Saved By A Siren: Spencers in Love Book One (27 page)

            "I'm helpless, Siren." He sighed
against her ear.

            Elise giggled drunkenly and nuzzled his cheek.
His arms locked around her.

            "And I cannot resist you." She
whispered.

            Gilles found the soap and bathed her. After, he
helped her from the tub and dried her and then himself. Once Elise was perched
on her stool, Gilles began brushing her hair. For some reason when he did it,
her scalp felt warm and her body relaxed.

            "Anna should be here soon. I wanted to tell
you before you heard it at dinner from The Mothers or Mirabelle: Lady Gasden
and Lady Hathewaite will be coming for tea tomorrow. Both are considered
dragons within the ton but have great influence. Neither are unreasonable and
are friends of maman and Madeline. Gaining their favor will go a long way
towards smoothing things over within the ton."

            Elise felt flutters in her stomach. She pressed
her hands to it and breathed slowly, trying to calm them.

            "So, I have to make a good
impression."

            "You only have to be yourself and let
Mirabelle and The Mothers handle the rest. I'll be close by and plan to make an
appearance. I have to play the besotted husband, you know?" Gilles nipped
her ear, causing Elise to shiver. "All they have to do is see you and
spend some time with you. They'll see that the rumors are nonsense. People will
listen to them."

            Just then, the dressing room door opened and
Anna entered.

            "Oh! The state of that room, you two! I've
got four maids with towels trying to save the floor."

            Elise heard Gilles throw himself on the bed and
chuckle.

            "Once again, I blame her ladyship. I merely
intended to help her with her bath." He sounded so innocent. She wasn't
about to go down alone.

            "Really, my lord? Anna, do you find it
necessary to join me in the tub to help me?"

            Anna stifled a laugh. Elise heard Gilles shift
on the bed.

            "I like to be thorough, my lady." He
tried to sound superior. Elise giggled and there was a knocking at the door at
the far end of the room.

            "That will be Matheson. Off with you, my lord."
Anna made a shooing sound and moved about the room before Elise felt a chemise
fall over head.

            "Are the floors really ruined?" Elise
asked.

            "They'll be fine once they dry but if the
two of you keep it up, he'll be replacing them within a few months. I'm sure he
won't complain though. He's increased your wardrobe allowance to replace all
the garments the two of you have ruined." Elise felt her cheeks flood with
heat.

            "I'm sorry, Anna. We get carried away.
Gilles says you're partly to blame. If you didn't make me look so irresistible,
he would be able to control himself."

            Anna chuckled. Elise knew that tact would work.
Complimenting her work was a sure way to earn her favor. Not that he hadn't
blamed her wardrobe many times. A dress slipped over Elise's head and
shoulders. She found the sleeve holes and pushed her arms through. Anne pulled
the bodice and made a "humph" sound. She tugged again.

            "What?" Elise asked as Anna paused.

            "The bodice is quite tight around this
bit." Elise felt her press her chest and tug on the dress. "It'll
have to do. I'll grab a fichu."

            Elise felt her breasts, they did feel a bit
bigger. She let her hands glide down her waist and thighs. Was she gaining
weight? She had been hungrier lately. Things had calmed since arriving in
London and she walked less. The garden at Spencer Place was not as extensive as
Longwood. Elise bit her lip. Gilles hadn't seemed to notice. Or, maybe he did
and hadn't commented. She'd ask him soon. It had to be close to time for
dinner.

            Anna finished preparing Elise and she made her
way to the stairs, congratulating herself on her progress. She sensed Gilles at
the bottom and counted as she descended.

            "That's an interesting addition." He
remarked as he kissed her hand.

            "Anna thought it was necessary for modesty.
Have I gained weight since we've arrived at Spencer Place?" Elise asked as
Gilles led her towards the parlor. He was silent for many moments. Was it
because she had and he didn't want to upset her? Elise wondered.

            "Now that you mention it, you seem
pleasantly fuller in certain areas." He murmured. Elise felt his body
harden alongside hers.

            "Fuller?" She was alarmed.

            "I didn't mention it because I didn't want
to upset you and I certainly didn't mind." Gilles pulled her against him.
Would someone see?

