Five years had now gone by and yet not so much had changed except that time had passed, between them. Things were still at their very best. Their love hadn’t died down neither had their passion faded away. She still trembled from his touch and the way she called his name when they were in their moment of climax still made his head swoon and his heart reach out for her.
He loved her more every day and they grew closer and closer till it felt like their souls were connected to one another.
Their family had been everything they ever wanted it to be: loving, amazing, and peaceful.
Isabel had never missed an opportunity to remind him that he was the one she had chosen and would always choose. She told him she loved him all the time, even when he least expected it. It was when he was about to reach for his robe from his closet that he saw the note she kept for him. He read it to see what she had written.
I love you and I’m sorry.
He smiled at the note like a fool as he felt his insides churn for her. Every day, she reminded him how lucky he was to have her. It had not been easy but with Isabel by his side, all had come into place. She made the journey easier, and he could never have asked for a better partner.
*****
Isabel was awake and he could hear it from the soft sounds she made as she tried to turn to face him. His sight was replaced with her beautiful face and she smiled as she allowed herself to relax in his arms.
“You are awake,” he said to her.
“And so are you,” she replied.
She gathered her hands under her head, using it as a support, and he watched her through the ordeal, his legs curled up.
“Peaceful sleep?” He asked her.
She tried to nod. “I was in your arms. There was no chance I would be troubled at night.”
He moved to kiss her, and as she closed her eyes, he took a second to gaze at her before he planted the kiss on her cheek.
“Are you ready to get up?” He asked her.
She shook her head then groaned audibly. “I’m beyond tired.”
He understood her, he too did not have the strength to get up at all.
Her voice was soft, she was suggesting something, and he could very well hear it in the way she dragged her question.
“You,” He said simply.
His eyes went to her face, and he touched it softly while she leaned into his touch. He felt her body respond to his touch. He had missed her, not because she had been away but because they hadn’t had any time for each other lately.
She looked away. It was clear that an idea was brewing in her mind. She finally opened her mouth to speak.
“Why don’t we just stay in bed all day and enjoy ourselves, let’s not step out today.”
He laughed even though he was enjoying her suggestion. “Are you sure?”
She nodded. There was no way he could say no to the look in her eyes.
“They’ll come here and search for us, you know that.” There was no way in heavens that their children wouldn’t come running in here any minute, their son scattering everything in his way and their daughter, stealing their hearts all over again.
“When they come, they come.” she replied. “As for right now, I want you, Alexander.”
He didn’t waste any more time as he immediately moved to her, closing the distance between them.
The sheets were rumbled beneath them, and they were about to scatter it some more.
He met with her lips, but he didn’t give her the kiss she wanted. He wanted to tease her just a little, see how she had wanted him.
“Do you really want this?” He asked his lips against hers. Just a single movement, one push was all it needed.
“Alexander,” she moaned and that was enough.
He could feel his craving for her below before he kissed her on her lips. Her hands immediately went around his neck as he tried to position himself above her.
Her legs wrapped around him, and it drew him to her. He didn’t complain, he allowed her to have her way as her hands explored his body.
Things heated up quickly and at the back of his mind, he remembered that anybody could come disturb them any minute now. It didn’t want to make him leave her, he only wanted to have her as soon as possible, and times like this were very hard for them.
Their kiss deepened very quickly, and he tilted his neck to the right a little.
Her fingers went to the waistband of his trousers, and he stopped her almost immediately.
Still breathing hard, he asked, “Are you sure?”
He glanced at the door and back at her. She bit her lips and that single movement made him lose it all for her. He was throbbing for her, and he needed her as much as she wanted him, maybe even more, but he had to ask her if she was certain.
“I am very sure,” she replied, still trying to reach for him.
He looked at the door again, then back at her. Deciding not to care, he leaned in and kissed her again. Moving to her neck almost immediately, he nibbled and sucked her breast softly, earning him soft moans and whispers from her lips.
He kissed her earlobe and allowed his teeth to graze it, she shivered below him as she held on to him more tightly.
“I love you, Isabel,” he told her.
“And so do I,” she replied to him as she reached for him again.
He sucked in a large amount of breath as he didn’t bother to stop her this time.
He knew that this was their only time together. He wasn’t planning on wasting it thinking of the what ifs. As though on cue, there was a knock on the door.
She paused just as he did. They both listened for whoever it was, hoping that the knock wouldn’t come again but it did.
He rolled away, settling in beside her. They both quickly sat up as they arranged their clothing, trying to make sure they looked okay.
“Are you okay?” he asked her.
She nodded as she pulled on the hem of her gown
“You can come in,” he said, loud enough for whoever was at the door to walk in.
The door opened to reveal Hannah.
“The children are awake, and they insist they would like to come over here.” She said to Isabel immediately.
Isabel turned to Alex and said with a chuckle, “Here comes disturbance.”
Alexander had no issue with that. In as much as his children could be quite overbearing sometimes and a lot to handle, he never missed an opportunity to be with them.
His little boy was extremely mischievous, finding a way to know everything that went on in the house, and his girl was too sharp for a child. Alexander had once wondered where she got her energy from; he was certain it wasn’t from Isabel, so it had to be him.
There had been a day that they had argued about it, Isabel had claimed she got it from her, and Alexander just never let it be.
“Okay,” he declared as he turned away from her to face the servant. “Let them come in and get breakfast for us in here, thank you.”
Their two little children ran into the room, causing chaos as they jumped on the bed, scattering it more than it already was.
Alexander pulled his daughter to him as she giggled while Isabel struggled to catch their son. Their laughter filled the room as he radiated with happiness and fulfillment of the family he had.
