word, yearned for his company and assistance with anything and everything, and for years, he’d found it trying. Discomforting, really. That hero worship had felt unearned and excessive.

And now, it was gone.

Not that Eddie wanted an acolyte for a wife, but being rendered unnecessary by the one person who ought to need him most was a bitter pill.

But was it any wonder that she dismissed him so readily? His own father demonstrated little faith in his abilities; why would he excel at marriage when he wasn’t fit to manage the patients? Gads, Mother was shocked that he was shouldering his responsibilities as a husband. Eddie felt the storm clouds gathering in his heart, but he couldn’t bat them away again—

Joanna cleared her throat, and it was only then that he realized she was no longer standing at his side. Turning, Eddie found her a few steps behind him with a wince pulling at her features.

“Is it too late for me to reconsider the arm you offered me?” she asked with a sigh.

Eddie straightened, his brows lowering as his mind slowly translated the words into something comprehensible. She wanted his assistance? With two steps, he was by her side and lifted his arm for her to take.

“What is the matter?” he asked.

“I am more fatigued than I realized,” she replied, though the manner in which she clung to him made it clear she was more than merely “fatigued.”

“I can fetch the family’s gig if you need it,” he said, nodding down the road in that direction. “The Stoughtons’ home is far enough away that I had thought about borrowing it—”

“No, it is not so dire as all that,” said Joanna with a wave of her free hand. Yet as she gave him more of her weight, Eddie turned his gaze to study her. “I’ve just been so ill of late.”

He straightened again, and his eyes snapped back to the road ahead as Joanna expounded on health troubles that had been plaguing her for some time—none of which she’d mentioned before.

Casting his thoughts back to before she placed this great hulking barricade of silence between them, Eddie realized she’d said something about being fatigued, but that had been due to moving homes. Surely she hadn’t been suffering for weeks without speaking up to her husband—who was also her physician.

Unless she preferred to be seen by Father. It wasn’t as though Eddie had asked her, and perhaps she’d already spoken to the gentleman. After all, why trouble her husband with such information? With each passing moment, his shoulders fell, his footsteps plodding along.

“…sometimes it takes all my strength to simply stand,” she said with a frown. “But no doubt it’s because I can barely eat of late. Nothing sounds appetizing, and though I can force some food into me, I know it’s not enough…”

*

Edward jerked to a stop, halting them both, and Joanna turned a puzzled frown to him, though he stood like a statue, staring down the road. This whole illness had been lingering for weeks now, and it was high time she admitted that it wasn’t simply the worry and effort of relocating their household that had left her drained. Something was the matter, and now, Dr. Edward Vaughn stood in the lane, looking as though a light breeze might knock him down.

“What is it?” asked Joanna, though she feared his response.

Dark eyes turned to her, finally seeming to see her as his brows rose. “When was your last monthly course?”

Her face reddened at the bald question. “I don’t know. But it has been several weeks at least. Not since we settled in our new home, I know that for certain.”

And before she knew what he was about, Edward had his arms around her, squeezing her tight and eliciting a squeak of surprise from Joanna. As she stood there with wide eyes, her mind quickly sifted through the conversation, trying to piece together a reason for his reaction…

It couldn’t be.

Edward pulled away, examining her as though looking for any outward sign of trouble, but Joanna merely gaped as she pressed a hand to her abdomen.

“You don’t believe…?” she asked, the question drifting off into nothing, and Edward straightened, his brows raised.

“You do understand how children are conceived, don’t you?” he asked, his words choked.

Joanna had already felt overheated, and now she was certain her face would combust. “Of course I do. I just… I have never spent time around expectant mothers, and though Aunt Patricia spoke to me about…” Joanna waved a hand toward him, “…all that, it wasn’t as though she went into depth about what it means to bear a child. She wasn’t particularly forthcoming.”

With wide eyes, Edward stared at her. “Good heavens. I didn’t think…” Clearing his throat, he shifted in place and graced her with a smile. “Then allow me to tell you, Mrs. Vaughn, that I believe you are expecting. At least two months along, if you are correct about your monthlies.”

Good gracious. There was that word again. Joanna knew she ought not to be shocked at hearing a physician speak of such things, but as her education on such matters had been minimal (at best), hearing anyone refer to it was startling. But her flush faded as Edward scooped her into an embrace again. He held her tight, the excitement coursing through him and settling into her as Joanna realized what this meant.

A child? Despite knowing (and hoping) such a thing would occur, she could hardly believe it had happened so quickly. Four months married, and a baby on the way. Clinging tightly to her husband, Joanna didn’t know what to do or say, though her mind spun with all the many ways their lives were to change with this new addition.

Edward released her again, his hands lingering on hers as he examined her. “We need to get you home. I should fetch the gig. But there is nowhere for you to sit while I do so…”

The gentleman began babbling in a manner that was entirely unlike him as he fluttered about her like a mother hen—only to pause and look at her with a beaming grin as though this was the best news he’d ever received, and though Joanna was happy in her own right, seeing his excitement expanded her own.

“I think we should go speak to your parents,” she said, her mind filling with thoughts of how his family would react. “Their first grandchild.”

But Edward stopped short, his brow creasing. “I don’t know if we should announce it yet. It is still very early, and though you show all the signs of it, there is no way for us to know for certain that you are expecting for another month or two. And there is no guarantee… As much as we may hope and pray that all goes well…”

His eyes dimmed, his expression falling, and though Joanna knew little about such matters, she knew there were no assurances that all would come right in the end.

“If the worst happens, it can be doubly painful when you have to tell others,” said Edward.

Considering that wisdom, Joanna sorted through her feelings, as it was clear where his lay. Over the past month, they’d arrived at a truce of sorts, and instinct warned her to let things lie. Simply agree. That was the easier course that was guaranteed not to stir up greater trouble when things were peaceful once more between them.

Yet now that she was stepping beyond the role of pacifier, she found she hated playing that part more and more.

Joanna drew in a breath and nodded. “I understand your concern, Edward, but I would like your mother to know at the very least. While I value your expertise, I need a woman who can guide me through this as well. And should the worst happen, wouldn’t it be better to have support than suffer in silence? No doubt your parents have experienced such heartbreak and would empathize.”

There was a long moment before Edward nodded. “Of course, Joanna.”

But then his expression shifted, warning her that impishness was about to occur as he added, “Please do not take this the wrong way.”

And before she could ask him what he meant, the fellow leaned in and pressed a kiss to her cheek.

With a faint smile, he winced. “I apologize if that is taking a liberty, but if ever there was a time for a man to kiss his wife, it would be now.”

Edward’s hands remained wrapped around hers, and they stood facing one another in the lane. There was no one about to see such a thing, and for the briefest of moments, Joanna longed to grab him by the lapels and steal a proper kiss—the type that never found its way beyond their bedchamber.

But she cleared her throat and pressed a hand to her forehead as she stepped away and, with firm resolve, crushed those feelings, squeezing them down until they were hidden from sight once more.