            "What do you mean fuller?" Elise
grimaced. That had sounded shrill. "Fuller where?" She asked calmly.

            "If you'd like to go back upstairs, I can
give you a detailed description." His hand squeezed her backside
suggestively.

            Elise gasped and pulled away.

            "I'm not eating the pudding tonight."

Chapter 47

            Later, in their bed, Gilles rolled off of Elise.
She had fretted all night about her body and he'd spent the better part of an
hour worshiping it. He looked at her chest as it rose and fell in the aftermath
of their lovemaking. As soon as he caught his breath he pulled her close.

            "Your breasts are definitely more
heavenly." He sighed contentedly and attempted to gather one in his hand.
She slapped him away.

            "Gilles, I'm serious. You have to tell me
if something isn't right!" Elise scolded as she began feeling various
parts of her body. Gilles groaned and pulled her to him. Mirabelle and The
Mothers had already warned that the following morning would start earlier. He
wouldn't get to sleep any time soon if her hands kept wandering all over her
body.

            "Darling! Everything is more than right. If
I'm not complaining, then why are you worrying?" As if it understood their
conversation, Gilles' cock sprang to life. "Now look at what you've
done." He thrust against her hip. "Do I seem displeased?" He
asked as his lips brushed her shoulder. Gilles pushed Elise on to her stomach
and lifted her hips.

            "Let me show you how pleased I am with your
body." He whispered as his fingers parted her damp folds. She shuddered
and lifted her rear in invitation, moaning as the head of his cock nudged into
her entrance, Gilles closed his eyes and sighed as his head fell back. Every
time he entered her, he felt bliss beckon and a missing piece of himself fall into
place.

            He rode her hard and they shattered together.
Gilles cradled Elise in her arms and promised that she was perfect. He felt her
fall into a sated sleep. Eventually, he relaxed and dreamless sleep welcomed
him.

            Gilles woke up several hours later and
remembered his promise to the other women in his family. He kissed Elise's
shoulder and whispered her name. She came awake slowly and stretched. He felt
himself harden as she rubbed along the length of him. Suddenly she sat up and
squeezed his arm. She swayed forward and gasped.

            "The bell pull!" Elise yelled as she
dove for the foot of the bed and reached beneath it. Gilles saw the basin slide
out and Elise slid off the side. "You have to go!" She called before
she retched over the bowl.

            Gilles was around the bed instantly and squatted
next to Elise.

            "Are you alright, love?" He brushed
her hair back as her body tensed and spasmed. She heaved over the bowl.

            "Please! You have to go! I don't want you
here!" She cried as she gagged.

            "I won't leave you like this." Gilles
whispered as he stood and looked for anything that might help. He ran into her
dressing room and found a washcloth. He wet it and ran back in. He pressed it
to the back of Elise's neck and she shuddered. A moment later, the door opened
and Anna entered. She rounded the bed and quickly turned her back.

            "My lord! Good morning to you too! Perhaps
you'd like to find your robe while I tend to Her Ladyship?" Anna laughed
as Gilles bounded over the bed and grabbed his robe. Elise continued to hug the
bowl and cough.

            "Poor dear! I should have known with you
swelling out of your dresses!" Anna passed Elise a glass of water to rinse
her mouth. "It's a good sign though. Means the baby is taking." She
pushed the hair from Elise's face and chuckled.

            "Baby!" Both Elise and Gilles
exclaimed.

            Anna laughed as she took the robe Gilles passed
her and draped over Elise's shoulders.

            "I'd bet my life on it. her ladyship hasn't
had her courses since you married. She's weeks late and her bust's spilling out
of everything. Now, she's casting up with the sun." Anna rose and pulled
the bell again. She helped Elise to the bed. Gilles paced, his emotions out of
control. He wanted to laugh, cry, scream, pray, scoop Elise into his arms and
make love to her, run to his mother's room, kill an animal... He sunk into a
chair and watched as Anna answered the door and whispered commands as she
passed the basin out,

            "A baby!" He whispered, stunned.

            Anna cast him a long look and laughed.

