Chapter 37

The next morning, as soon as lan had left, Eden hurried back to the room where she decided to set up the nursery. They'd had a delicious breakfast together, not to mention the fact that he hadn't joined her in her room the evening before. 

Ian had only told her he was tired and wished her a good night. 

Eden didn't know how long this respite would last, but it was pointless speculating on when he would again demand to be satisfied in bed. 

The very thought upset her. Eden knew too well that nothing had changed in her. She would be no more capable of fulfilling his desire than she had been the first night. 

Eden took a step into the middle of the abandoned boudoir and half-closed her eyes, imagining the sofa and armchairs replaced by a small bed, a toy chest, a high chair... There would be pretty pastel curtains on the windows and soft rugs on the floor. Toys would be strewn here and there…

“It's going to be just perfect,” she murmured.

“What will be perfect?”asked Ian behind her.

“This room, for the nursery, " Edenreplied, pivoting on his heels.

But it wasn't Ian. It was Lucas, in riding breeches and a short morning coat, his hair slightly tousled by the wind. And rather to his advantage, Eden mused, while telling herself that decidedly, no, Lucas wasn't as handsome as her alpha.

“You have the same voice as Ian”

“So I've heard. Ivan, Ian and I have often been told so.” He entered the living room, smiling amiably.

"It's nice to have him around," Eden mused. 

She felt safe with this big fellow with a friendly face, and his scent soothed her.

“Already thinking about the nursery, two days after the wedding? Now that's what I call not letting yourself get caught unprepared…”

Eden blushed. Unwittingly, her hand went to his stomach. Lucas followed his gaze and his kind smile gave way to surprise. Then, very quickly, he regained control of his expression.

“You... you're pregnant?”

“I'm... Yes, I am pregnant. And I'd appreciate it if you'd keep this to yourself, please.”

She had to remain calm. Lucas couldn't know that this child was Ivan’s.

“You can imagine, I think, how embarrassed I am... though delighted, of course. I won't be able to hide it much longer anyway.”

“Oh, I'll be discreet, Eden, I promise…”

Lucas had suddenly turned very red, which Eden found rather amusing.

“I was caught short... Ian seemed so far from thinking about marriage…”

Lucas stammered a little, as if he'd said too much

“Well, I'm very happy for you both, of course…”

Eden had an unpleasant feeling. Ian had told her he wasn't in love with anyone, but suddenly she felt he'd lied to her.

“I'm very clumsy, I apologize, " Lucas said quickly. “I should have been more discreet. Nevertheless, I congratulate you on the happy event to come and promise to feign surprise when you make the official announcement.”

Eden turned away, still reeling from her negative feelings

“Please forgive me,” insisted Lucas, with an air of regret. “I won't tell anyone, I swear.”

“Thank you very much. I wouldn't want Ian to be the least bit embarrassed because of me. And there's nothing to forgive, I assure you.”

Eden suddenly thought she should ring for tea. She still wasn't used to having staff under her. That’s until and other voice chimed in

“What was there to forgive?”

Eden wondered for a moment if, once again, she'd mistaken her husband's voice for someone else's. 

But no, she hadn't. She just heard her husband's voice. But she hadn't. It was deeper than Ivan and more expressive, more modulated than Lucas.

“For scaring Eden when she came into the room,”replied Lucas  before Eden had time to think of an explanation. 

“Eden was deep in thought, so I entered without warning and startled her.”

“I was about to have tea served.”

Clearly, Lucas wanted to keep it a secret, even from his cousin. Suddenly, Eden felt guilty. She spent all her time lying to her husband, and that made her feel so desperate.

“Lucas just arrived, Eden explained. I didn't know you had an appointment…”

Eden quickly left the room and the two alphas followed her to her boudoir, where she pulled the bell cord and sat down.

“We didn't have an appointment,”replied Ian. “I came home because I'd forgotten some papers in my study. You're a long way from home, aren't you, he said to his cousin. But I'm very happy to see you…”

“I've got a new hunting horse I've been meaning to ride out, so I took the opportunity. But I've also come to see you on business. If you don't mind, I could accompany you on your tour…”

“We can talk about it now, if you like…”

A maid entered and Eden asked her to bring tea.

Eden asked the two alphas when the young maid had gone out, if she can have it served in the study, if they liked

“Of course not.” 

“Why not? Let's talk about it here…” replied Ian, smiling. Eden smiled back, but Lucas looked a little embarrassed.

“-I didn't want to bother Eden with this sort of thing, but if you insist... I was wondering if you'd be willing to rent out Fosse Warren, or even sell it…”

“Would any of your Cliy be interested?” Eden remembered that Lucas was a lawyer.

“No, actually, it would be for me. The idea of becoming a gentleman-farmer appeals to me... part-time, of course. I have no intention of giving up law.”

“You don't? I didn't know country life appealed to you in the least. If it's farming that appeals to you, I'm sorry, but I only intend to rent out the house and part of the farm, while continuing to farm the land. But don't let that stop you from coming here whenever you like, to talk about farming or anything else.”

“Thank you, I'd be happy to. Are you going to install a farmer?”

“I already have a very competent steward, but I'll continue to oversee things, even if I have to concentrate primarily on this area.”

“Ah, that... Ivan was never interested in the land, he always said he was bored to death in the countryside," commented Lucas, as the maid brought in the tea tray.

“At least he could have delegated some authority to Lorenzo, so that he could maintain the estate.” 

“He's a very capable man. If Ivan had trusted him, the land and buildings wouldn't be in this deplorable state. Thank you, Eden.”

Ian took the cup Eden handed him with a smile, and it was like a flash of cheerfulness in such a serious conversation.

"He misses his old estate and isn't very happy here," Eden mused with a twinge of sadness. 

“The farms are in a deplorable state," Ian continued. I've never seen anything like it... 

“-I must go and visit the farmers and their wives,” Eden murmured, as if to herself.

Perhaps she could help Ian by pointing out the most urgent needs?

The two alphas changed the subject to a local political scandal, giving Eden time to study both their faces, so similar and yet so different.

She could also see the features they both had in common with Ivan, although it was beginning to be difficult for her to remember Ivan well. 

All in all, it was rather encouraging... In time, perhaps these bad memories would fade.

“Where is Ivan buried?” Eden asked suddenly, and the two cousins turned their faces towards her, as alike as brothers in their shared surprise.