Chapter 34
GRACE
Two Months Later
“Ireally don’t see the point in all this,” I tell Jack as he does up the zip of my dress and kisses my shoulder.
“It’s a baby shower, you're supposed to have fun.” He laughs, spinning me around to face him and taking my huge, swollen belly in his hands. “You look amazing in this dress.” He looks down at the huge bulge between us, proudly.
“I look like a planet, and you just know there are half a dozen women downstairs who can’t wait to tell me that.” I know it's expected that a woman puts on weight when she’s pregnant, but I wasn’t expecting to be this big. I feel enormous, and still have a whole month to grow.
“You know my opinion; the bigger the better. You’re cooking me a strong, healthy boy in there.” He smiles.
“And the bigger he gets, the harder it will be for me to get back in shape, once he’s vacated.
” I turn back to look in the mirror, still not entirely sure I’m wearing the right dress, not that I have much choice.
Jack likes to dress me in a way that shows off my figure to its full potential.
He likes control, and I have to admit, I’m really starting to like giving it to him.
“I don’t want to do this, Jack. Can’t you just tell them I’m sick?”
“Olivia and Bea have put a whole lot of effort into this; once you get into the swing of things, you’ll enjoy it. There's going to be gifts.” He tries to make it sound more enticing.
“You're forgetting that this baby isn’t mine. What's the point in me having a shower or gifts?” I go back to my original argument.
“And you're forgetting that people don’t know that.
Look at it as a job; you're trying to con the room that you're a mum-to-be, in love with her husband, and excited about her baby coming. Once it's done, you can spend the evening in one of my tracksuits, eating all the ice cream you can stuff in your face, while I rub your feet.” He looks down at the heels I’m wearing, disapprovingly.
“I am excited about this baby coming…just so I can see my damn feet again!” I hiss back at him, looking down over my bump. “And I’m actually giving up ice cream,” I add, deciding I need to cut back. I’m sure I could convince myself to crave salad instead. I swear it's all a mind-over-matter thing.
“I’ll believe that when I see it.” He kisses my forehead and spins me to face the door. “Let's get this show on the road. The sooner you make an appearance, the sooner it will be over.”
“Oh, I’m not going down there alone, you're coming with me.” I grab his arm.
“I don’t think it’s a guy kind of thing.”
“It is today.” I leave him no choice and drag him down the stairs.
“The duke is very attentive, isn’t he?” Delilah Fairbank stares at Jack dreamily after he’s finished bringing me over a plate of canapés, to spare me the embarrassment of struggling to get up.
I decide not to take advantage of the fact I can now use my stomach as a table, and remind myself to sit straight and smile
“I’m a very lucky lady.” I look across at him and lick my lips. He’s working the room perfectly, so that I don’t have to, and looking as sexy as hell while he does it
“Or should we say lucky duchess?” Her friend, whose name I can’t remember, laughs so high-pitched it pierces my ears, and while I look to Jack and roll my eyes, Bea steps in quickly to save me.
“Excuse me, girls.” She wiggles herself into the small gap between us and turns her attention to them both.
“Delilah, are the rumours true that you’ve been dating Lord Dumfries’ son?
” she questions, in a tone far too enthusiastic to be genuine.
“Imagine that, Delilah Dumfries.” Bea makes an over-exaggerated laugh of her own, while I tuck into my canapés and try to avoid the glares I’m receiving from Cecelia and Annabella, on the other side of the room.
Cecelia looks me up and down with the same displeasure as always, and I wave across and smile, knowing how much it will piss her off.
“Have you thought of any names for the new duke or duchess?” Delilah quickly changes the subject.
“I’m leaving that to Jack.” I smile, putting down my plate and trying to get comfortable.
“Really? I know if I were the one putting all the effort in, I’d be making sure I, at least, got to choose the name.
” Her friend sips from her teacup as I notice Annabella get up and move towards Jack.
She’s got that slimy smile on her face that makes me want to smack her in the face as she drops her napkin right at his feet, and when he immediately picks it up for her, she locks him into a conversation, throwing her head back and continuously touching his arm.
No, I don’t just want to smack her. I want to murder her.
“Are you okay?” Olivia excuses herself from the conversation she’s having and comes to stand beside me.