It was chaos in the general dressing room backstage. Players were a superstitious bunch, and all manner of ritual and routine were taking place to calm nerves and provoke good omens. Every possible item of clothing or prop was skewered about the floor. The boisterous noise of players arguing and directors giving hurried instructions mingled with the ebullient sound of nervous players rehearsing their lines for one last time ahead of the night’s performance.
It was a familiar sight to Diana. The first performance was always a thing of heady madness. This was an especially mad evening because it was the first of a new theatre. They had decided to call it the “Blue Moonflower Theatre.” Blue moonflowers were the centrepiece of the first bouquet that Levi had sent to her after her first performance and had a special meaning to them both. For an opening night, they had done excellently well at the gate. It was packed to the rafters. A line around the street meant they had to turn away half as many punters as they accepted. If all went well tonight, the show would be sold out for the rest of the month. Such was the appetite for this performance.
Levi and Diana had made a point of treating the Moonflower as a theatre to cater to all, whether princely or penniless. If you could cover the fare for at least the standing section, you would not be turned away from the Blue Moonflower. The Ton had taken an interest in the show particularly on account of the story and scandal that had followed their marriage. Some saw it as a storybook romance of love conquering all. Others saw it as an act of Machiavellian wonder on Diana’s part to ensnare the poor Lord Gatton. There were many other renditions being told of their romance, but all it had done was drum the interest in the show to a manic high.
Diana, for her part, was scarily calm. She had been a performer since she was a little girl, and never before had she let herself be overwhelmed by a performance. What gave her a deeper, abiding confidence was the love she had for her husband. She knew without any lingering doubt that even if the show failed completely, he would be at her side, surrounding her with his steadfast love. In him was her confidence, for there could be no applause or acclaim as exciting as his smile.
“I am very nervous over here, Diana,” said Lydia, appearing at her shoulder.
Lydia had been the first person Diana hired for the theatre when they began to find talents. She was the best and most experienced singer she knew and, not to mention, a peerless friend.
She glanced back at her. “Just breathe with me, Lydia. You’ve done this a hundred times before.”
“Not like this. Did you see how many people are out there? I have never seen so many people in one place.”
“If you can perform for ten people, then you can perform for ten thousand. Just don’t look beyond the first row, and you will be fine, same as always.”
Lydia blew out an exasperated breath. “Are you sure, Diana?”
“Absolutely. Now, drink some water and get a touch of powder on your cheeks. You are a special talent.”
Mr. Maxwell, who had once been the Earl of Exeter’s steward, made his way about the dressing room, checking that everything was almost in place. Levi’s idea to make him the director of the production was a stroke of genius. The man was a perfectionist in every sense of the word and had turned their motley troupe into acting, singing machine of the most professional order. At the sight of him, players picked their costumes and props from the floor and began to look alive with purpose. He had that rare capacity to inspire excellence simply through his bearing.
“How are we looking, Mr. Maxwell?” she asked as he approached her.
He clasped his hands at the navel and nodded, satisfied. “The audience is seated and ready. The lighting is also ready, and the acoustics at sound check were marvellous. We are, if I say so carefully, ready for a rollicking good concert.”
Diana nodded and added a final flourish to her arched brow. She glanced about the room at her fellow players and called them to order.
“Everyone,” she announced.
The noise dimmed to a faint murmur.
“Thank you all for working so hard to get us this far in such a short space of time. This is opening night. There will be mistakes. There will be inefficiencies. But if I have learned one thing about you all these last nine months, it is that you are smart, you are resilient, and above all, you are talented. There is nothing you will see, say, or do on that stage that you haven’t seen, said, or done before. I want you all to express yourself with all the freedom that you carry within. Try not to worry about how many people there are in the audience. If they don’t like this show, they will like another of ours. But this, the Blue Moonflower Theatre, will be a place for joy. I want you to enjoy yourselves on that stage every bit as much as the audience. That is why we do what we do, to find freedom on that stage. Not fear.”
“That’s right,” called a voice from the back of the dressing room.
There were other murmurs of agreement and encouragement, and Lydia seized the moment to launch a full-scale cheer.
“Long live the Blue Moonflower!”
The dozens of players answered as one. “Long live the Blue Moonflower!”
Eliza stepped into the dressing room, and the applause rang out in another wave.
“Cheers to our wonderful playwright!” Lydia said, and the crew cheered Eliza on with full gusto.
All the nervousness had dissipated, and now there was only excitement.
Eliza looked particularly radiant as she waved away their applause. Diana knew this was on account of her own budding love story which was every bit as fascinating as her and Levi’s.
The play ‘Love at the Opera’ was written by Eliza under the pen name E.B. Brook and was loosely inspired by Levi and Diana’s story. The titular character Maria was an opera singer who is rescued from her evil stage manager by a young gentleman with whom she falls in love. As the lead, the success of the show would largely rest on Diana’s shoulders, but she felt no tension.
There was an urgent buzz of electricity in the room, and Diana knew with no doubt in her mind that it would be a good performance. A heartfelt one.
She retreated to her private dressing and sat alone for a few moments, taking in deep breaths. She remembered her mother’s words: “You are the very best of me, Diana. I know you can be great. You have everything you need to succeed, and with time, you will be an even better singer than I could ever have been. That is my great commission: to make your life better than mine ever was.”
Her mother was making good on her great commission, and her life was falling into place. Today the world would see just how much.
The last bell rang, and they could hear the audience quieten outside.
“Places, everyone,” called Mr. Maxwell. “We go live in two minutes.”
“Places,” the players echoed as everyone took up their positions.
