Sally MacKenzie Bundle by Sally Mackenzie

haze veil his eyes. He’d kill any man who took advantage of Lizzie. She was so sweet, so generous, so responsive. If only he were capable….
    “Yes, my lord.”
    Robbie blinked. He’d forgotten Collins was in the room.
    “Betty did say Lady Elizabeth had a severely unsettled stomach. She blamed the ratafia for her condition, but Lady Beatrice thought…at first she suspected…that is, she believed you had visited Lady Elizabeth in her chamber.”
    “Get to the point, man.”
    “Lady Beatrice thought perhaps Lady Elizabeth was increasing.”
    The thought of Lizzie growing heavy with his child caused a jolt of pure lust to shoot through him. The feeling was followed immediately by an aching emptiness that made his head spin. If only it were true. He would give anything….
    He forced his mind away from the matter. He had learned a long time ago that no amount of wishing or praying or bargaining with God made a thimbleful of difference.
    “That is absurd.”
    “Well, yes, my lord. Of course it is. A woman does not exhibit signs of breeding immediately after one night of pleasure. And I know you have not been frequenting her bed before this.”
    “Collins!”
    The man stepped back in alarm. Robbie struggled to get hold of his temper. “I have not been frequenting Lady Elizabeth’s bed.”
    “I know, my lord. Haven’t I just said so?”
    Robbie took a breath and counted to ten.
    “I did not frequent her bed last night either.” He paused. That was not completely truthful. “That is, not in that way.”
    “My lord?”
    “Damnation. The point is, Collins, there is no way that Lady Elizabeth could be increasing. The necessary activity did not occur.”
    Collins looked disappointed, for God’s sake!
    “Why didn’t it, my lord?”
    “What do you mean, why didn’t it? Lady Elizabeth is a gently bred young woman who also happens to be the sister of one of my closest friends. Why would you think I would take such advantage of her?”
    “My lord, I meant no disrespect. Lady Elizabeth is also a young woman who is clearly in love with you. Betty is certain on that point. And you care for her, do you not?”
    “Yes. No.” Robbie wanted to smash something, perhaps Collins’s face. But it wasn’t his valet’s fault that he was defective. “I do care for Lady Elizabeth, but not in that way.”
    Collins just stared at him.
    “Well, not exactly in that way. You don’t understand. The notion is absurd. I cannot wed Lady Elizabeth.”
    “But why is it absurd, my lord? You are almost thirty. You need to produce an heir. Lady Elizabeth would agree in a heartbeat to wed you—Betty says her mistress has turned down other offers, waiting and hoping for yours. There’s no other lady you prefer, is there?”
    “Collins…”
    “And I know—well, at least I think—you do not prefer men, but even if you did, you would need to overcome those feelings to get an heir.”
    “Collins!” Robbie felt as if someone had kicked him in the stomach. “I do not prefer men.”
    “I didn’t think you did.” Collins shifted position, holding Robbie’s coat up almost as a shield. “My lord, I am sorry to be so bold, but I am waiting for your proposal as well. Betty and I would like to marry. If you wed Lady Elizabeth, we will be able to do so easily. If you don’t…well, neither of us wishes to leave our employers, but…. You see the awkwardness of the situation?”
    “Yes, Collins. I do understand. I’ll speak to Lady Elizabeth.”
    “So you will propose?”
    “No. I will discuss your situation with her during the house party. We will find a solution to your problem.”
    “But what about your problem, my lord? Will you find a solution to that as well?”
    Robbie shrugged. His problem had no solution. “Perhaps. Now it is almost time for dinner. Are you going to stand there holding that coat all evening or are you going to help me into it?”
    “Help you into it, of course, my lord.”
    Collins held the coat out and