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“Your Grace, do you suppose me to be ignorant of the ways of the heart? For no other reason than love would a man ride the distance you have, deal with a murderous ruffian, and sit calmly drinking tea as you secure peace of mind for your lady friend.”
She actually leaned over and patted Daniel’s hand, smiling gently.
“Verity will always be welcome in my home. And now, Your Grace, you will be as well!”
*****
The weeks dragged on, with Daniel gone, but Verity was determined to keep her spirits up. Both Maggie and the physician assured her that all was well, that with peace, comfort and good food, her body was carrying the child as it should. She trusted them, for what else could she do? She pushed aside the thought that her own mother had died in childbirth, and concentrated on trusting those around her to keep her safe.
If her child was born at the end of July, then in December, he – if it was a boy - would be nearly six months old. In December, when her mourning, and Daniel’s, was completed, they would be free to marry, to go about in society if they wished, without risk of disapprobation from theton. Not that either of them particularly cared what others thought… but it would be easier for everyone if there was no gossip. There would be enough of that, she suspected, when her child was born.
She could not help but imagine what might be happening at Wexley Hall – for surely Daniel had reached it by now? Had he been courteously received? She could not conceive of Lady Wexley not being courteous, but then, she would never have believed that Lady Wexley would reject her, either.
That though made her feel miserable, again. She wanted Lady Wexley to know her grandchild, wanted this coming Christmas to be a happy one, where she and her child might be surrounded by family, and joyful, unlike the previous Christmas, with its heartbreak and misery. At least, now that she was reconciled with her father, he would be there.
She rang and asked Annie to bring tea, and lifted the book she had been trying to read. Today, she simply could not settle to it, but she was determined to try – she needed the distraction from her ever churning thoughts.
As Annie brought the tea in, she heard a sound outside. She paused teapot in hand, and listened.
Carriage wheels.
Carefully, she set the teapot back down, and pushed herself up from the chair, ungainly now, in these last weeks before the child was to come. A few short steps took her to the window, and she pushed the curtain aside.
Just in time to see, out there in the summer sun, Daniel swing down from General’s back beside a carriage bearing the crest of Baron Wexley. She watched as the carriage door was opened, and Lady Wexley descended, before the view became blurred as her eyes filled with tears.
Perhaps she would have that happy Christmas after all.
*****
“It’s a boy!”
Maggie gently wiped the new-born baby with a damp cloth, and wrapped him in his swaddling cloths, before settling him into Verity’s arms. Across the room, the physician, who had originally tried to evict Maggie from the room while Verity gave birth, stood back, suddenly happy to allow the old woman to deal with the messy part.
If Verity had not been quite so besotted, instantly, with the child in her arms, she would have found it funny.
Once the messy last part of birthing was done, and Maggie had cleaned her, and managed to change the sheets under her, Verity lay back, exhausted but happy, holding her child, while Maggie went to the door, and opened it. Instantly, the room was full of people, with Lady Wexley the first to step in.
Verity met her eyes and smiled.
“You have a grandson. Please meet Henry Edward Millbrook.”
Lady Wexley gave a small cry of delight, and went to sit beside her on the bed, reaching out a gentle finger to touch the child’s tiny cheek. Within moments, Daniel had settled on Verity’s other side.
Verity carefully removed one hand from under her child, and reached towards Daniel.
He took her hand, and lifted it to kiss it.
At the foot of the bed, Verity’s father stood, and as she watched, his eyes filled with tears. She knew then that he had been terrified – terrified that she would die, and the child too, as her mother had died trying to bear a baby brother for her. It was to him that she spoke then, needing to offer reassurance.
“Father…”
“Yes, Verity?”
“I am still here, Father. Both I, and my child, are strong. Please, let go of the fear and regret that my mother’s death engendered in you, and be joyful with us. For I fully intend to do this again – Daniel will need an heir, after all.”
Her father swallowed, and pulled out a handkerchief to brush away his tears.
“I will do as you ask – for there is joy in young children – joy which I have not had, for far too long.”