Diana mounted the stage and struck her opening pose behind the curtain. She drew in a deep breath and as the curtains rose, she began to sing.
She sang slowly at first, gently, but soon she was at work, feeling something she had almost forgotten. She felt the knot in her stomach loosen as she sang with mourn-broken, elegiac energy. Channelling every pain, every lamentation, every act of scorn that had been levelled against her into an explosion of the emotive song. In her head, Diana saw her mother nodding, enchanted and impressed as she sang with scattered intricacy, throwing cascades of blessed sound at the audience. She managed to steal a look at the first row. They were all spellbound, every one a prisoner to her moment on stage. She could feel Lydia alongside her on stage, staring at her with wondrous awe as she sang. She left nothing in reserve and gave her all to the song so all of London, the Ton, and the tawdry alike could see who she was and what she was all about.
Her verse came to an end, and she felt liberated. Her voice had danced in power, and from the suspended moment of awed silence, she heard Lydia’s voice erupt for the second verse. Clean and clear as she took over the song. It was beautiful, pained, and powerful. Diana was so delighted she almost forgot to join her at the crescendo of his note, but she caught herself in time, and they sang with no restraint.
There is a kind of understanding that can be found in music, and at that moment, Diana felt like she could look beyond the mask of adolescent display that Lydia often wore to the truth in her heart. The things that were eternal in her. When they stopped playing, the theatre was still. Then, there was an explosion of applause, and Diana knew that, without a doubt, it was going to be a performance to remember.
The show followed in that vein and came to an ending, greeted with rapturous applause. Every patron was on their feet, and together, the troupe bowed, basking in the celebration of their audience.
The curtain fell, and there were shouts of excitement and congratulations all around.
Diana turned to Lydia. “That was the best I have ever heard you sing. You were brilliant.”
Lydia pointed a finger at her, shaking her head. “Don’t you dare make this about me. You were simply magnificent. That is the best performance I have ever seen anywhere. Word of this will spread, and this concert will go to the very top!”
“I do hope so,” Diana said shyly.
“Believe it, Diana. That was incredible.”
She retreated to her private dressing room and unlocked the door. At her dressing table was a beautiful bouquet formed entirely of blue moonflowers. She beamed as she plucked the note from the centre of the flowers.
If I had a flower for every time I thought of you, the world would be my garden, and we would roam it endlessly. Congratulations on your first night. – Cee.
She felt the soft brush of wind from the door opening and glanced over her shoulder.
Levi stood in the doorframe with their four-year-old son Harry in his arms. Their smiles were almost identical, and they both looked at her with all the pride and affection in the world.
She ran to them, and they came together in an embrace. This was it. Everything she had ever dreamed of, living happily ever after.
The flowers made her think of the first time she had seen him in the royal box all those years ago. Watching her as though she was the only one on stage. Her heart felt so full, it might burst.
Jasper, Levi’s footman, appeared at the door, and their son Harry ran into his arms. Jasper lifted him off his feet and spun him around with Harry laughing all the while. Jasper and Henry stood just outside the door, giving Levi and Diana the chance to talk without being heard.
Levi leaned in close to her. “Is this the same dressing gown you wore the first day we met?”
She grinned. “Perhaps it is.”
He pinched her bottom softly. “You naughty lady. Teasing your husband in such a way.”
“I wondered if you would notice,” she remarked, pulling the dressing gown tightly about her shoulders.
“How could I forget? I watched you like the hawk watches the sparrow. The image of you in that gown is still etched in my mind.”
She laughed. “A keen memory you have, Lord Gatton.”
“Do you know what else I remember?”
Diana leaned in intently and spoke at a whisper. “What else?”
“The first time we kissed, in the garden.”
Diana’s breath caught in her throat, and she glanced over her shoulder at Jasper and Harry.
Levi took her cue as though reading her mind. “Jasper, please take Harry up to the carriage. We’ll be up with you shortly.”
Jasper bowed and gave a proud smile. “Of course, my Lord.”
“Good man,” Levi said, “And Jasper?”
“Yes, my Lord?”
“Shut the door behind you, please.”
He bowed again. “Of course, my Lord.”
Levi wrapped his arms around her neck and kissed her. Five years of marriage had done nothing to diminish her craving for his touch. When it was just the two of them alone like this, nothing could ever feel wrong. They were free birds in the sky.
“You’re stuck with me forever, you know,” she said, smiling up at him.
He grinned. “Never has there been a happier prisoner.”
Diana’s mouth quirked, and she stroked her fingertips over his chest. “This theatre. We are going to make a great success of it. I can feel it.”
“I was in the audience. I heard the applause. I saw the looks on their faces.”
She leaned forward. “Thank you, Levi. This wouldn’t have been possible without you.”
Levi pulled her forward with a strong hand. “And it most certainly would not have been possible without you.”
Their noses touched, and she took in a deep breath. “I love you, Levi.”
“I love you more, Diana,” he said and pressed his lips to hers.
And they both knew that everything in their world would turn out all right.
Tereza looked up at the butler’s voice behind her. She paused what she was doing, cocking her head to the side in question. “Yes? What is the matter?”
Mr. Burns bowed deeply. He was an aging man who had once served in the Queen’s castle and valued propriety above all else. Even though Tereza had told him several times upon coming to London that he need not be so stiff and polite in her presence, she feared her words were only falling on deaf ears.
He didn’t say anything until he’d straightened fully and clasped his gloved hands behind him once more. “You have a visitor. It is Miss Beatrice.”
