Chapter 237

"It's far too cold for croquet!" Emily St. Laurent, the Duchess of Essex, shouted at her husband. She curled a gloved hand over her swollen belly, which might hold the future heir to the Essex title, as she watched her husband, Godric, and his half brother, Jonathan St. Laurent, struggle to press the wickets into the hard ground of the small lawn in their back garden.

"Nonsense, darling," Godric grunted. "Just needs a bit of umph!" He slipped on the icy grass and landed on his backside. His brother burst out laughing but also lost his balance and fell down beside him. Emily covered her mouth to stifle a laugh.

"Lord, what a pair." A light voice came from beside her. Audrey, Jonathan's new bride, was grinning beside Emily. The two had been friends for more than a year, and now they had the pleasure of being sisters by marriage.

"It's so wonderful to see how much Jonathan has changed since he settled down with you," Emily said more softly. She'd seen the young man suffer in silence as