Alec arrived a few minutes after Jonathan left.

"Are you alright? My father said you needed me. What's wrong?"

She sighed. "Gods above, so many things. For starters, your father thinks I'm pregnant."

He just blinked at her for a few moments before responding.

"Oh, his 'special skill.' What did you tell him?"

"I so aggressively insisted that it was impossible that he guessed the truth," she said.

Alec looked shocked. "He knows? And he...he didn't turn you in?"

"Apparently not. Ask him about it," she said. "Tell him you know."

She did not think it was her place to tell Alec about his aunt.

"Ah...all right...did he still think you're pregnant after you told him?"

Maren nodded. "He proposed that either the conventional wisdom is incorrect or that unexpected things happen when two Wielders are together."

"And are either of those plausible to you?"

She pinched the bridge of her nose. "Could you perform a test so that we could put the matter to bed?"

"Of course. I'll need to go fetch a syringe, but everything else I require is in the infirmary. It won't be an issue," he said.

She was mildly surprised it would be that simple. Pregnancy testing was expensive and had been developed almost exclusively for the benefit of the royal family. But over the years it had proliferated into the higher echelons of the nobility, and it did make sense that Alec, a consummate professional, would ensure his father's infirmary was well stocked.

"I thank you."

He left, but returned within a few minutes with a small black case of syringes and vials. He drew a bit of blood from her arm, which stung but didn't hurt badly.

"Is it plausible to you that such a thing would not be noticeable to him until today?" she asked.

He nodded as he put away his syringe. "Certainly. If I test someone too early, it might be negative but then a week later, positive."

She groaned. She was still hoping there was some sort of mistake.

"Speaking of which," he said, not looking at her. "Are you late?"

She flushed, very much disliking every part of the conversation.

"Maybe a week or so. I'm not certain," she said.

He nodded. "Well, we'll see."

"How long?" she asked.

"A few hours, you should rest, I'll come back when there's news," he said and left.

She didn't really feel like resting, so she curled up in the window seat with a book and pretended to read it. She hadn't realized she'd dozed off until she heard knocking on her bedroom door.

"Come in!" she called.

Alec came into her room. She knew just by the fact that Alec had come through her sitting room to knock on her bedroom door what the answer was.

"You have got to be joking," she said, pinching the bridge of her nose.

He shook his head. "Jonathan Drake's special skill is once again proven accurate."

"Gods above," she muttered.

She felt rather shocked. Even though she had begun to admit the possibility that Jonathan might have been right, she hadn't really believed it. She still didn't truly believe it.

"Can you do it again?"

Perhaps there had been some sort of error.

"I already am," he said. "But, false positives are...unlikely."

She groaned again.

"How did this happen?"

He sat at the opposite end of the window seat.

"Well, Maren, when a man loves a woman-"

"Thank you, Alec, that's very helpful," she snapped, rolling her eyes.

"Come now," he said in a placating tone. "Surely, this isn't such a bad thing. I know you two love each other very much."

She sighed. "Alec, if love was enough, I never would have come here."

"Do you want to discuss medical options?" he asked in a very professional tone.

She knew that was the responsible thing to do was, only she wasn't sure she could do it.

She shook her head. "Thank you, but not right now... I haven't ruled it out, I just don't want to talk about it."

She still felt stunned and was beginning to feel very scared.

"I don't know what to do," she whispered.

She suddenly felt she very desperately needed her mother.

"I can't tell you what decisions to make, but I think the next step is rather obvious. You have to tell Donovan," Alec said.

She wasn't sure. "I think the best thing for him is to handle things here and never tell him."

Alec gave her a deeply skeptical look. "I would strongly disagree with that, but even if you are correct, is that what's best for you?"

In some ways, it was. She would be able to marry Jonathan and stay at Worthingham. But she also thought she'd have to live with the regret of what might have been for her whole life.

But if she had the baby, what would she do? She couldn't marry Jonathan, and she didn't think she could keep a baby safe from Kieran if she went home with her parents. She could perhaps go to the mountains, but she couldn't raise a child there. That was no place to grow up.

No, the answer was obvious. She would have to give the baby to Donovan to raise with his wife, and hope Kieran never found out who its real mother was.

The thought was nearly as depressing as the medical options. But, maybe it would be some comfort to Donovan.

Jonathan said she could stay as long as she liked. Perhaps he would let her stay until the baby was born, and that would keep her relatively safe. Then she could go to the mountains; she doubted very much Kieran would follow her there.

"Should I send a telegram to him?" Alec asked.

She shook her head, trying not to cry. "I don't think I could bear to see him. I'll...ah... I'll write him a letter when I decide what to do."

"What to do?" Alec repeated, confused.

She sniffed and nodded.

"I really only have two options. I can either deal with it medically or...give the baby to Donovan to raise with his wife," she said and, much to her fury, her voice cracked, and she began to cry.

"Maren! No, those are not your only options! I guarantee Donovan will marry you."

She shook her head. He didn't understand.

"He can't," she breathed. "Not someone like me."

He gave her a questioning look.

She sniffed and gritted her teeth to explain, "Because we don't know how this happened or why this happened or if it can ever happen again. I doubt very much I can give him the heirs he has to have. It's very possible this pregnancy will not give him a son or even a living child."

Alec sighed. "It's possible, but that doesn't mean he wouldn't still marry you."

She shook her head. "I don't want him to marry me because he has to."

"You don't think he'd want to?"

"I think he doesn't understand what marrying me would mean. I think he'd come to regret it."

Alec blew out his breath. "Gods, Maren, I don't know. I really think you're wrong about this."

The tears rolled down her cheeks.

"And do you know how much danger I'd be in if he married me? A great deal," she said, her voice wavering.