Tereza let out a low breath. She turned away from him, returning her attention to the little ball of energy that would certainly disappear if she did not keep her eye on him at all times. “Goodness, Burns, with the way you approached me, I thought you came bearing bad news.”
“My sincerest apologies, My Lady. I shall work on my delivery.”
Tereza smiled. She supposed there was really no use trying to teach an old dog new tricks. So, she shook her head and said, “It’s quite fine. You can show Beatrice to me.”
“Yes, My Lady. As you wish.”
Without turning around, Tereza knew that he had bowed deeply once more, held it for three seconds and straightened up like a stiff board before swiveling on his feet and turning away. The day they’d first met, when they had come to stay in London just a few months ago, Tereza thought his movements were mechanical, unnatural. Now, they were just the same, only she was far more used to seeing it.
Shaking her head, she focused her attention on what she had been doing before Burns had interrupted. Ellis clearly hadn’t minded the butler’s approach, even though it meant that Tereza was a little too busy to focus on playing with him. He decided to busy himself with a bee that was buzzing over his head, too out of reach for his little fists and tiny jumps.
It has been a year since he’d joined the household, and Tereza was still taken aback by how much love she felt when she looked at him. She easily saw that he was not her child, that he looked nothing like Phillip either. With white-blond hair and green eyes, she imagined that this little four-year-old boy was the spitting image of his late mother. But even so, Tereza felt as if he was hers. They’d spent nearly every moment together since he came to live with them and had become attached to each other almost instantly. Kindred spirits they were, and though he was not hers, she could see so much of herself in him.
With a smile, she rose. Ellis forgot all about the bee and turned to face her so quickly that he lost his balance and fell over, landing on his hands. He pushed himself back to a stand and blinked his big green eyes at her. “Mama? Are you leaving?”
Warmth spread through her at the way he called her ‘mama’. Tereza shook her head at the sweet child and said, “No, my dear. I’m just going to sit down. You can continue playing, if you wish.”
Ellis didn’t look convinced. He stood there and watched as Tereza turned and retreated to the gazebo that stood behind them. She’d been sitting on a blanket with him as they had a picnic, while Ellis’ governess sat under the gazebo and watched. She joined the elderly lady’s side now, gesturing for Ellis to continue playing.
Once he was satisfied that she would not leave him, he went on to pick flowers.
“Such a sweet child, isn’t he?” she said absently to the governess, Mrs. Wilson.
In her peripherals, Tereza saw Mrs. Wilson nod. “He is by far the sweetest child I have had the pleasure of caring for, My Lady.”
Tereza smiled. Before she had the chance to say anything else, however, she noticed Burns returning with Beatrice on his heels.
“My Lady—” he began, but his sentence was cut short when Beatrice rushed by him with a squeal.
“Tereza!”
“Beatrice!”
Tereza shot to a stand and wrapped her arms around her ecstatic friend. It had been a few months since she’d last seen Beatrice, even though they exchanged correspondence regularly. Tereza pulled out of her arms to take a good look at her. “You look absolutely lovely, Beatrice!”
“I could say the same about you! Goodness, have you always had this marvelous glow?”
Tereza touched her cheek with a blush. She knew exactly what might have caused such a glow but decided not to say anything. While Mrs. Wilson went over to occupy the curious Ellis’s time and Burns retreated, Tereza and Beatrice went to sit in the gazebo.
“How have you been?” Tereza asked excitedly. “I know you have told me nearly everything that has been going on with you through your letters, but I would still like to hear you say it all, like old times.”
“I have no time for that,” Beatrice said, waving her hand dismissively. “It is you I wish to hear about. How was the honeymoon? You neglected to provide much detail in your last letter.”
“Did I? I did not even notice.”
“Goodness, Tereza, you’re breaking my heart,” Beatrice said dramatically.
Tereza laughed. “Scotland was as beautiful as I thought it would be. We stayed indoors for the most part and only left whenever we wished to go for a stroll through the lovely woods surrounding the cottage. Sometimes, we would go on a horse ride or two as well.”
“Stayed indoors, did you?” Beatrice’s brown eyes glinted with mischief. “I suppose you would have more than enough reason to do that.”
Tereza resisted the urge to touch her belly, laughing. “There’s no use denying it. Heavens, there are times we would not even leave our bedchambers.”
“Oh, Lord, I do not think this is the sort of conversation I would like to hear about my brother. Forgive me for even bringing it up.” Beatrice patted her ears dramatically, and Tereza nearly barked an unladylike laugh. “Where is my brother, by the way? I did not see him when I passed through the house.”
“He has been on a business trip for the past week, but you came at a very good time. He should be returning today. Ellis is quite excited about it.”
“Is he? That’s quite sweet. I’m happy to see how well they’ve taken to each other despite the fact that Phillip was absent for the first few years of his life.”
“Children have fragile memories, which can be both a blessing and a curse. Certainly, a blessing in this instance. Those two are inseparable.”
“Then I am even happier that you offered to have him use your dowry to pay his way out of the agreement with Ellis’s grandparents. Had you not done that, I feared they would have tried to hold on to him.”
“Money was what they really wanted in the end. I’m just happy we’ve all gotten our happy ending.”
“Ah, speaking of happy endings,” Beatrice turned to face her, an odd smile flitting over her face. “There is something I’d like to—”
“Beatrice!”
All heads turned towards Phillip’s unmistakable bellow. And then chaos erupted. Tereza shot to her feet, already rushing out of the gazebo. She was right on the heels of the adorable toddler who let out a squeal when he noticed his father and went running. Ellis reached him first, and Phillip scooped him into his arms as the little boy wrapped his arms around his neck.
“Did you miss me?” Phillip asked him with a grin.
