Never had guilt plagued Henry so brutally as it did that day.

Screams came from the end of the hall that seemed to reverberate around the room and make Henry shudder in fear. They were Florence’s screams, as she endured the hardship of labor. He had never known it would be quite so terrible to bear. If he had, then perhaps he would have thought twice about having her carry his child. He didn’t wish for her to endure such pain.

He wanted to do everything he could to take that pain away, yet he knew there was nothing he could do to make her feel better. It was something far beyond his capability, and he felt incredibly useless.

Over a year had passed since they had been married, and neither Henry nor Florence had expected her to fall pregnant. She had always been told it was impossible. The pregnancy had involved many fears and anticipated bad news, yet she had reached her full term healthy and happy, and now the baby was coming.

Henry couldn’t have been more terrified, especially not while her screams of pain showed no sign of relenting. He hadn’t prepared himself for quite how violent it all sounded. He paced the study as he tried to think of anything to occupy his mind. He needed to distract himself, but it seemed impossible. Those frightening sounds claimed his full attention, and he could only fear the worst.

He knew Florence was strong, and yet he also knew childbirth didn’t always end well. He could only hope and pray that both she and the baby would be all right by the end of it.

He hadn’t been sure if he would ever have children, or even wanted them. But upon learning Florence was pregnant, he couldn’t have been happier. It was then when he realized how badly he had wanted it despite being cautious of her predetermined inability to bear them.

Henry wanted to be a father so long as Florence was the one to carry his children, so that they could grow their family together.

Nerves soon got the best of him, and he felt a trembling that plagued his whole body. Each round of screams and commotion from the birthing room increased his fears. While a part of him was relieved to not be in the room, he also wished to be with Florence, to make sure everything was all right.

He needed to know Florence was safe.

Henry cursed at a particularly loud scream, and he could stand it no longer. He crossed the room and reached for the brandy, pouring a large snifter, which he raised to his lips with a shaking hand. Henry felt as if he was about to go insane. He wanted it to be over, to ease his nerves and ensure she was all right. He wished he had someone there to distract him and reassure him that all would be well.

Yet, Henry was forced to bear those unrelenting nerves on his own, to reassure himself and remain the strong-willed future father and husband he was meant to be. He could only hope all fathers in the same position felt the same fear.

Heaving a breath, Henry resolved to leave the study, for it wasn’t doing him any good. He closed the door behind him and ventured down the hall, arriving outside the birthing room.

The shouting and screaming only got louder, but Henry knew he needed to be as close as possible to her, should anything happen. He wanted Florence to know he wasn’t hiding, and that he was offering her his full support from a safe distance. Yet, he didn’t want the midwife to scold him for getting in the way.

His heart thrummed with anticipation, eager to see his wife again. It had been too long, and the wait was fraying his nerves.

Then, Florence’s screaming stopped altogether. The brief silence was a relief, but only for a moment as dread filled his chest. It felt as though something must be wrong, and he could only imagine the worst outcome. He paused in his pacing and debated going inside. He fought against the urge and ran a palm down his face. It was all too much.

Another painstaking moment passed before Henry heard a loud wail. He couldn’t tell who it was coming from, but he knew something wasn’t right.

Just as he was about to barge inside, the chamber door flew open and the midwife appeared before him, looking exhausted. It felt like a lifetime passed before she finally spoke, and Henry was almost delirious with fear by that time.

“You have a daughter, my lord,” she said, a broad smile splitting her worn features.

Those words were enough to almost bring him to his knees. Henry didn’t care whether it was a boy or a girl, for he was simply relieved to know the baby was all right. And, presumably, Florence was too. The relief cloaked him at once.

He was sure the midwife could see the true state of him, for she smiled again and beckoned to him. “Come and see for yourself.”

With a quick nod, Henry pushed through the door’s threshold and saw Florence propped up in bed, with a tiny, bundled-up baby in her arms. He felt he would finally break in that moment, for the sight was unlike anything he had seen before.

Florence looked exhausted yet radiant at the same time, gazing down lovingly at the little child, already the model of a doting mother. Her skin was flushed and glowed with a sheen of perspiration. But despite her tired, dishevelled appearance, he thought she looked more beautiful than ever. And his heart went out to her, and his daughter.

Henry was quick to reach the bedside and to gaze down at the small, wrinkled face that was so new to the world. Laughter bubbled from his lips unbidden, he was so amazed by the sight.

Florence did the same and stroked the baby’s head lovingly. “It is a girl.”

An immense pride filled Henry then, to his great surprise. While most men longed for a son, he was over the moon with his tiny daughter. He knew she would have the guidance of an excellent mother and teacher, along with her cousin Agnes and her antics.

Henry looked over at Florence hesitantly. “Are you unhappy?”

Florence met his eye and shook her head, and Henry noted how her eyes were bright with love and adoration. “Of course, I’m happy. After all, I knew it couldn’t be a boy.”

While the old supposition had been proved wrong about Florence’s inability to have children, she had given him a beautiful daughter nonetheless, and he was perfectly content with that.

Grateful for and pleased by his wife and all she had gone through to bring his child into the world, Henry cradled her and the baby in his arms and pressed a gentle kiss to her cheek. He couldn’t have been happier with the outcome and reveled in the wonderful feeling, and the enormous relief he felt.

“If the second Murray girl managed to give birth at all, then surely, she is capable of giving me a son one day too,” he murmured and watched as a smile crept across her lips.

