Chapter 30 #2
And yet…
With rising certainty, I wanted the positive result.
Then I remembered the trial. How I behaved now was everything. “Come out when you’re ready,” I called through the door. “We’ll wait together.”
Beth emerged a second later, a capped white stick in her hand, her face almost the same pale colour.
“I need you to know something,” she said. “I didn’t plan this. I am on the pill. I mean, I was. I got sick, then there was a delay when I drove us here, and that meant it might not have worked right. I’m so sorry—”
“I’m excited,” I interrupted because I couldn’t let her apologise when this might give us something so wonderful.
“I’m excited, too.” She held her breath.
“You…” My voice caught.
“I know what I said, but the babies would be yours with your eyes, and they’d be loved, and I’d be loved, and it would be so, so different.”
I caught her in my arms, to hell with the mud. Then I just held her.
“If it’s positive, we’re having a baby,” I said.
“If it’s negative, we’ll talk about one day doing this properly,” she replied. Wide-eyed but serious, she added, “One last thing, if it is a tiny plus sign, count this as your wedding gift? I got too rattled the past couple of days to think of anything else.”
“Deal.” I choked on a laugh.
Then we waited, clutching one another, watching the timer on Beth’s phone tick down.
The phone beeped.
With trembling fingers, Beth flipped the test.
The result almost blazed off the little screen.
Positive.
Along while later, we made our way downstairs, Beth tucked under my arm and our secret tucked inside my heart.
We’d taken a shower together, touching each other but sticking with the no-sex plan.
We’d needed the closeness. I’d held Beth against the shower wall, her legs around my waist and her fingers jammed into my hair.
We’d kissed endlessly, the hot water raining down on us.
My heart hurt, expanding to cope with the influx of emotion. Not only would I have a wife, my Beth, to love, but a baby, too. More than I’d ever hoped for.
No man could ever be as happy, or as content, as me.
Life was perfect. Whatever my uncle did next, whatever the result of my inheritance hearing, none of it could dent my happiness.
In the chairs around the fire, the McRae brothers lounged, Mathilda and Ella amongst them. The two older men leapt to their feet when Beth and I reached the bottom of the staircase.
“Beth, give us your verdict. Did he pass?” Gordain asked.
The bridegroom trials. I’d entirely forgotten.
“He did. With flying colours,” Beth confirmed.
We’d keep our secret a little longer, but it wouldn’t last. Our friends chuckled, and I could only imagine where their minds had gone.
A week ago, Gordain had tried once more to give me a sex talk, and I’d given him a single, raised eyebrow.
He’d caught my drift, punched my shoulder, grinned, and left me alone.
A knock came at the castle’s entrance.
Gordain switched a confused gaze towards the sound. “Hold that thought. Let me get this.”
In long strides, he reached the door and swung it open. A low conversation followed, then his shoulders squared, and he moved back to admit two people. Both wearing police uniforms.
I instantly stepped in front of Beth. We’d talked more about her probation and the fine owing, then had a minor argument about her using our money to pay it.
But it was still outstanding, and the probation active.
If Richard had called the police and reported the car stolen, Beth could be in trouble.
Over my dead body.
“We need to speak with a James Fitzroy,” announced the first, a sharp-eyed woman with an air of efficiency. Rain dripped from her jacket.
“That’s me.” I stood my ground, my mind whirring.
“My name is Inspector Cox. Mr Fitzroy, you need to come with us.”
“Why?” Callum and Gordain said in unison.
The second officer eyed them, angling his body, keeping them in his line of sight.
“It’s Lord Fitzroy.” Beth slid in front of me. “And it’s no good waltzing in here and demanding to speak with him. You’re going to need to give us more than that.”
The inspector’s gaze narrowed on Beth. “And you are?”
“My fiancée, and nothing to do with this.” I placed a restraining hand on Beth’s shoulder. “I know why you’re here.”
Beth sucked in air then shot a look at me, her gaze fierce. “Not another word. Don’t implicate yourself.”
The inspector raised an eyebrow. “Lord Fitzroy, we are investigating the theft of multiple items from the Belvedere estate. Namely a vehicle and many valuable antiques. The vehicle is parked outside of this house, so do me a favour and help me out. Are you in possession of the other stolen items?”
“Did Richard Fitzroy make the accusation?” I countered.
“I am not at liberty to say. Please come with us to the station.”
“Do you have a warrant?” Gordain asked.
The inspector’s expression gave nothing away. Her focus remained on me. “Lord Fitzroy—”
“He didnae take anything. It was me.” Gordain stepped into the middle of the floor, drawing the attention of the two officers. “I’ll go with ye now.”
“No!” My sister leapt up from her chair. She marched over and gave Gordain a hard stare, then stood in front of him, her hands out in front of her, inviting handcuffs.
Gordain glared at her. At the dainty doll protecting an angry bear.
“It was nothing to do with him,” she said. “I’m the one you need to talk to.”
“No. Stop, all of you. I started this.” Beth advanced, waving her hands.
The room descended into chaos, Callum yelling at everyone to keep their confessions to themselves, Mathilda demanding the police officers give her exact wording of their arrest warrant, Gordain and Ella arguing over which of them had been the ringleader.
Beth turned and looked at me. “I already have a criminal record. If anyone gets charged with anything, it should be me. They’ll process me quickly, and I might be allowed out for the wedding. If they take you, the whole story is so complicated you’ll be tied in knots for days.”
Like I’d let her take the fall. My pregnant love. I kissed Beth’s cheek then left her, walking over to stand in front of the inspector. The woman waited, her assessing gaze taking in the action, no doubt trying to make sense of it all. Maybe even thinking of arresting the lot of us.
“I’m responsible for all of this. Take me with you now, and I’ll tell you what you need to know.”
The inspector nodded.
There was only one way to fix this. I was the heir and, God willing, in a matter of days, would be the owner of everything they considered stolen. I wouldn’t let any member of my family take the blame for what my uncle had tried to do. Reason would prevail if I told the truth.
“Take me to the station, and I’ll explain everything,” I restated.
The inspector gestured to the door.
With escalating protests at my back, the voices of everyone I loved rising in mutual dismay, I let the police escort me away.