Ellis nodded, smiling shyly. “Mama and I missed you a lot, Papa!”
“He speaks no lies,” Tereza said, coming to their side. Her heart was beating rapidly more from the excitement of his return than the little unexpected run she’d made. Heat pooled in her stomach as he wrapped his free arm around her waist and rested a gentle kiss on her cheek.
“I missed you two dearly,” he responded. “Every night I went to bed thinking about what you two were doing and how well you fared.”
“You could have come home earlier,” Tereza pointed out in a teasing voice.
Phillip chuckled. “I would have if I could.”
Then, he set Ellis down as Beatrice approached. The little boy lingered a bit, clearly wanting to be around his father for a little longer, but Mrs. Wilson quickly came and led him away.
Beatrice smiled at her brother. “Surely, there are a few words of desperate longing you have for your dear sister?”
“Pardon me, Tereza,” Phillip drawled. “Who is this stranger?”
The ladies laughed, even as Beatrice rolled her eyes. “Yes, yes. I know it’s been a while. There is no need for you to be bitter about it. Can I have a hug at the very least?”
“Only because I cannot stay mad at you,” he said and then quickly pulled her into a tight embrace. “I had half a mind to go to the house to see how you fared myself.”
“There’s no need to worry. Our aunt is taking good care of me.”
Because Beatrice was not yet married, she could not live alone. And so, when Phillip and Tereza went to Scotland for their honeymoon, Beatrice left to reside with their aunt, the Dowager Countess of Dorset, for the rest of her Season. Now that another Season was nearly upon them, she would be her host.
“I still think you should come to stay with us,” Tereza said to her, taking her hand. “It could be fun!”
Beatrice looked as if she was considering it for a moment. “That would certainly be fun,” she admitted. “Now that you are married, you could be my chaperone. We could attend balls and events together like we did the last Season.”
“Of course. That is, until—” Tereza broke off, realizing she’d nearly let it slip.
It didn’t go unnoticed by the observant siblings, however. Phillip frowned at her. “That is, until what?”
Tereza folded her lips into her mouth as she thought of how she should respond next. In truth, this was not how she wanted it to happen. She’d planned on waiting until later, during dinner when Ellis was already being put to bed. But she knew now that they wouldn’t let it slide until she told them what she’d nearly said.
She bit her lip nervously, then rested her hand on her stomach. “Well…I was going to wait to say this but…”
Beatrice gasped. Phillip’s eyes grew wide as he breathed, “Say what, Tereza?” It sounded as if he didn’t want to assume, like he wanted her to confirm what they were already guessing.
She couldn’t hold back her grin any longer. “I found out two days ago that I am with child!”
“Oh, Tereza!” Beatrice exclaimed, but Tereza was already being swept up into Phillip’s arms. He buried his face into her chest, twirling her around the narrow path.
“Are you crazy?” she laughed. “Put me down!”
“I am crazy,” he said. He set her down, their hair now a little rustled. “I am so in love with you, Tereza, and so happy, that I cannot help but think I’ve gone a little mad.”
“Does that mean you’re happy?” she asked, framing his face with her hands as he pulled her against him.
“You do like asking the most obvious questions,” he murmured.
“I want to hear you say it,” Tereza giggled. “Are you happy that I will bear you a child? That Ellis will have a little brother or sister?”
“I don’t think there is anyone in this world filled with more joy than I am in this very moment. I love you so much, Tereza.”
He buried his face into her neck, holding her tightly. Tereza caressed the back of his head as she held him back. “I love you, too, Phillip.”
At that moment, it didn’t matter that they had a bit of an audience. They were in their own world, where only their happiness mattered. Their love. Their future. And the family that they would create through their beautiful matrimony.
If you want to know what lies ahead in our story, you may want to get the sequel…
Lady Beatrice Radcliff prefers a carefree life, avoiding marriage. But when the most handsome physician comes to her aid and steals her heart, everything turns upside-down. For when she is ready to have the man of her dreams, she gets caught in a compromising position with another gentleman. And how could she ever prove that she was an innocent to a sick game?
Patricia stood at the edge of the ballroom, wincing slightly. The gown was too tight. She could feel the material straining across her breasts and belly. She sighed heavily. It had only been made last week and had fitted perfectly then.
Slowly, she placed a hand on her stomach, feeling a warm glow wash over her. She was still only a few months with child, but her body was changing quickly. Already, her belly was protruding. And her breasts had grown as well. She blushed, thinking of how Jackson held them in his hands after they made love, delighting in the change.
“My dear,” said a familiar warm voice. “There you are!”
Patricia jumped and turned around. It was Eleanor, dressed in a peacock blue silk and lace gown with a long train with her hair piled high upon her head in an elaborate bun. Patricia squealed with delight. It seemed like an eternity since she had seen her dear friend. But then, they had not been back to London very much at all since the aftermath of Lord Cardigan’s trial.
“Eleanor,” she cried, taking her friend’s hands within her own. “How very well you look! I am so joyous to see you here. I was not sure at all if you would be attending.”
Eleanor beamed at her. Another lady swept over to them, smiling widely. It was Marion, the Countess of Reading. Lord Reading’s wife and Eleanor’s best friend.
“I thought it was you,” said Marion, kissing Patricia on the cheek. “But I have not seen you in so long, Patricia, and you are so changed!” She stepped back, gazing at her with admiration. “You are positively glowing, my dear. The country life obviously suits you.”
Patricia laughed, feeling her blush deepen. She gazed at the lady fondly. She had always liked Marion, even though they did not know each other especially well. She was looking elegant in a pea-green silk gown this evening, with a matching feather in her hair. Marion was also looking very slim. She had obviously delivered her child and her confinement was long over.