Florence laughed softly and gazed upon the baby. Henry was mesmerized by the small child, and took in her quiet sniffles and experimental sounds, stroking her rosy cheek and grinning down at her with delight.

The new parents cooed at their baby and remained in their blissful state together. Henry felt incredibly fortunate and wondered what the future had in store for them now.

***

A warm breeze drifted across the colorful summer landscape. The garden looked beautiful, and all the family was seated outside in the sunshine to enjoy the lovely day. Henry felt perfectly content—all those dearest to him were close by.

Florence’s father sat with the little baby in his arms, jolly and smiling as he fussed over the child. It was the first time Henry had ever seen the man look truly at peace. He was clearly delighted with his tiny and so unexpected granddaughter, and was happy to entertain her, even if she couldn’t yet speak back to him yet.

He noted how fondly Florence watched her father as he played with the baby, and it rather warmed him to see it. It was nice to know that they had  been able to repair their relationship and find a common ground after all.

Henry took a sip of his brandy and listened while Agnes spoke of all the wonderful things she planned to do while the weather was still warm, apparently hopeful for what was to come. He noticed there was a new glow surrounding his niece, for she was, indeed, happier than ever.

When the sound of a carriage rolling up the drive echoed across to them, Agnes perked up at once. Immediately, everyone knew Lord Lockhart had arrived!

“He is here at last!” Agnes exclaimed and jumped up from her seat at once.

Not long after, Lockhart’s coach came to a stop, and he exited with a chipper bounce to his step. He approached Agnes with a wide smile and somehow refrained from embracing her despite how overjoyed she appeared to be. She linked her arm with his while they spoke to one another, and they began to promenade around the garden, as they often did.

Henry was no longer bothered by Lockhart’s intention to marry his niece. While he had favored him from the very first time they had met, the old protective instinct had tried to weave its way back in, until Florence had forced him to admit that he really wanted to forbid Agnes from marrying anyone. They had laughed about it then.

Yet if Henry trusted any man, it was Lockhart. The young lord had stolen Agnes’ heart, that much was clear, and he was just as smitten with her. Truthfully, it was a wonderous sight to behold, he had to confess.

“Agnes does look rather pleased with him,” Florence murmured as they both eyed the couple. Lockhart waved at them, and they both returned the favor, laughing softly.

“Indeed,” Henry commented. “They make a fine match.”

“I am pleased that you allow Agnes to explore their compatibility for herself. She will always remember that and recall it fondly.”

Henry grinned at that with a nod, for Agnes’ happiness was all he had ever wanted to see.

“Who am I to stand in the way of true love?” he jested.

“I couldn’t agree more.”

After some time relaxing in the shade, Henry watched as the courting couple returned, and Lockhart greeted them properly before Agnes released his arm and returned to her chair.

Henry had expected Lockhart to sit down as well, but instead, he removed his hat and held it in front of him, truing it nervously.

“Lord Gray, may I have a private word with you?” he asked, looking tense.

Henry was somewhat puzzled at first, but he stood all the same. “Certainly. Lead the way.”

The two lords walked side by side across the garden until they were some distance away from the others. Henry noticed how Lockhart was fiddling with his hat. The lad seemed much more anxious than ever before, and Henry’s curiosity was piqued.

Lord Lockhart cleared his throat and slowed his stride until they both stopped, and he turned to face Henry.

“Lord Gray, it has been an honor to have been able to spend time getting to know Agnes. It has occurred to me that she is the most important person in my life, I love her, and I fear I shall not survive much longer without her by my side. What I mean to say is, I wish to ask for her hand in marriage,” he managed with some difficulty.

It should have come as no surprise to Henry, yet he felt as if the world had stopped. He had known Lockhart’s ultimate intention, of course. But the thought of marrying Agnes away seemed much more daunting at that moment.

She had been like his own little girl once, and it was difficult to swallow that she wasn’t small any longer. Agnes was a grown woman, capable of growing her own family. Preparing her for marriage and life as a mother had been the whole reason Florence was hired to teach her in the first place.

Even so, the gravity of this new reality made him hesitant.

However, he knew he couldn’t expect her to remain unwed and under his roof forever. She was mature and wise for her age, and surely, she was ready. Even if Henry wasn’t prepared, Agnes’ heart most definitely was.

Before his protective instinct could foil the moment, Henry smiled. There was no reason to deny him, after all.

“You are a good, honest man, Lord Lockhart. Because of that and how well you treat my niece, you have my blessing.”

Lockhart’s elation overcame him, and he thanked Henry several times on their way back to the others. He and Agnes were all smiles while they sat with one another and chattered, and Henry hung back to watch the scene unfold.

Florence approached him with the baby in her arms, bouncing her gently all the while. She raised a curious brow at him.

“What was that about?”

Something about the shine in Florence’s eye told Henry she had her suspicions, and she was likely correct. Satisfied by the outcome of it all, he reached out to the baby and watched as she put her small hand around his finger. His cheeks were almost sore from smiling that day, he realized, and smiled some more.

“The family will be growing by at least one more very soon. Perhaps even two,” he said.

Knowing instantly what that meant, she leaned into him, and he soaked in the affection, his chest swelling with pride and love for his family.

With his heart full, Henry knew he had found his long-awaited happiness at last, and there was nothing he would do to change it.

The End

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