            "You weren't expecting it? The way you've
been at her... Didn't they teach you how to count, my lord?"

            Gilled nodded. He added up the weeks. Why hadn't
he realized? He'd married Elise over six weeks ago. He'd been so distracted...
by her, the attack, the move to London... He looked at Elise. She had her hands
against her stomach. She was pale and looked as if she was in shock. Gilles
rose from his chair and stumbled towards the bed. He crawled to her, careful
not to disturb the bed.

            "Is it safe to hold you, my love?"
Gilles whispered.

            Elise pulled herself from whatever trance she
was in and nodded. Gilles settled his shoulders next to hers and pulled her
against him. He settled his hand atop hers and she jumped.

            "I'm sorry you don't feel well but I'm
overjoyed at the news." Gilles rested his chin on top of her head and
breathed in the scent of her. Silently, he prayed that the pregnancy wasn't
difficult and that she would be unharmed. All he could think about was that her
mother had died giving birth. He felt Elise pitch forward, then pitch forward
again.

            "Oh, dear! Looks like she's not to quite
finished!" Anna rushed over with another basin. She placed it in Elise's
lap.

            "Off with you, my lord. Let me tend to her
ladyship."

            Unsure, Gilles crawled from the bed and stepped
out the door. He stood in the hallway, stunned. He looked around and wondered
what he was supposed to do next. His feet carried him to maman's room and he
knocked softly.

            "Un bebe!" Maman cried as she stumbled
from the bed, reaching for the bell pull. "We must send for
Madeline!"

            "She'll be here for breakfast, won't
she?" Gilles asked as he fell to a chair. "She's quite ill,
maman."

            "Mon petite! But that's to be expected. I
was sick for weeks with all of you." Maman peeked her head out of her
door.

            "I'm worried. Elise's mother didn't survive
her birth." He said softly. Maman shut the door and looked at him. She
crossed the room and pulled her son into her arms.

            "Mon fils! I am not at all worried. She is
small but strong. It is a good sign that she is sick now. Better now than
later, no?" She nodded decisively and Gilles repeated the gesture.
"Go and dress. We must tell Mirabelle." She froze and gasped.

            "What, maman?"

            "The Ladies Hathewaite and Gasden!"
She chewed a fingernail and then shook her head. "It is too late to
cancel. We must prepare and help Elise pull herself together. They must love
her as we do, mon garçon."

Later, Gilles, Alastair and Lucien
sat in silence, each staring at their coffee. Elise was still in bed, Anna had
ordered tea and toast on a tray and the women were rushing about upstairs.
Gilles imagined they were gathering items for a nest.
What did women do when
they were pregnant
? He wondered.

            "I'll have no peace now, you realize?"
Lucien sighed as he drank from his cup. "Mother will be unbearable.
Perhaps I should move out. You've got room at Burton Place, Alastair. Fancy a
new housemate?"

            Alastair's brow furrowed for a moment but he
nodded.

            "You're welcome to it but I can't see how
that will help. Madeline will just come to you there."

            Lucien groaned and sunk in his seat.

            "You know she's never been subtle. I'm
mildly frightened."

            Alastair snorted.

            "Mildly frightened? How does one go about
being mildly frightened?" He asked as he rose to make a plate.

            "Let me apologize in advance for any
inconvenience this might cause you, Lucien." Gilles had his head in his
hands.

            "I would have thought you'd be pleased. You
wanted children." Lucien said carefully.

            "I do and I'm very pleased. But I'm more
than mildly frightened."

            Alastair sat and watched his brother for a
moment.

            "You're afraid she's going to die like her
mother." He stated. Gilles nodded, he closed his eyes and swallowed. Panic
turned his gut to lead.

            "She was fine yesterday and now she's so
sick."

            "Elise said that her mother had always been
sickly and that she was ill through most of the pregnancy. Not the way Elise is
now, I believe what she has is very common in expectant mothers. A typical
indicator of pregnancy, in fact. I believe Elise's mother had violent fevers
and was at risk of dying a few times while she carried her. Elise told me that
she's only had one mild fever in her life. She's a small woman but otherwise
very healthy. While there is always the risk of dying in childbirth, I believe
it is very low with Elise." Alastair turned his attention to his plate and
speared a piece of ham. He began cutting it and paused. "I'm going to study
childbirth. I think I will have a complete understanding but the time Elise is
due to deliver."