“You are too kind,” said Patricia, smiling. “You delivered safely, I hope?”
Marion nodded, her eyes misting with tears. “A little girl, my dear. She is six months old now and the apple of her father’s eye.” She turned to her best friend who stood alongside her. “We named her Eleanor.”
“How lovely,” said Patricia. “I am so very happy for all of you.” She hesitated. “I shall never forget how Lord Reading helped me that terrible night and rescued Jackson, along with Lord Reynolds. We are forever in their debt.”
Marion sighed. “There is no debt, my dear. Simon was just so thankful that it all turned out well in the end. And he said the sight of the two of you reunited after such turmoil warmed his heart.”
“Nathan thinks the same way,” said Eleanor, reaching out and patting Patricia’s arm kindly. “They were very happy to be of assistance, Patricia. Do not dwell on it. Lord Cardigan got his due and is now in the colonies.” She shuddered. “I hope to never see his vile face again.”
Patricia nodded tears in her eyes. How kind these ladies were…and their husbands were heroes in her opinion. She was under no illusion that Jackson would be dead if not for them.
“I am so grateful to have such friends in the world,” she said slowly, swallowing a lump that had formed in her throat. “It would be a hostile place without you.” She paused. “You all must come and stay at Thornbury Manor. Jackson and I would be so delighted to have you. The children are welcome, of course.”
Eleanor laughed. “The nursery at Thornbury Manor will be quite overrun, with my two boys and Marion’s baby. You might rue that invitation, Patricia.”
Patricia’s blush deepened. “Well, it shall be put to good use, in the coming months anyway…”
Both ladies gasped, gazing at her with shining eyes.
“Oh, I knew it!” said Marion. “I could tell you had that glow about you!”
Eleanor leaned forward, kissing Patricia on the cheek. “Congratulations, my dear, to both you and His Grace. What an adventure. Your lives will never be the same again; I hope you realize that.”
Patricia basked in the good wishes of her friends, thinking about the impending arrival. Her hand drifted to her belly again. It seemed impossible that there was a growing baby nestled like a pea in a pod within there. That the babe would gradually grow so large that it must enter the world. Their baby. The child born of their love for each other.
Jackson had been over the moon when she told him of course. He had showered her with gifts and already the nursery at Thornbury Manor was filled with new toys and contraptions for the coming child. The most expensive being a new perambulator, shipped from France, which was so large it required its own corner.
He had also ordered that the nursery be repainted and was overseeing it himself. Patricia didn’t think that she had ever seen a prouder expectant father.
“This child is a gift,” he had told her, tears in his eyes, one evening. “I thought I would never marry or have children. I thought that those joys would always belong to other men.” He had hesitated, trying to express himself. “I am reborn through you and the love we share, Patricia. And now our coming child.”
Patricia smiled fondly as she remembered that evening. Instinctively, her gaze sought him out. He was standing on the other side of the ballroom talking to Lord Reynolds and Lord Reading. It seemed that it was a reunion all around.
Her heart leapt wildly, as he turned, seeing her. Their eyes met for a moment. She could feel the power of his love for her even across the large room with people milling everywhere. It was like a force all of its own. As if it filled the whole room.
She smiled at him and then turned away. They could spend the whole evening mooning at each other but now was not the time. They were socializing for the first time in a very long time. Usually, they were happy just spending their time together in Norfolk, existing in a bubble of love. London and the awful time they had here seemed so very far away.
“Thank you both for your kind wishes,” said Patricia, turning back to her friends. “We are so excited for the impending arrival.” She bit her lip. “I am a little afraid, but I am sure that is normal…”
“Of course it is,” said Marion, gazing at her sympathetically. “You are venturing into the unknown, my dear. And it is hard for us ladies. Childbirth is a risky business. But you are young and healthy and shall do beautifully.”
“And the joy of holding your baby in your arms for the very first time is incomparable,” said Eleanor slowly. “Or in my case, it was two babies! That was a very great surprise, I must say.”
Patricia laughed, reassured by the caring words of her friends. “I am sure it was, Eleanor! I am just being silly.” She paused. “I am missing my mother and sister at this time, I suppose. They are still in London, you see, and rarely come to Norfolk.”
“It is normal to want your close womenfolk around you at such a time,” said Eleanor wisely. “It is a bonding experience. Perhaps you might invite your sister, at least, for an extended stay at Thornbury Manor. That would be a comfort.”
Patricia nodded. It was a good idea. She missed Margaret so much, as well as her mother. They were excited for the coming babe and wanted to share the experience with her. And Jackson wouldn’t mind, once he knew how much it would mean to her.
She sighed. It would mean the end of their love bubble, but that was going to burst soon anyway when the baby arrived. It couldn’t be just the two of them forever. Thornbury Manor had become their sanctuary as much as their home. The place where they had finally embraced their love and recovered from what had happened.
She sighed again, this time with pure happiness. Everything had turned out just as it should. Her father had kept his vow and no longer gambled. Margaret’s dowry gifted to her from Jackson was secure and her sister could choose her husband for love. Her family had secured their position within good society again and their financial troubles were over.
And Lord Cardigan was on the other side of the world, serving his sentence for what he had done. He would not interfere in their lives again.
It was well and truly over. As Jackson had promised her it would be.
She gazed at her husband again. How fiercely she loved him. More than she had ever dreamt possible. And that love had only deepened over time. They were each other’s best friend as well as lover.
