The Duke's Baby. Rebecca Winters

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      Lance Malbois gave his father’s dog Percy a good scratch behind the ears before approaching the bed. “Papa? Are you awake?”

      His father’s eyelids opened, revealing dull gray eyes. This illness had drained them of their normal sparkle. As he stared at his son in disbelief, they took on life. “Mon fils—”

      Lance’s heart lurched. His father’s voice was weak. Without the oxygen helping him breathe—

      He fought not to show his concern in front of him. The father he loved was too young a man to be this sick. His pallor alarmed Lance.

      “When did you arrive?” the older man asked with effort.

      “A little while ago. You were asleep. I didn’t want to disturb you, so I took a walk.”

      After suffering one shock that his father’s flu had turned into something worse, he hadn’t been prepared for another one—that of coming across anyone on their private property.

      “Father?” he squeezed his hand. “Why didn’t you let me know your illness was this serious? How come I had to hear it from Henri? You know I would have flown home sooner.”

      “The pneumonia barely came on. It took me by surprise, but I’m better than I was last night.” After a coughing spell he asked, “How long will you be here this time?”

      Lance sucked in his breath. “I’m home for good.”

      At that unexpected news, joy illuminated his father’s face. “You mean it?” He tried to raise his head off the pillow, but Lance restrained him gently.

      “I’ve left the service. It’s over.”

      “I’ve hoped for this day, Lance.” He struggled through another coughing spasm. “I’ve prayed you would return healthy in mind and body. Le bon Dieu heard me.”

      What his parent saw was a shell of the man he once was. Lance wouldn’t want him to know what lay beneath.

      “Now that I’m back, we’re going to work on your getting well. Anything you’re worrying about, I’ll take care of.”

      His father smiled through his tears. “Am I dreaming?”

      Lance had trouble clearing the lump in his throat. “Non, mon père.”

      It was long past time he started helping his remarkable father who needed Lance to shoulder more of the responsibilities. His parent had not only raised him from birth, ten years ago he’d been wise enough to give Lance his freedom without making him feel guilty. In the end, that freedom had brought Lance back home of his own free will.

      The reason that had driven him away in the first place no longer mattered. Since that time life had delivered him a blow from which he would never recover whether he lived at the far ends of the earth or at home. At least here he could be of use to his father.

      “The nurse is making signs you need to rest. She says you’ve had too many friends come by and they’ve worn you out, so I’m going to let you sleep now.”

      “Don’t go.”

      “I just want to have a word with the staff, but I promise I’ll be back to stay in here with you tonight. Percy will stand guard, won’t you.”

      The dog moaned in response.

      “Do you know he won’t leave me? Henri has to force him to go out when it’s necessary.”

      Percy’s love for his master was touching. “That doesn’t surprise me.”

      A couple of years before Lance had joined the military, his father had found a stray puppy of mixed breed near to death in the forest. Some cruel person must have dropped it off to die, but his father brought him back to the château to nurse him. They’d been inseparable ever since.

      “Are you settled in your suite down the hall?”

      “Oui.”

      “We—” He stopped long enough to cough again. “We have a visitor.”

      A frown marred Lance’s features. “Someone’s staying at the château?”

      “Yes.” He would have said more, but another coughing spell took over.

      As far as Lance was concerned, whoever it was needed to leave. His gracious father didn’t know how to say no to anyone. His second marriage was proof in point. Right now he was too ill to realize what was good for him. Lance hadn’t come home any too soon to take charge.

      Kissing his father on either cheek, he nodded to the nurse then left his father’s suite to go in search of Henri who was devoted to his parent. He found him in the foyer closing up the château for the night.

      Lance approached him from the right since the head of the staff couldn’t hear out of his left ear. Years earlier Henri had been a young groomsman at the stable when a hunting accident had occurred. After being released from the hospital, Lance’s father had brought him into the château to take care of him. He’d been in his household employ ever since.

      “I understand there’s a guest staying at the château, Henri.”

      The older man turned and nodded. “Oui. A Madame Fallon.”

      His shuttered gaze searched Henri’s. “Someone ‘special’?”

      “Your СКАЧАТЬ