“This is wonderful,” Gabriella said as she came to stand beside Amelia. “Is it everything you imagined it would be?”

“It is even better,” Amelia said. Glancing around, she admired the transformation the house she had bought had undergone. Six months had made a tremendous difference. It looked just as presentable as any town house she had ever visited, with polished wood moldings and floors that gleamed from waxing. “I could not have done it without Thomas, though.”

Gabriella responded with a knowing smile. The glow of pregnancy suited her tremendously. Raphe was naturally ecstatic with the thought of becoming a father soon. Another couple of months and the child was due to arrive. Gabriella had apparently kept that secret safe until she and Raphe had been alone together in Paris. “It would appear that he cared for you greatly long before he knew it himself,” she said.

Studying her husband who stood in conversation with Raphe and his friends, the Earl of Wilmington and Baron Hawthorne, Amelia felt her heart swell with joy.

Sensing her perusal, he turned his gaze toward her, excused himself to the others and came to join her. “Your school will be a success when it opens,” he told her. “Everyone I have spoken to agrees.”

They had invited all the investors to come to visit the building before the opening, which would take place that coming Monday. Lowell and Burton were naturally in attendance, as was half of Mayfair, it would seem. Apparently the two gentlemen had acted as ambassadors, encouraging everyone they’d come into contact with to donate to Amelia’s cause. She’d scarcely known how to thank them when she’d discovered their efforts.

“It does appear to have made the world forget about my heritage,” she said. It still surprised her how little gossip there had been about her and Thomas. Apparently, a duke could withstand almost anything without scandal, even marrying a woman who came from the slums of St. Giles.

“It just goes to show that you had nothing to worry about,” Gabriella said.

“Worry about?” Thomas asked.

“She did not think herself deserving enough to be your wife.” With that remark, Gabriella removed herself to go to speak with her husband.

Thomas’s arm came around Amelia without hesitation. He did not seem to care how inappropriate such a public display of affection might be. “You are more deserving than any other—a perfect wife and mother.”

Before she could respond, Doctor Florian approached. “My apologies for intruding, but there is something I must tell you.”

His grave expression threatened the happiness still bubbling up inside Amelia. She glanced at Thomas who looked just as apprehensive as she felt. “What is it?” he asked.

Florian eyed them both, then lowered his voice. “Can we speak privately?”

Nodding, Thomas led the way toward the headmaster’s office. Once there, he closed the door and waited for Florian to speak. Amelia felt her stomach tighten with nervous anticipation. She couldn’t imagine what this might be about, but the tension in the room was definitely unwelcome.

“It is about Bartholomew,” Florian began.

Amelia shared a look with Thomas before he said, “Last I heard, he was charged with tax evasion, smuggling and counterfeiting.” Once the accountants had begun their investigation into Bartholomew’s financial affairs, they’d opened up a path that had led to other criminal activities. “The magistrate told me personally that he is to be hanged.”

Florian nodded. “Someone accused of those crimes certainly will be.”

Amelia frowned with incomprehension. “What are you saying?”

“Simply that the man being held at Newgate—the man everyone believes to be Bartholomew—is not.”

“What?” Thomas glanced at Amelia with concern before facing the doctor once more.

“I attended the trial,” Florian said. “The man accused of Bartholomew’s crimes bears some resemblance to him, but I can assure you that the wrong man has been apprehended.”

“Did this individual claim to be someone else?” Amelia asked.

“No. When I brought the matter to the magistrate’s attention, I was told that this man insists he is Bartholomew. He is going along with the ploy, and I was told that I had to be mistaken.”

“Could you be?” Thomas asked.

“No. Bartholomew will go free, and another man will hang in his place.”

“That makes no sense,” Thomas muttered. “Why would someone give up his life like that?”

Florian shrugged. “Perhaps the real Bartholomew offered him something—an assurance that the man’s family might be well cared for in return. It is possible that this impostor is already suffering some ailment and has nothing to lose. I can only theorize.”