Alec didn't respond. She knew he could not refute her.

She sniffed and tried to pull herself together.

"Would you please tell your father? Let him know I'll have a decision for him soon. And if someone can come help pack my things, I'll relocate to a guest room," she said.

Alec looked surprised. "I'll tell him if you want me to, but I'm sure he wouldn't want you to change rooms. It's not as though anyone else is waiting for this one."

"Thank you. Would you tell him I'll move if he'd like?"

She thought it only right that she offer.

Alec nodded. "Are you all right? I don't feel like you should be alone right now."

"I'm fine. I'd like to be alone," she insisted.

"All right. I'll come check on you in a bit. Are you sure you don't want me to telegram Donovan?" he asked. He looked worried.

"Absolutely do not. Neither option requires his input."

She knew that wasn't entirely true, but she couldn't bear to think about Donovan, and she knew she absolutely did not want to see him. Leaving him once was bad enough; she did not think she could do it again.

Alec left reluctantly and Maren collapsed into tears.

--

Alec regretted that it was far too early in the day for brandy. He felt he needed a very large glass, perhaps even a whole bottle.

Instead, he went out on the west balcony where he knew he would find a bit of peace or his father.
Either would be helpful, both would be ideal.

He had the distinct impression that any part of his vacation that might have been peaceful was over. He was more concerned for his friends than his vacation, of course, but he did regret the loss.

Fortunately, his father was on the balcony sitting at the small table with a book. He looked up when Alec came out.

"So, I take it from your face that your telling her of her condition went about as well as mine," his father said.

As much as it occasionally annoyed Alec to have his face read, it was convenient for avoiding saying certain awkward things, like confirming to his father that his betrothed was pregnant with someone else's baby.

"Well, considering I didn't out her biggest secret, but I did provide definitive proof, I'd say it was a wash," Alec said.

His father looked surprised. "Oh, I didn't know you knew."

Alec sighed and sat down. "I found out accidentally just the before we left. She was passing out after Kieran...was incapacitated. She lost control."

His father shook his head. "It's an absolute miracle she survived so long at Court with Kieran hounding her. And she's excellent if she managed to stay concealed while he was hurting her."

Alec didn't really understand what his father meant, but was too preoccupied to question him.

"Don't tell me just now, but I do want to hear why you didn't turn her in," Alec said.

"Now, why does there have to be a reason, can't it just be because it's the decent thing to do?" his father asked, smiling.

Alec chuckled. "I'm not slighting your honor, but she told me you had a reason and I should ask you."

"Ah, fair enough, I'll tell you later," he said. "Go on down to the office and telegram the palace."

Alec groaned. "She told me not to."

"Did she? Why's that?"

"Because she's convinced herself that her only options are to end the pregnancy or have the baby but give it to Donovan and his wife to raise," Alec said.

His father frowned. "You know the Prince better than I, but I did assume he'd marry her."

Alec nodded. "He absolutely will marry her and be delighted to do it. He's completely mad for her."

He thought vaguely that he should not be disclosing that to his father, but if he wasn't troubled that Maren was pregnant, then he probably wouldn't be troubled that someone else loved her.

"Only, she doesn't think he will?"

Alec shrugged. "I don't really understand. I know she's just as mad for him. She either thinks he can't or he won't."

His father looked thoughtful for a moment, considering.

"Can you imagine what it must be like to grow up thinking that something is horrible and evil, and then suddenly discovering you are that thing?" he asked.

Alec nearly laughed. He certainly had some idea what it must have been like for her. He knew it wasn't the same, but he did understand what it was like to grow up thinking you're supposed to be one sort of person, only to discover you're someone else entirely.

"I imagine it must be rather painful," Alec said.

"Probably she never expected she could have things like a husband or a child. I think it must be very difficult for her to accept that she can," his father said.

Alec certainly knew something about that. It took one young man and a lot of time for Alec to realize that he could actually still have love and affection in his life, even if he didn't want it with a woman.

Alec wondered again if he should tell Maren. Certainly, not just then, but perhaps when she calmed down? He wasn't sure. He wanted to help her, not burden her with his own secret, and he found the idea of actually saying it out loud daunting. But, he thought that if it would help her, he could tell her about Harold. He'd need to think about it.

He had another decision to make first.

"I'm trying to figure out if I should send a telegram anyway," Alec said.

"Hmmm, that is difficult."

"I think I should. Only she'll be furious with me. And I don't want her to think that I'm only doing it because I'm also his friend. But I do think it's the right thing to do for her, even if she doesn't agree," he said.

"Well, I expect if she ends up married to him, she'll forgive you. She might not if she doesn't. Can you live with that?"

Alec thought about it. "I'm not sure if I could live with myself if I don't do it. Because they'll both suffer if I don't."

"Then, there's your answer," his father said.

Alec groaned. "Being decent is so difficult."

His father smiled. "It's usually worth it, though."

"I know. I know. I'm just dreading telling her what I've done. She's already so upset," Alec said. "I hate to make it worse."

"You aren't. And if you do, the condition will be temporary. Do you think he'll come here?" his father asked.

Alec nodded. "He won't want her to come to Court."

"Probably for the best," his father said. "Well, he's very welcome, but I do recommend you tell her he's coming before he arrives."

"Certainly. Oh, she wants to know if you want her to move out of the Duchess's Suite," Alec said.

"Of course not, it doesn't matter," his father said.

"I told her that only I think she needs to hear it from you," Alec said.

His father nodded. "I'll send her a note."

Alec rose. "Well, thank you for...the validation."

"Good luck!" his father called as he went inside to telegram Donovan.

Alec just had to figure out how to tell him in a way that no one else who read the telegram might understand. The very last thing they needed was for the newspaper or, worse, Kieran, to find out about Maren.