Patricia swallowed a lump in her throat. She truly was the luckiest woman in the world to have found such a man. How grateful she was that she had agreed to help Eleanor with that orphanage event, so long ago. How grateful she was that the tall, handsome former soldier with the scarred face had been there. She would go through every trial they had endured a thousand times over for the privilege of being his wife.
She smiled. Tomorrow they were going somewhere rather special. A place that they had been meaning to get to for quite a while. They had only been waiting until Jackson felt he could go back to the back streets of London again, after what Cardigan had done to him.
She gazed back over towards him. She couldn’t imagine her life without him.
***
Jackson took Patricia’s hand as she stepped out of the carriage, making sure she stepped over a puddle in her path. It was a drizzly London morning. Patricia adjusted her purple velvet cloak while gazing at the small house.
She turned to Jackson and gripped his arm. Her eyes were wide with excitement. “Oh, my dear. It is perfect. How did you do it?”
Jackson grinned. “It was Godwin. I had him racing around London like a hamster on a wheel. He eventually found this. I think it perfect too.” He held out his arm towards her. “Shall we? The letter said ten and it is almost on the hour.”
Patricia gave him a dazzling smile. “Yes. I am so looking forward to it.”
They stepped up to the door. Jackson knocked sharply. There was the sound of footsteps inside before the door flung open. A small boy stood there, his eyes like round saucers of excitement.
Jackson’s heart lurched. It was Adam, the street urchin. The boy who had helped save his life and aided Patricia on her desperate flight to find the Watch.
The boy looked so different it was almost comical. Adam was no longer dressed in rags with a filthy countenance. His hair was slicked off his face. His shirt, britches, and waistcoat were new. He had boots on his feet, which were polished. Jackson would not have recognized him if he had passed him in the street.
Adam bowed low. “Your Graces. We have been expecting you. Mam has just boiled a pot of tea.”
Jackson and Patricia laughed.
“How perfectly splendid,” said Patricia, leaning over to ruffle the boy’s hair. “You are a vision, Adam. Quite the young squire.”
The boy looked so proud they laughed again.
They followed him down the hallway to the kitchen. A red-haired woman wearing a modest grey gown and a white cap was pouring hot water into a teapot. She looked up, grinning when she saw them.
“Sweet Annie!” cried Patricia, sweeping over to her and planting a kiss upon her cheek. “It is so lovely to see you again. And how are you enjoying your new home?”
The woman beamed. “Oh, I have to pinch myself every day when I wake up in my soft bed, your Grace. It is a dream come true.” She paused, gesturing towards the small wooden table, in the middle of the room. “Please, do sit down.”
They all sat down, while Annie bustled around, placing the tea and a plate of freshly baked scones on the table before them. Then she joined them. For a while, they simply sipped their tea and ate the scones. Adam had double helpings, piling the scones high with jam and cream.
“I hope everything is to your satisfaction,” said Jackson, gazing around the room. “There are no leaks or anything else that needs attending to?”
Annie shook her head. “Oh no, your Grace. Everything is well with the house and I would not complain if it were not.” She hesitated, her bottom lip trembling. “I can never express my thanks for what you both have done for my son and me. My Adam has a chance at life now, thanks to you. You are saints, so you are.”
Jackson felt tears prickle behind his eyes. He saw that tears were already swimming within Patricia’s. His wife was trying very hard not to cry. But then she poked around in the pocket of her cloak and took out a lace handkerchief and dabbed at her eyes.
It had been Patricia’s idea, although he had been thinking along the same lines himself. They both talked often of Adam and his mother Annie and how hard their lives were. The coins they had given them on that terrible night could only go so far. Those coins could never permanently change their lives. Annie still had to trade on the streets and Adam must wait for her in alleyways in the dark.
And so the wheels had been set in motion. Jackson had gotten his man of affairs to find a small cottage for the family. It was modest but it was enough. They had furnished it and given Annie a small stipend to live. The best of it was that Adam now went to a local school with the hope of being apprenticed as a blacksmith.
And Annie never had to roam those streets with her son again.
“The pleasure is ours, Annie,” said Jackson slowly. “It is the least we could do for the help Adam gave us in our hour of need. He helped save my life. The debt is wiped.”
Annie’s eyes swam with tears. “I always knew there were good people in the world. I just had never met any before. I am so glad we were there to assist you that night, your Grace.” She paused, glancing at Adam, who was still stuffing his face with scones. “I hope my son grows up to be half the man you are.”
Jackson reached for Patricia’s hand, gripping it tightly. He couldn’t speak. All he could do was wonder how he had gotten so lucky. That terrible night when Cardigan had almost ended his life had turned out to have a very silver lining indeed.
***
In the carriage, on the way back to the townhouse, they were both pensive. Jackson held Patricia’s hand, stroking it gently. Slowly, his wife turned to face him. She was crying.
Tenderly, he reached out a hand and wiped them away. “Why are you so sad? It was a good visit. Annie and Adam are determined to turn their lives around, and with God’s grace they will.”
Patricia smiled tremulously. “I am not crying because I am sad. I am crying in gratitude that I am married to such a man as you.” She paused. “I do not know any gentleman who would have been so generous with those people, giving them a real chance at life. Our child will be so lucky to have a father such as you.”
He pulled her into his arms and stroked her golden hair. For the second time that day, he simply couldn’t speak.
I am going to be a father. I am having a child with this beautiful woman, who I love more than life itself.
He simply had to pinch himself that it was true.
He gazed out the carriage window. St. Anne’s Orphanage was right there. It had been repainted and its windows polished. The result of that charitable event so long ago, where he had met Patricia for the very first time. The meeting had changed his life in so many different ways.
