Redemption--Sample (Book 2 of The Conquest Series)

3. Never

"I think we should do a tea party type shower," Mathilde said as she spoke on the phone. "Of course she would, my dear. She said she didn't want anything fancy. It's positively perfect!"

The voice on the other line seemed to speak for a long time as Constance sat sipping a light herbal tea with honey in it. The men were on the other side of the room and talking in alternating hushed and loud tones. Aiden seemed to be carrying much of the conversation, though Harry's son was contributing a steady amount with his stories from abroad.

Carl though, seemed to be quieter than usual. He most always brought some sort of date with him when he came to Harry and Mathilde's house for dinner and this was a rare exception. Constance chalked it up to the extra work Aiden had handed him, but he looked less stressed and more contemplative today. It was a novel look on him and Constance frowned, thinking.

She waited until Mathilde had gotten off the phone with her daughter before commenting on it.

"What seems to be up with Carlton?" she asked the older woman. "He's alone and- more disturbingly- quiet."

"No idea," Mathilde stated. "He does seem a bit down lately. He must be stressed at work. Board of Directors have been on his ass about the new foreign contracts and Aiden has- no offense- been quite preoccupied with you."

Constance hoped she wasn't the cause of his disturbing demeanor and made a mental note to mention it to Aiden later on after they had gotten home.

"Speaking of which, when are you and Aiden closing on the house?" Mathilde spoke about the ridiculously large house Aiden was purchasing as if she was buying it for herself.

"No clue," Constance stated. "Aiden takes care of all the details and to be honest, I think he is being ridiculous. Eight bedrooms? How many children does he think we're going to have?"

"Enough to fill at least half those rooms, no doubt," Mathilde threw out, much to Constance's horror. Four children was about two too many. Constance was not a baby-making apparatus.

"Did you get a due date? And the gender?" Mathilde asked with anxious eyes. It was as if she were experiencing grandmotherhood vicariously through Constance. Both her own children had no serious prospects that she was aware of, and she missed when they were little babes.

"Yes, I have a due date in mid February and well, I am debating having a gender reveal party so I don't know if I can tell you yet," Constance said with a smirk. She knew not being the first to know (or at least one of the first) would irritate Mathilde, but she was keeping mum until she made a decision.

"Oooh!" Mathilde cried loudly, gaining a glance from the men. "Let me plan it! I have the perfect idea on how to-"

"I said I was thinking about it," Constance told her. "Besides, you just want to know because then you would have the inside track on which gender I'm brewing."

Mathilde's face was a sight to see. Several emotions flickered over her face but the one that landed on it in the end was one of admiration.

"You know me too well already, my dear Constance," she told the younger woman. "Or has Harry been chatting about my need to be first to know everything first? Blast the man!"

Constance laughed softly. "Harry hasn't said anything to me I didn't already know. You are quite easy to read sometimes Mathilde- or maybe it's just because I am the complete opposite that I recognize it." She shrugged and took another sip of her beverage.

"Well, my darling husband seems to be saved due to my own femininity," Mathilde said with a half smile. "You seem to be the only woman I know that doesn't crave gossip. Why is that?"