“I’m great.” I look up at her and try not to seem ungrateful. Her and Bea have clearly put a lot of effort into this party. The living room is decorated beautifully; they’ve thought of everything, and more.
“This stage is without doubt the worst. I’ve told Alex we’re waiting at least two years before we have another.”
“You're going to have more?” Olivia and Alex’s hands already seem like they're full.
“Alex wants a whole bunch of kids,” she tells me with a huge grin on her face.
“And don’t you get a say in the matter?”
“Of course, as hard as this part is, I actually enjoy being pregnant. There's something so special about feeling them move around inside you… Not to mention the fact that Alex obsesses over me.” She lowers her voice to a whisper. “We have the best sex when I’m pregnant.”
I can’t argue with her; I’ve never had orgasms like the ones I’ve gotten since I’ve been pregnant.
“How many weeks are you now?” she asks.
“Thirty-five, and six days,” I answer, wondering if I’m going to miss all those kicks he gives me when he’s out and I’m far away in another country.
“Only four weeks left? You're on the home stretch.” She smiles. “You know where I am if you need me.”
“I really appreciate that.” I smile, already feeling a lot less agitated than I was before she came over. Then, when I look over and see Jack still speaking to Annabella, I instantly get mad again
“Feeling better?” Jack asks when I come down from the shower, feeling much better in his jogging bottoms and hoodie. He only ever wears stuff like this when he’s working out, but I’m not complaining, they're fit for purpose.
“I’d have felt much better if you hadn’t spent the entire afternoon talking to Annabella." I try holding my tongue, but I can’t help it.
“I wasn’t talking to her all afternoon, it was ten minutes…if that.” He’s got that stupid-assed look of satisfaction on his face, making me wish I had better self-control.
“Put your feet up.” He taps his lap, and because my feet are killing from the heels I wore earlier, I oblige.
“You need to stop wearing heels,” he tells me, kneading his knuckles into the sole of my foot and making me instantly relax.
“Stop making me go to stupid parties, then,” I fire back, refusing to be distracted from the fact I’m mad at him, just by a foot rub.
“You really are crabby tonight.” He laughs.
“I’m not crabby, Jack. I’m pregnant. Very, very pregnant, and I don’t appreciate it when I look up and see my husband flirting with some girl who clearly has a thing for him. You are MINE!” I blurt out, instantly regretting how insecure and pathetic I sound.
“Hey, I was kidding. I’m aware of how pregnant you are, and you’re doing an amazing job. I wasn’t flirting with Annabella; she was just telling me about her father’s new business venture. If I’d known it was upsetting you, I would have walked away.”
“Well, from now on, if she’s in the room, assume that I’m upset.” I attempt to cross my arms, but my stomach’s too much in the way. “You must be loving this.” I shake my head.
“I actually hate it.” That look of satisfaction turns to a frown, “The idea that you would even think I’d want her when I have you, hurts. You being upset hurts.”
“But you don’t have me, do you? In four weeks’ time, all this will be over, and we’ll be moving on with our lives.” I hate that the idea makes me angry.
“Gracie, are you having second thoughts?” He sits up and leans in closer. “Because if you are, we can change the plan. We can—”
“I’m not having second thoughts,” I interrupt, cursing my damn mouth for running away with itself. “I’m just hormonal.” I close my eyes and regain my composure.
“You slapped me when I called you that last week,” he reminds me, and when I laugh, and my belly starts to jiggle, he smiles and rests his hand on top of it.
“If you have any doubt in your mind, Gracie, you need to tell me.” He turns serious on me again, and I almost yield; blurt out that I’m falling more in love with him every day, but I have to hold my own. I have to survive this.
“I’m going to find some ice cream.” I move to stand up, so I can put some distance between us.
“I’ll get it.” He taps my tummy and stands up. “I knew the ice cream boycott wouldn’t last.” Leaning over, he kisses my lips and heads in the direction of the kitchen.
I feel the baby shift inside me, poking an elbow or knee out the side of my stomach to let himself be known.
“You have a lot to answer for,” I tell him, stroking my hand over him and allowing myself to imagine holding him in my arms.
“We’re all out of chocolate, so I brought you strawberry, unless you want me to head ou–” Jack pauses when he steps back in the room and sees the tears in my eyes.
“You okay?” he checks
“Just hormones.” I fake him a smile as I snatch the ice cream from his hands.