The Bride's Secret by Cheryl Bolen

young wife became pregnant—after the marriage, of course, because Glee was the daughter of a viscount, a most respectable girl, to be sure. And nothing Carlotta had seen since could convince her otherwise. Gregory Blankenship had succumbed to a wisp of a girl. Who happened to be of noble birth.
    This Sunday, despite that a chill hung in the air, Carlotta took Stevie to see the concert at Sydney Gardens. He remembered instantly this was where he came to ride his pony.
    Looking up at his mother, he said, “I miss Bwownie. Almost as much as I miss Lord Wutledge.”
    She set her hand on his tiny shoulders and spoke with sympathy. “I know, my darling. I miss him, too.”
    Throughout the concert, Stevie sat mesmerized, watching the musicians with fascination.
    When the concert was finished, Carlotta said, “I think Brownie needs exercising. Do you not agree?”
    Stevie's face brightened. “Today?”
    “Why not!” she said.
    * * *
    For the next few days, Carlotta's every thought and every move had but one purpose: to make Stevie happy. They went to the sweet shop each day. She read every children's story she had to him; then, she went to the booksellers and bought more. She took him to the Wednesday night musicale, though he was the only child in attendance. She marched him to the Pump Room every morning for his healthful water, and – best of all, she allowed him to ride his pony daily.
    She made good, too, on her vow that he never be left alone again. She had Peggy begin sleeping in the boy's room every night and made sure he was never left alone in the nursery.
    That she took him where no other children went did not cause her a moment's consternation. Let them say she was indulgent! As far as she could tell, he behaved with the greatest propriety for a small boy, and as long as he did, she would continue to indulge him. After all, he was rather special. Why, anyone could look at him and see that!
    As she watched her son on his pony one afternoon, she had to admit Lord Rutledge's efforts to teach Stevie to ride had been quite successful. The boy sat confidently in his saddle, the sun catching his golden locks, his lips tightened with concentration. She now felt confident enough to allow him to ride without a groom running along beside him. She felt so confident, she had brought a volume of poetry she had borrowed from the lending library. She planned to sit on a bench and read while keeping an eye out for Stevie as he and his pony trotted around the perimeter of the park.
    But she found herself unable to watch Stevie and to read. A nagging fear for Stevie's safety kept tugging at her, forcing her to watch him constantly. Tucking the book under her arm, she crossed the park and began to walk beside Stevie.
    “You don't have to worry about me,” he told her. “Lord Wutledge taught me to handle a horse.”
    She could not stifle her laugh. He tried to sound so grown up when he looked so very small—even on a small pony that in no way compared to a horse!
    It was while she was smiling up at her son, her hand settled on the back of his saddle, she saw the shimmering eyes of Lord Rutledge watching her.
     

 
    Chapter 9
     
    “My lord, you're back!” Carlotta said to him. The smile on her lovely face convinced James his return did not displease her. He closed the gap between them and bowed before her, then took her hand to dutifully brush his lips across. It seemed to him she had grown even more beautiful during their absence. Not only that, but his Goddess of the Night looked almost virginal in the orchid muslin dress she wore.
    Stevie brought Brownie to a stop and spoke excitedly. “See, Mama, I told you he'd come back!”
    James looked up at the boy's happy face, and he felt strangely exhilarated by the enthusiastic welcome given him by Carlotta and her son. But he could not allow them to see his vulnerability. “I trust you've been exercising Brownie regularly?” he said to Stevie.
    The boy's eyes darted to his