“That look suits you well,” Lydia said as she approached Rose, who blushed and smiled.
“It feels good too. Look at us, both with children,” Rose observed. Lydia lowered herself to the seat beside her. John was in her arms. Lydia smiled, but it was bittersweet because neither of these children were their own. However, at least Rose had the opportunity to have a child of her own. It was surely only a matter of time before it happened for her and Edmund, yet once John was out of their lives, Lydia had a feeling she would only ever be an aunt, never a mother.
But, since this was such a happy occasion, Lydia did not give voice to these worries and instead forced a smile on her face.
“Things will happen when they happen, Rose. We cannot guarantee these things,” Edmund said.
“He’s just scared that he won’t make a good father,” Rose said.
“I am not scared! I’ve never been scared of anything in my entire life. Besides, if Alfred and Nathaniel and Victor can do it, then I don’t see why I shouldn’t,” he protested although he had the air of a man who was trying to convince himself more than he was trying to convince other people.
Charlotte laughed warmly. “I’m sure you will be fine, Edmund, just fine.”
“Anthony, please stay in here,” Nathaniel said and rushed out of the room, chasing after his son. Charlotte arched her eyebrows.
“Are you going to be as rambunctious as your brother?” Rose asked, looking down at Matthew.
“Let me see the little chap. Oh, what a dear thing he is,” Agatha said, rising from her chair to come and sit beside Lydia. There was just enough room. Lydia was reluctant to let go of John. Since she knew that the arrangement was temporary, there were only a finite number of moments in which she would be able to hold John.
However, Agatha was not a woman who could be easily denied, and it would have been entirely possessive of Lydia to keep John to herself. Agatha beamed and made funny faces at John as she started rocking the baby back and forth.
“Oh, this does take me back to when you three were so tiny. I never would have believed you would all grow up to be so big. There’s something so magical about it, isn’t there?” Agatha said.
“It is a joy,” Charlotte said.
“And it is over far too quickly. Before too long, they’re up and running about, and you cannot keep an eye on them. Sometimes that never changes,” she said, casting her gaze towards Edmund, who was still fiddling with the cards. The rest of them chuckled, and Edmund felt their gazes upon him. He looked up, entirely mystified.
“What?” he asked which only brought more amusement.
Lydia looked across to Victor, who was standing awkwardly in the corner of the room. Her family could be rather overwhelming, especially for someone who wasn’t used to such a lively atmosphere.
“I heard that you had a fine time at the ball last night. I wouldn’t worry about what everyone is saying. These things fade in time. People are too nosy for their own good. It was the same in my day. I can tell you that I had many people whispering about me here and there. Why, there was even one particularly wicked woman called… oh… what was her name now… I really can’t remember. It’s a terrible thing getting old,” Agatha chuckled.
Nathaniel returned with a wriggling Anthony in his arms. He set Anthony down.
“You are to stay in here with the family. There is a chance for you to play later,” Nathaniel said and looked at the rest of them. “I do apologize, but Anthony does become restless quite often.” He then turned to Victor. “Please, Victor, have a seat. Make yourself comfortable. We are all family here,” Nathaniel said.
The words sounded forced. It didn’t sound like something Nathaniel would ordinarily say, so Lydia assumed that Charlotte had put him up to it. Lydia glanced towards her sister, and Charlotte gave her a reassuring smile, confirming her suspicions.
What Nathaniel said wasn’t entirely true, of course, but Lydia appreciated how everyone was playing along without drawing attention to the true nature of their marriage. Nathaniel hadalways been a stickler for propriety, and in this respect, he was similar to Victor. He probably understood Victor’s mindset better than anyone else in the room although she doubted the two men would have discussed such a thing openly.
Victor did take a seat, but as soon as he did, Anthony came rushing up to him. He started to claw at Victor’s legs, wanting to climb up. Nathaniel gave a warning cry, but Victor waved a hand in the air.
“He can do as he wishes. It is not as though he’s going to hurt me,” Victor said just as Anthony launched himself forward and crashed into Victor’s chest. Lydia watched as Anthony clambered all around Victor, wriggling and twisting, leaning around Victor’s neck before falling into his lap. Victor remained calm and patient, and Lydia felt proud that he was embracing her family’s life.
Eventually Anthony got bored, and John got restless. Agatha chuckled and decided that she had held him for long enough. Lydia was prepared to take him back, but Victor beat her too it.
“Let’s go and look out of the window,” Victor said and promptly took John to gaze outside. Lydia clasped her hands in her lap.
“He is wonderful with the child. It’s always better to have a husband who enjoys the presence of children. Too many of them see children as a nuisance.”
“I must admit that I was one of those men until I had my own. They are still trying, but it is different when they are your own blood,” Nathaniel said.
“Well, I’m sure any child of mine is not going to be trying at all,” Edmund said.
“If they’re your children, they will undoubtedly possess that quality. We must all hope that they take after Rose,” Charlotte teased, and this brought about a great deal of laughter.
“Your grandfather wasn’t like that, I’m afraid to say. He was only interested in children once they could speak and learn. Babies didn’t interest him in the slightest,” Agatha said.
