Chapter 24
GRACE
Two Weeks Later
“Idon’t know why you're trying to hide it, Jack told me weeks ago,” Cecelia comments spitefully as she catches me sucking myself in and looking in the hall mirror.
“I’m not trying to hide anything.” I turn to face her, cussing Jack in my head. “Why would I?”
“I don’t know, but I’m guessing it’s for the same reason that there has been no official announcement.
I’m judging from the size of you that you've passed the first trimester. It’s around this time that the cheating starts.
” She looks down her nose at the tiny little bump that seems to have appeared over the past few days.
“How far along I am is none of your business,” I tell her in no uncertain terms. “None of what me and Jack do is your business, so stay out.” I hear Jack coming out of his office, and when I look up and see him in his black tuxedo, that pulse he puts in my pussy starts beating out of control again.
“You look beautiful.” He glides past Cecelia as if she’s not even there and kisses me, his hand stroking over my middle the way it always does when we’ve been apart for more than a few minutes.
“You don’t think this dress is a little tight?” I check, hating that that bitch has me paranoid.
“Not at all, it shows off every perfect curve.” His fingers skim a little lower and send me crazy.
“We should go, or we’ll be late.” I grab his hand and drag him out the door before I force him upstairs, and we don’t get to this party at all.
Neither of us bothers to say goodbye to Cecelia, and I wait until we are sitting in the back of the car before I give Jack the shove in his ribs with my elbow that he deserves.
“Whoa, what's wrong?” He laughs as he rubs his side.
“You told Cecelia I was pregnant; we’re supposed to be keeping it a secret!”
“Tell that to our little duke.” He smiles, pressing his palm flat against my bump and proving that I was right; this dress is too tight.
“She said she’s known for weeks.” I try to be mad at him, but every time his hands are on my body, it distracts me. I can’t help liking the way he touches me like I’m the most precious thing in the world. It’s my hormones.
“I told her when she noticed you were upset with me, I wanted to wipe the smug look off her face. I’m sorry,” he admits.
“I’m all for knocking the smugness off her face.
I’d knock a lot more out of her if I could, but a heads up would have been nice.
” I decide to drop it and try to have a good night.
I’m not feeling anywhere near as sick as I have been, and Olivia and Bea are going to be at the party too.
I could sure use some female company. “Now, are you going to tell me what this party is all about?” I sigh, hoping to God it’s not another stuffy three-course dinner.
“Lord Kilby was my dad’s best friend and Thomas’s godfather; he wanted to throw a party to welcome me to the society.” Jack looks unimpressed as he sits back in his seat.
“Isn’t that something he should have done a few months ago?” I question, confused.
“If I’d have let him, it probably would have been. I’ve been putting it off, making excuses. I guess I ran out of them.” He shrugs.
“I’m surprised Cecelia isn’t coming, especially if he was her son's godfather.”
“Well, if listening to the house staff is anything to go by, Cecelia is most offended by Gordon’s gesture, and has had quite the fallout with Lady Margaret over it.” He mimics Cecelia’s posh voice and laughs playfully.
“Oh, really? I think I’m going to enjoy this party.” I glance at him from the corner of my eye.
The Kilbys have really gone all out, and although the weather is still a little too cold for us to appreciate their gardens, the lights illuminate the lawn where a spectacular of circus-style acts is being performed.
“No sign of the dragon I see.” I hear a whisper come from behind me, and when I quickly spin around, I’m delighted by who I see.
“Bea!” I screech a little too loudly as I wrap my arms around her. “I’m so glad you came. Where are Alex and Olivia?” I search around the room looking for them.
“They got stuck in the hall talking to Lady Winfield. I moved on before she noticed I was with them.” She winks,
“Sounds like a lucky escape,” Jack tells her, wrapping his arm around my waist when he returns with a flute of orange juice for me.
“Antibiotics,” I explain, holding it up to her and smiling.
“So how does it feel to have a party thrown in your honour?” she asks Jack, at least pretending to be excited.
