Little Edward Blackmore, the future Duke of Rutherford, cuddled against his father’s chest as he listened intently to the story that his mother read aloud. Other children of only two years, Kenneth reflected fondly, did not seem to be nearly so able to sit still and attend to a book, but his and Charlotte’s Edward had proven himself to be quite the exception to the rule. Nothing caught the boy’s attention faster or more fully than a book, which was certainly a trait he had inherited from both of his parents.

In the two years since Edward’s birth, Kenneth had grown far more interested in matters pertaining to children than he would ever have dreamed possible, but he found the subject frankly irresistible. There was nothing about his son’s growth that he did not wish to be fully involved in, much to the amusement of the nurse, who often wondered aloud why she was needed at Rutherford Hall in the first place.

“And so they lived happily ever after,” Charlotte concluded the fairy tale in her sweet voice, letting the book rest on the ripe swell of her belly. It would not be much longer, she thought with some satisfaction, and Edward would have a little brother or sister to delight over. Recalling Kenneth’s tender and attentive care during the ordeal of her confinement with Edward, she did not feel terribly worried about the impending pain.

“The end,” Edward lisped adorably, bouncing with excitement on his father’s lap. “More!”

“No more tonight, I’m afraid, love. You must go with nurse and get to bed now,” Charlotte laughed gently. “But I will read another tomorrow when you wake up if you like.”

Kenneth hoisted his son into the air, making the sweet-faced little boy squeal with delight, before passing him rather reluctantly to the nurse.

“I scarcely have the heart to tell him no,” Charlotte confessed when Kenneth sat back down beside her. “It seems almost hypocritical when I feel just the same way when I am forced to set aside a good book.”

“As do I,” Kenneth agreed, kissing his wife’s brow tenderly. “And I believe I give in with far less grace when you stop reading aloud, for I could listen to your voice all day long. But he must have proper rest in order to grow, and it won’t do for you to tire yourself out, you know. You must think of this other little one.”

“I am having a difficult time thinking of anything else these days, I am so wild to find out if it will be a boy or a girl,” laughed Charlotte.

“You know I have insisted it was a girl all this time,” Kenneth pointed out. “I don’t believe I can do without a daughter to take after you.”

“Any girl would be incredibly lucky to have you for a father, sir. No one could be more attentive and loving to their children, I believe. Although my own father has taken to declaring that it is your unattainable example that keeps my sisters from settling willingly on lesser men. They insist that having seen the marvel of our own love, not to mention the way that you dote upon Edward far more than ordinary men seem to care for their small children, that they can never be content with anything short of our great passion.”

“Good heavens, that is rather a lot to put on me,” laughed Kenneth. “And terribly unreasonable, for I am afraid that no two people in the world could ever love each other as much as we do – it would be quite impossible, I believe.”

“I tend to agree with you, although I would not discourage my sisters for anything. But what can the odds be of another man such as yourself existing? Edward has a great deal to live up to with such a father,” Charlotte said fondly.

“I hope to do well by him, and this new little one, for I know how important such a relationship can be, whether for good or for ill,” sighed Kenneth.

He had spent many hours worrying over his ability to be a good father, feeling that the dynamic was fraught with peril. Little Edward’s obvious love for him was a constant reassurance, but he never wanted to take their relationship for granted.

“You do a great deal better than well, both as a father and as a husband. We are all lucky to have you, you know,” Charlotte assured him, pressing his hand gently.

“I am the lucky one, and I will never forget it,” he said, shaking his head at her. “Only imagine my misery if you did not graciously allow me to devote my life to your happiness!”

“Indeed, it would be second only to my own. But I won’t have you indulging in such melancholy reflections when you ought to be feeling nothing but pride in all you have overcome. You aren’t in danger of losing anything if you rest in the security of our love, you know,” insisted Charlotte.

“My greatest fear is of taking you for granted, little mouse, and the thought of the danger you will soon be in puts that foremost in my mind, I believe.”

“I will be perfectly fine, my love, I would not dare to leave you or Edward alone. But if I did I know that you would care for him just as I would. I suppose because I have such utter confidence and trust in you, I am not at all frightened of the future.”

“Your faith in me inspires me, Charlotte, more than anything else could. And you are right, of course, for I of all people ought to know better than to allow fear to dictate any of my thoughts or actions,” Kenneth declared as gently caressed her face. “I will promise to stop dwelling on such thoughts, provided you read another fairy tale aloud to distract me.”

“By all means then,” Charlotte laughed, opening the discarded volume once more. “Once upon a time,” she began, running her fingers unconsciously through her husband’s hair while the evening sunlight washed over them both.

If you want to know what lies ahead in our story, you may want to get the sequel…

A woman who detests the idea of a man touching her due to a past trauma. A man that needs to secure a wife and heir in order to inherit his father’s title. But how will those two people end up together without hurting one another?

Wedded to the Wicked Lord