Turning on his heel, Blake walked to the office window to stare across the rain soaked streets.
A baby.
Damn his father and everything the man stood for. Part of Blake wanted to walk away. Tell Samantha their bluff was called. He knew damn well Samantha wouldn’t be willing to bring a child into this world for the sake of millions. Her family, and their deception, caused her too much trauma. She wouldn’t deceive a child. Hell, Blake could practically feel the twisting in Samantha’s gut when Gwen started talking about plans of the future.
Blake anticipated the lawyers at Parker and Parker to force him and Samantha together over the course of the next year. He’d thought Mark was in his office today to say something to the effect of, “Blake, old boy, you and your wife cannot be apart any more than two weeks at a time for the firm to believe you are happily married.”
No, the law firm did something much more difficult to produce.
But…
What if… what if Samantha did end up pregnant? Would that be so bad? A warm swell started low in his belly and lifted though his chest. The thought of her curves filling out, the swell of her br**sts filling his palm even more than they did, her holding out a son for him to claim…
Blake shook the images, which weren’t that hard to picture, from his mind.
Maybe his own legal team could find something illegal about his father’s will. He’d put the best on the case to see what could be done.
In the meantime, he’d keep the latest twist in his life to himself.
Chapter Nine
Samantha was having a hell of a time shaking the jet lag, and they’d been in Europe for over a week. Then again, living a lie was exhausting. Even Blake seemed stressed around the edges.
The reception was the next day and everything was set to go. What Samantha needed was time away from Blake’s demanding family.
Samantha had escaped into the library, determined to find a diversion when Blake found her.
“There you are.”
Wearing casual slacks and a pullover sweater that emphasized his broad shoulders, Blake looked good enough to eat. “I thought you went to the office.”
He shook his head. “I couldn’t leave you today.”
Confused, she asked, “What’s so special about today?”
He brought a hand to his chest and faked a mortal wound. “I can’t believe you’ve forgotten.”
Samantha laughed. “Don’t give up your day job for that acting gig,” she teased.
“You really don’t know what today is, do you?”
It wasn’t a holiday, English or American, his birthday had already past, and hers wasn’t for a few months. “Nope, color me clueless.”
Blake took her hands in his and brought her frame up against his chest. “We’ve been married one month.”
Oh, Lord, he was right. The fact that he’d thought of it and was making a big deal over it, showed just how much of a sentimental sap the dashing Duke was. “Wow. A whole month already.” It felt so much longer.
“I know how to celebrate it, too.”
“You want to celebrate our one month anniversary?” Samantha glanced around Blake’s shoulder to see if anyone was nearby and listening. She couldn’t see into the hallway so she kept her questions as to why the big deal to herself.
Blake winked at her and laced his fingers with hers. “Come on.”
He tugged her from the room, down the massive hall, and out the front door. “Where are we going?” This was a carefree Blake she liked seeing when he allowed himself to relax.
“Away.”
“Cryptic much?” she asked. “Where?”
“You’ll see.”
Instead of leading her to a car, he walked her down to the stables. “You said you rode, right?”
They’d had the conversation about horses after they’d arrived at Albany. “I do, but it’s been a long time.”
“Where we’re going isn’t far.”
The sun was making a rare appearance and the warm air and birds flying around helped lift the stress from Samantha’s shoulders. At the stable, two horses were already saddled and ready. Blake thanked the young man who’d readied their mounts and then whispered something into the kid’s ear that Samantha couldn’t hear.
The boy blushed, sent Samantha a quick glance, and then turned away. “Yes, sir,” he told Blake.
“Need a hand getting on?” Blake asked her.
The chestnut horse eyed her suspiciously as she approached. After a couple of pets, the mare managed a snort as if to say, whatever.
“I might need a leg up.”
Blake cupped his hands for her use for leverage. After a couple of tries, she was on the back of the horse with reins in hand.
Like a seasoned rider, Blake mounted in one clean swoop, his back rod straight as he led them from the stable and out into the fresh air.
“So what is this horse’s name?” Samantha asked as they led the horses across the wide-open space behind Albany Hall.
“I think it’s Maggie.”
“And yours?”
“Blaze.”
Tilting her head back, Samantha laughed. “Maggie sounds slow and Blaze sounds fast.”
Blake winked at her. “Exactly.”
“I told you I knew how to ride. No need to put me on the grandmother in the barn.” Maggie tossed her head back, causing both Blake and Samantha to chuckle.
“I don’t think she liked that,” he suggested. “You told me you hadn’t ridden in quite a while. I wouldn’t want to be responsible for a broken anything if you’re thrown.”