He had been a bitter, scarred man, who thought that life had nothing to offer him. But now he had everything. A beautiful wife, who he loved more with every passing day. A child on the way. And now, two people who had helped them finally find each other had a life.
Slowly, he reached up and touched his scarred cheek. He was so very glad now he had lived to tell the tale. There was goodness in this world after all. She was lying right here in his arms. And he planned to never let her go.
Margaret waddled over to him, a lemon drink in hand. He did not like her to walk, not when she was so near to her confinement, but she insisted that she could not miss Oscar’s first horse-riding lesson. He pulled a seat closer to him and helped her to sit.
“Now, do not worry if he looks scared. One’s first time on a horse can be terrifying. But Oscar is a brave boy and he will manage fine.”
“Yes, Edward. You’ve said that quite a few times already. I’m not afraid.”
Oscar was stepping on the groom’s hand to get a leg up on the horse. She tensed beside Edward, watching unblinkingly as Oscar climbed on the horse.
She clapped softly, clearly remembering the groomsman’s instructions not to startle the horses with sudden loud noises.
Slowly, the groom led Oscar around the paddock. Edward’s heart swelled with pride as he realized that, scared as he was, Oscar was braving the ride with aplomb. He turned to Maggie and grinned. “He’s doing quite well.”
“Yes. I pray he doesn’t fall.”
“Don’t even think it.”
She put a hand on her belly, wincing slightly. Immediately Edward leaned in. “What’s the matter?”
“Oh, just a little spasm.”
Edward stood up immediately. “Shall I fetch the midwife?”
She hesitated, thinking about it, which was enough for Edward to know that he needed to fetch Mrs. Grey. He thanked the lord that he’d thought to move her into the dower house for the latter part of Margaret’s pregnancy. She still managed to see her other clients, but he paid her enough that she was happy to miss out on whatever jobs she might have got if she was in her own home.
He flagged down a groom and ordered him to fetch the midwife to the library. Then he picked Maggie up and carried her back indoors, depositing her in the soft plush leather of the library sofa.
The door opened and the midwife came in. “She has some pain in her belly,” Edward said, trying to sound calm.
The midwife immediately knelt by Margaret’s side. After a bit of prodding, she turned to a pacing Edward. “I need you to fetch me some hot water, towels, and another woman. The baby’s a coming.”
Edward gasped, meeting Margaret’s eyes, who nodded at him before he was out of the room and running to the kitchens. “Mrs. Gowan!” he huffed as he skidded to a halt, “the midwife, she needs—”
Mrs. Gowan was already moving. “Never you mind, I know what she needs. The baby’s coming, eh?” She sounded very excited, which had the effect of calming him down. Someone pulled on his jacket and he turned to find Oscar looking up at him with scared eyes.
“What’s happened to Maggie?”
He squatted down so he could look the boy in the eye. “Nothing has, old man. The baby’s coming, that’s all.”
“Oh…should we not be with her?”
“Sadly, no. The men are always chased away. Come with me to my study where we shall await word.”
Oscar nodded his agreement and put out his hand for Edward to hold. They walked to the study hand in hand and sat at the table. Edward passed Oscar a book and picked one up for himself. Fidgeting occasionally, they pretended to read, their ears tuned to the comings and goings down the hall.
When someone opened the door to the library, they could hear Margaret’s screams. Oscar winced every time, covering his ears. “She’ll be alright, won’t she?”
“I think it’s when she stops screaming that we should worry.”
Oscar swallowed, but nodded his understanding. Someone brought them a tray of food and then, later, some tea. They mostly sat untouched on the table between them, although Edward tried to persuade Oscar to eat.
It was an interminable time later before they heard new, high-pitched cries, accompanied by exclamations of joy. Edward shot to his feet. “I think the baby’s here.”
Oscar scrambled out of his seat as well and they ventured out of the study and walked down the hall to the library. Several women were crowding the doorway, peering inside. Edward cleared his throat loudly. They turned, making room for him to pass, and he walked slowly into the room.
Margaret was propped up on a bunch of pillows, a bundle in her arms. Edward bent down to peer into the blankets. Margaret looked up at him, her face lined with tired happiness. “It’s a boy, Edward. We have a little boy.”
Edward kissed her forehead, smoothing back her sweat-soaked hair. “How are you doing?”
She shrugged, one-shouldered. “I’m fine.”
He continued to caress her hair before kissing her forehead. She looked up at him and smiled. “Do you want to hold him?”
He looked down at the bundle, swaddled in so many clothes he could barely see the baby. “What if I drop him?”
“You won’t.” Unceremoniously, she deposited the baby in his lap so he had no choice but to hold onto him. The baby squirmed in his arms, making small complaining noises. Edward prayed that it wasn’t because he was hurting the child.
“What will we call him?” Margaret asked.
Edward shook his head. “I do not know. Do you have a preference?”
“Don’t you have a tradition on naming? Perhaps after your father?”
“No, we don’t really. Would you like him named after your father?”
“No.” She shook her head. “I would like to give him a completely new name. A new beginning so to speak.”
“Do you have a name in mind?”
“Yes. I do. I’d like to call him Michael, after the archangel. Michael Ainsworth Gillet.”
“I like it.” He nodded. “I like it a lot.”
Margaret smiled at him. “Good.”
He could feel his heart soften and warm as he looked at her, his hand reaching out for hers and placing it atop his heart.
“Yours. Always,” he whispered.
Her smile widened. Then she turned her hand in his, bringing it to her bosom. “Yours. Always.”
He leaned in, careful of the baby in his lap, and pressed his lips to hers in a seal, and a promise.
