"That's old news, Cora. Lady Whitcomb-Smythe hired the man practically right off the Countess' doorstep and now he's taking her for long drives in the country. But never mind that - I've got something much more interesting to tell you. Come over here in the corner, I don't want Lady Bellefleur overhearing this - you know what a gossip she is."

"This is much better. Now where was I? Oh yes, it's about Count Courland - you know - that Count Courland. You remember we saw him with the Rochefort boy last year at Countess Kourey's dreadful party - the one with the disappointing buffet. Well, I saw him yesterday, Count Courland himself, and he was with a young woman."

"That's not so surprising, Matilde. But poor Florian, you know his mother left him penniless. He's been dependent on the Count all this time. What will happen to him now - unless of course the Count is going to keep him too?"

"You haven't heard the best part, Cora. The lady with the Count was - well it could have been just the clothing - but I believe she was.
with child!"

"No!"

"Yes. You can imagine how shocked I was, seeing them like that, out in public. And the worst part was when I saw her face. Bless me if she wasn't a double for the Rochefort boy - alike enough to be a twin but as far as anyone I know is concerned Florian was the last of his line."

"Surely someone would have known about another child if she looked so much like Florian. I'm sure I don't recall even a breath of scandal but you know how aloof Lady Rochefort was. What if Florian isn't hers either? How positively wicked!"

"You're as distressed as I was, my dear Cora. Why I had half a mind to march up to the Count's house and demand an explanation but first I had to pay a visit to old Lady Deboult. She's been ill, you know, and hardly anyone visits the poor dear. Well, as I was sitting with her, I happened to see a copy of the newspaper. It was several days old, mind you, but there in the society page was a small mention of Count Courland's marriage."

"Marriage! Surely we would have heard..."

"We wouldn't, because they got married in Italy. The bride is Florianna Rochefort, Florian's older sister. She'd been raised away from Paris because of her poor health. It said that Florian had attended the wedding and was happy for the couple, but that he'd decided to remain in Italy."

"So perhaps she is his legitimate sister after all. How dull. Oh, but poor Florian, he always was such a considerate boy and look how he's been repaid - to have his own sister take his place at the Count's side. He must be positively humiliated."

"I imagine he would be. But it does make one wonder if all those rumors about him and the Count were true. If so, the poor boy would be too ashamed to ever return to Paris."

"Well you're going to have to. I've got a client arriving in an hour and it'll take that long for you to waddle up the stairs." Ray bit into the end of his cigar and glowered at Florian.

"Put that out, the cigar smoke is making me nauseous!"

"Everything makes you nauseous." Ray snapped back, rubbing his finger where the antique gold ring pressed into his skin. He tugged at it, but it didn't move.

"And whose fault is that?" Florian countered, his face flushed with anger. He held up his hand, displaying the gold band on his left wrist. "You and your insistence on stealing everything that catches your eye."

"Jealous?" Ray was pacing now, but he had stubbed out his cigar in the ashtray at the far side of the room.

"No!" Florian leaned forward a little and wrapped his arms around his middle. He looked up at Ray, his expression pathetic. "All we did was go to the park but I'm so tired. I don't know how I'm going to manage this for another four months."

"Florian." Ray stopped pacing and knelt at Florian's side, taking his hand and looking directly into those lovely amethyst eyes. "Let me take you upstairs to rest. You'll feel better by dinnertime."

"It's no use. I'm not going to feel better for months." Florian watched as Ray stood and then accepted his offered hand. On his feet again, Florian leaned into Ray and let himself be held before reluctantly pulling back. "A nap will be good."

"It will be alright, Florian. You'll have the finest care. Laila's already working on something to help settle your stomach."

"That's a frightening thought." Florian managed a smile. "Help me upstairs now. It wouldn't do to have your client see your bride in this condition. Besides, Florianna needs her rest. After all, she's not used to a busy city like Paris."

"Yes, it's a pity her health is so poor that she was raised apart from her beloved younger brother. They barely know each other. And now that Florian has decided to stay in Italy for a while..."

"I knew my brother was smart. Honestly, Ray, if Laila serves me one more pickle, I won't be responsible for my actions. It would serve her right if I made her wear this horrible dress!" He tugged at the plaid monstrosity that Laila had found in a specialty shop. Normally Ray wouldn't allow such a thing in his sight, but he couldn't exactly have a tailor in to measure Florian for custom garments.

Ray just laughed as he continued leading Florian slowly up the stairs. The blond was awkward and slow between his condition and the unfamiliar garment. When he was finally changed from the maternity dress into a loose nightgown and settled in their bed, he reached out and caught Ray's right hand.

"Stay for a minute?" He batted his eyes and generally looked ridiculous so of course Ray stayed. He settled on the edge of the bed beside Florian and looked down at the bump in the blanket.

"If I'd known the legend was real, I never would have put that bracelet on you."

"Or the ring on yourself." Florian added wryly. Laila had only discovered the legend of the fertility charms after Ray and Florian had put them on and discovered they weren't able to remove them. For weeks afterwards, their lovemaking had been frequent and almost frantic. Then Florian became ill every morning.

"It's so unbelievable - that simply wearing some old Sumerian jewelry would cause so much trouble."

"I think the jewelry had help." Florian smiled up at Ray. "Perhaps we should make a rule to never wear jewelry of any kind when we're in bed."

"No more crowns?" Ray pretended to be disappointed but Florian just grinned at him.

"Not even a tiara." Florian countered. "Now come here and lie next to me for a minute. "My stomach is too upset to let me sleep."

"Poor stomach." Ray leaned forward and splayed his left hand across the top of the rounded bump in the blanket. "A pity that Florianna will have to leave for Italy as soon as this baby is born. The stress of childbirth will be too much for her. Fortunately, her brother will return from Italy to help with the child. He knows how I detest the idea of diapers."

"Does he?" Florian asked. "Luckily, he'll have the help of a nursemaid. Only the best for Count Courland's child."

"I suppose newborns can't be sent to boarding school?"

"You suppose correctly. Not that such a doting father as yourself would even consider such a thing."

"You have me confused with my less evil twin."

"Do I? Well then, since I'm in bed and can't sleep, why doesn't the eviler twin think of something interesting to do?" Florian pulled Ray down for a demanding kiss.

"Now who's the evil one?" Ray responded as he started to unfasten Florian's gown. "You're going to make me late."

"Can't be helped. You know the rule, 'ladies first'." Florian grinned and reached downwards, running fingers teasingly over cloth, making Ray moan.

"You, my dear Florian, are no lady."