Thomas stared at Florian. “You’re doing more than that.” He took a step forward. “How is it that you know so much about Bartholomew that you are aware of his finances and his exact appearance? What interest did you have in attending that trial?”

Florian didn’t flinch, nor did his expression change. “All I will say is that I have my own reasons for wanting to see him swing. I hoped I would finally do so, but the bastard outsmarted everyone once again by getting some poor sod to take his place.” He glanced toward Amelia and apologized for his language.

“No need,” she said, waving away his words.

Thomas sighed. “I don’t suppose there’s a chance of us catching him then.”

“He has left London,” Florian confirmed. “I have already checked.”

“So he’s in the wind and still as guilty as ever. That’s just bloody perfect.”

Amelia had to agree. Having Bartholomew on the loose was not the ideal conclusion she’d hoped for. “Do you think he might return and threaten us again?”

“I doubt it,” Florian said. “As far as the authorities are concerned, he is going to die soon. It would be foolish of him to let anyone know the wrong man was apprehended, so if you ask me, he’ll be starting a new business elsewhere, far away from here.”

“I suppose there is a little bit of comfort in that,” Thomas said, “though it is hardly enough.”

“I couldn’t agree more,” Florian said. He turned toward Amelia. “I am sorry to bring you such depressing news, but I thought you ought to know.”

“Your forthrightness is greatly appreciated,” she told him.

Returning to the party, Thomas drew Amelia aside. “I do not like this development one bit,” he told her.

“Neither do I, but I also refuse to let it ruin our lives when we have so much to be grateful for.” She made an effort to smile. “Speaking of which, we should probably leave soon. Given the beautiful weather, I thought it might be nice to take Jeremy out to the park.”

“He would enjoy that, Amelia, but there is no need for us to rush if you would like to remain here a while longer and see to your guests. Your sister and Lady Everly are with Jeremy as we speak. They have proven to be extremely attentive where he is concerned.”

She gave him a look. “They spoil him rotten when we are not there.”

He grinned. “They do so even when we are. Did you not see Lady Everly pass him a piece of chocolate under the table yesterday?”

“After I told him he could not have any more?” She would clearly have to set down some rules. Again. “That only proves my point.”

“I suppose it does.” He looked around. “I cannot wait to see this place filled with children next week. There is nothing quite like their joy and laughter.”

She smiled in response. “How would you feel about having one of your own?”

A frown appeared on his brow. “I already do.”

“Well yes, Jeremy is your son.” And would always be considered as such since no one besides Amelia, Thomas and the dowager duchess would ever know the real truth. “But . . .” She placed her hand upon her belly.

Thomas followed the movement with his eyes, then looked up at her face. “Are you telling me that . . . you are . . . I mean . . .”

Taking pity on him, she decided to clarify. “We are expecting a child, Thomas.”

She was in the air half a second later while he whooped and spun her around. Returning her to the floor, he lowered his lips to hers and kissed her soundly, right there in the foyer of Coventry School and without a care for what anyone else might think. It wasn’t until they returned home that reality seemed to kick in.

That night, he held her quietly in his arms, his mood completely transformed as he gently asked, “What if I lose you?”

She understood his fear. His sister had died in childbirth. “I suppose the possibility exists, though I expect it to be decreased with Doctor Florian’s help. That man is a miracle worker if you ask me.”

“Yes. We will stay close to him during your confinement.”

“And all will pass as it should.”

Which it did, allowing them both to hold their daughter in their arms nine months later after a surprisingly quick delivery.

“I have never been happier,” Amelia told Thomas as she watched him place a tender kiss upon Baby Melanie’s head. Beside him stood Jeremy, who’d painted a series of colorful pictures to hang by his sister’s crib.

Setting Melanie down, Thomas came over and touched his lips to Amelia’s. Affection flowed between them, filling her with all the warmth he carried for her in his heart. “Neither have I, my love. Neither have I.”