57

How have you been feeling? asked the duke, helping his daughter-in-law to sit down.

If it weren't for the morning sickness, I suppose I'd be fine. But, on the bright side, I'm enjoying this wonderful time.

I can imagine, pregnancy has been wonderful for you, your eyes have taken on a lovely glow, and your cheeks...you remind me so much of my dear Amelia,’ confessed the duke, smiling broadly. You don't know how happy I am for you and my son, to see you about to unite your lives for life and to know that very soon you will give me the joy of being a grandfather... Juliet, I have so much to thank you for.

Your Excellency...

Since you came back into my son's life, you have brought with you, peace and light, not only to my son's life, but to all of ours.

Excellency, I... stammered, just as tears began to run down her cheeks.

Don't cry, dear daughter, for my intention was never to make you cry,’ she mused, wiping away the blonde's tears, just as Samantha entered the room with the tea service, that maid began to serve the steaming beverage, and brought a platter with several delicious pastries, among which were the blonde's favourite, the chocolate muffins.

Thank you, miss,’ asked the duke, taking her porcelain cup.

Thank you, Sam,’ said the blonde, giving him a warm smile. Is there anything else, Miss Juliet?

Not at the moment, thank you.

Very well, excuse me, she bowed one last time and left the room.

I hope the tea is to your liking, your excellency,’ said the blonde, watching the steam rising from her cup.

It is delicious,’ replied the duke approvingly, taking a second sip of his drink. Usually in London, teas tend to be stronger, and even though they are a very traditional drink, I have been amazed by the taste of this one. Is it blueberry?

That's right, Your Excellency, my grandmother tends to drink this tea a lot, it's one of her favourites,’ said the blonde sincerely.

Now I can see why,’ replied the duke with a big smile.

Tell me, once you give birth to my grandson, do you plan to return to the hospital? he asked curiously.

I would like nothing better, as I love my profession, but I am also aware that, with a child, it will be a little difficult for me... to tell you the truth, I would not like to leave him too long in the care of the nanny.

It's true that with a child, things tend to get a bit more complicated, but nothing is impossible if you know how to organise yourself.

At the moment, I miss the hospital very much, especially my little patients. They mean everything to me.

You have a gift for taking care of people, it doesn't surprise me that these little ones love you so much, you are so sweet and warm. You will definitely make a great mother, the duke assures me.

Do you think so, Your Excellency? he ventured to ask.

Of course, why do you doubt it, daughter?

I don't want to be a bad mother and make a mistake.

My dearest daughter,’ he said tenderly. You must understand that no one is perfect, we all make mistakes, and when we are parents, we tend to make even more mistakes,’ she said with some regret. There is no manual that tells us how to be perfect parents, we learn as we go along,’ she said with melancholy.

Your Excellency, you don't know how happy I am to know that you and Armand have finally made up,’ said the blonde sincerely.

For me, more so. I thought he was never going to forgive me, I was a complete idiot, I wasn't even with him when he needed me most, she says with frustration. I let myself get carried away by my foolish pride and the absurd rules of the aristocracy, there isn't a day that goes by that I don't regret it. I missed out on so much of my son's life, and that is something I can never get back.

Of course you can make up for lost time, Your Excellency,’ the blonde assured. Build new memories, where it's just the two of you. Armand, you love him, you always loved him, maybe, you couldn't be with him, but it wasn't because you didn't love him, it was because you thought it was right, to keep your distance. You have rightly said that there is no manual that teaches us how to be good parents. However, you still have another chance and you should make the most of it.

Thank you, daughter. Letting off steam with you has helped me a lot, it was what I needed.

You have nothing to thank me for, you know? I don't judge your behaviour, because my father... God rest his soul, was a very cold and strict man, but he behaved that way, because that's how he had been brought up, although my grandparents were never affectionate with him or his brothers, my father didn't have a very happy childhood, because my grandparents spent most of their time travelling, and my father and his brothers and sisters were left with their nannies, they left them with their nannies, for him, having grown up in an environment where feelings were not shown, was something normal, that's why he was like that with us, but that didn't mean he didn't love us, he adored my mother, Evelyn, she was the light of his eyes, Alex, was his great pride, he used to say that he would be a magnificent businessman, while I... he used to say that I was his angel, because it was enough to see me smile for his days to be full of light. My father was not so much a hugger or an I love you, but he was always very attentive to us and our needs, when he used to tell us what I just told you, it was on rare occasions.

I am very sorry that you lost your parents at an early age, daughter, but you should know that now I will consider you as another daughter. You will never be alone as long as I live.

I am very grateful,’ she replied, her voice cracking.

But, enough of getting so sentimental,’ she interrupted abruptly, placing her cup on the coffee table. I've brought some little presents for my grandson,’ she mused, placing some bags and boxes on the armchair. I hope they are to your liking and that as soon as my grandson is born, I will see him wearing them.

Juliet, with great care, began to take the little suits out of the boxes, and when she lifted the fine cloth with which they were covered, she was astonished, for one suit consisted of a little overall and a white linen shirt, with a navy blue bow on the collar, the other a pearly robe, a jumper embroidered by Lady Amelia in navy blue, two little coquettish coats of red and black, with the Hamilton coat of arms on them.

I had them made, I confessed, taking one of the coats. And as a finishing touch, I had my family crest embroidered on it, so that there is no doubt that my grandson will be the future Duke of Hamilton,’ he said proudly.

Everything is beautiful.

And you haven't seen the toys. Although Richard Hamilton had acquired a little horse carved in wood, a plush bear, a rattle made of white gold and inlaid with small sapphires, as this heirloom belonged to the family, Juliet, seeing the ostentatiousness of the toy, was surprised, as this heirloom must have cost a fortune. I only want the best for my grandson, she asked proudly.

After almost three hours of conversation, Richard said goodbye to his daughter-in-law, promising to return the next day. After giving her a kiss on the cheek, he left the room to go in search of Alex, because he had to deal with a subject that had him quite worried.