“It’s very kind of the Kilbys to offer me such a welcome.” He makes sure his voice carries loud enough for everyone around us to hear.
“Or a fine way to ensure you don’t forget who they are. Sometimes, this guy forgets he’s one of the richest men in the country.” Bea lowers her voice and leans into me.
“I think Lord and Lady Kilby do alright for themselves,” Jack smirks, looking up to the tall ceiling of their lavish home.
“I hear differently. Will… he’s my boyfriend,” she explains, “tells me that they’ve just made their gamekeeper redundant, and they’ve supposedly asked their house staff to take a salary cut.”
“Beatrice Stanley, are you turning into a gossip?” Jack accuses her, winking at me over the rim of his glass.
“I’ve just learnt that if you can’t beat them, join them.” She shrugs unapologetically,
“Did you hear about the rift this party caused? That’s why the dragon isn’t here.” I decide to offer Bea a little something in return.
“You two together are dangerous.” Jack shakes his head and laughs.
“And you should be mingling.” Grabbing him by his shoulders, Bea spins him around to face the room.
“You can trust me to entertain your wife.” Giving him a gentle shove, she takes my arm and leads me in the opposite direction.
I look over my shoulder and smile helplessly at Jack when he’s approached by Elizabeth Winfield and her daughter.
“You're going to have to come up with a better excuse for not drinking; antibiotics have been done to death,” she tells me as we head for the buffet table.
“I’m sorry?” I pretend to be confused.
“Grace, I already know you're pregnant.” She laughs.
“I’ll kill him!” I look over to where Jack is now talking with Alex.
“It wasn’t Jack.” Bea finishes swallowing her tempered prawn and helps herself to another. “I overheard Olivia giving you tips on how to curb the morning sickness.”
“That was ages ago,” I whisper, wondering why she never said anything before.
“They’ll eat you alive if you go with antibiotics. It’s practically code for ‘pregnant’,” she informs me.
“So what would you suggest?” I ask, and before she can answer, the clinking of a glass silences the room, and everyone’s attention turns to Lord Kilby.
“Welcome, friends," he starts, standing proudly beside Jack. “My wife and I would like to welcome you all to our home for this very special occasion.” His wife takes his hand and smiles; I can totally imagine her and Cecelia being friends. “As the previous Duke of Fairfax’s best friend, I feel it is my duty to introduce and welcome his son, Jack, into our society.” His words are followed by a round of applause. “Jack, I speak for us all when we offer our condolences on the passing of your father and brother, but I’m certain that they’d be proud to have you heading the family in their honour.
” He raises his glass, keeping it short and sweet, and once everyone finishes toasting and is about to get back to their conversations, Jack surprises me when he uses a knife to tap his own glass.
“Rupert, Deirdre. I’d like to thank you for such a wonderful welcome, and since we’re joined by so many new friends, it seems like a fitting time for my wife and me to share our happy news.
Gracie, will you join me?” He looks through the crowd of people directly at me, and I feel my cheeks start to burn.
“You really are going to kill him,” Bea whispers before I slowly make my way over to join him, feeling the eyes of every person in the room follow me.
“My wife and I would like to announce that we…” He puts down his glass and presses his palm to my stomach, “...are expecting.” The smile on his face as he looks at me makes it impossible to be mad at him.
His eyes fix on mine as if we’re having some kind of moment, and it’s not until everyone breaks out in applause and cheers that I’m reminded we’re in a room full of people.
“So, here is to the future of Fairfax.” He raises his glass, and while everyone follows, he kisses me the way a proud husband is expected to kiss his pregnant wife.
I cling to his lips for what I’m sure is longer than appropriate, and when we pull apart, I feel tears stinging my eyes.
I wish they were fake happy ones, put on for the audience in front of us.
It would be far less complicated if they were.
Instead, they’re tears of sadness, because I won’t be a part of that Fairfax future, and the more time I spend with Jack, the more I’m starting to wish I could be.