Thea eyed her. "You truly care for this babe?"
"Very much so." Celia knew she'd never spoken truer words.
"Not just as an heir for your husband, but for his or her own sake?"
"I love this child more than words can say." Celia replied, feeling her eyes grow damp. "They will be everything to me."
"You're a stout hearted girl then." Thea tapped a finger against her chin absentmindedly. "To be able to feel great love for a child, born from the seed of a man you don't care about. Not all women can, you know."
"What can you do to ensure they remain safe in my belly until the right moment?" Celia asked, eager to change the subject of her baby's father. "I can't bear to suffer another loss."