            Gilles had been comforted by Alastair's
assessment but was shocked but the last part. Lucien too, apparently. Both
began coughing, spraying coffee across the table. Alastair looked up, alarmed
at their reaction.

            "While I won't deny that you're as capable
as any surgeon with battlefield injuries, I'm not sure I would be overjoyed at
the idea of you tending to Elise in that manner. I'm not sure she would allow
it, honestly." Gilles looked at Lucien, he appeared to be in a great deal
of pain, trying not to laugh.

            "Is it a question of my competency?"
Alastair asked, he was making the "question face".

            "No! I have no doubt that you could make
yourself a more capable than any doctor in London."

            "But men generally don't want their
brothers that familiar with their wives... intimate areas." Lucien cut in.
"And can you imagine if it got out if you did? The scandal would be
epic!" He laughed as he went to the sideboard to fill a plate.

            "You two have already seen more of my
wife's body than is acceptable." Gilles added, remembering the incident in
their room after the attack. Lucien turned with his plate and smiled dreamily
as he sat.

            "That reminds me. Congratulations
again!" He laughed as he slapped Gilles on the back. Gilles shook him off.

            "I might kill you."

            "You can't blame me for admiring. I tried
not to look but what I did see was..."

            "Exceptional." Alastair smiled as his
cheeks colored slightly.

            "See!" Gilles pointed at both of them.
"This is why you can't help her give birth!"

            Alastair's face became serious.

            "I understand why it would be improper and
I mean no offense, Gilles. Elise is beautiful but I would never look at her as
anything other than a sister. But if she needs help and a doctor can't make it
in time, I will help her. I believe that would be the most likely scenario that
would cause her death. I do not doubt that I can put aside those baser male
tendencies and approach her academically and professionally."

            Gilles nodded and grabbed his brother's
shoulder.

            "Fine. Learn what you will. But with the
understanding that we will send for a doctor and you would only be required in
case of an emergency."

            Alastair chewed his food and swallowed.

            "Of course. One never knows when
information will be useful. I most likely won't be of any use to Elise but I
may one day find it helpful."

            "Excellent! You learn to be a midwife and
I'll make sure we've plenty of fine brandy, cigars and rugs to tread through."
Lucien teased.

            Mirabelle rushed into the room and went straight
for the sideboard, hardly glancing at the men at the table. Once she'd heaped
enough food on her plate to feed the three of them she sat next to Alastair.
Lucien smiled and shook his head as he regarded her plate.

            "Where do you put it all?" He asked in
disbelief.

            Mirabelle shrugged and she attacked a sausage
with her fork and knife.

            "I've got a lot on my plate today,
figuratively and literally. I can't risk fainting away" She took a bite
and chewed quickly.

            "You've never fainted in your life,
Mirabelle." Lucien returned.

            "You don't know everything about me,
Lucien. I might very well have. Just because you weren't there to make fun of
me doesn't mean that it couldn't have happened." Her reply was mildly
hostile. Alastair stared at her, calculating. Gilles was shocked by her tone.

            "You're absolutely right. I
apologize." Lucien said gently.

            Mirabelle nodded regally.

            "Have you?" He asked without a hint of
teasing.

            "Have I, what?" Mirabelle paused, a
forkful of eggs hovering in front of her mouth.

            "Fainted." Lucien was staring at her
expectantly.

            "Oh. No, never." Mirabelle popped the
fork in her mouth and chewed.

            Lucien sat back and roared with laughter. She
shrugged and took another bite.

            "That's aside from the point, Lucien. Stop
assuming you know everything about me." Mirabelle took a long sip of
coffee and turned to Gilles. "You're going to have to come up with some
reason to remove Elise from our appointment with Lady Gasden and Lady
Hathewaite. I don't want to risk her casting up her accounts in the middle of
tea. Poor thing is quite green. Anna says that once she keeps some toast down
she should feel better but we haven't had much luck yet. Elise is going to be
exhausted."