AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Walter grunted.
Epilogue
Ten months later
Country Estate of Lord Sterling of Plaistow
“I’m not saying I don’t trust Dr. McNeil. I just don’t believe everything he says. I know my body better than he does.” Rayne shifted on the sofa trying to get more comfortable.
By the doctor’s calculations she was seven months along in her pregnancy. Her body had been a reasonable size until the past week when her middle had all but exploded. “Most women don’t grow this large this far along, and I don’t believe I’m carrying twins. I would know if I was. I know I am further along than he says.”
“As a mother, or a doctor?” Edwin grinned at her.
“Both,” she snapped back.
She knew she’d been unreasonably cranky lately and felt bad for poor Edwin who was only trying to make her feel better. One would think with her medical experience, this pregnancy should be a breeze. It seems her body had other ideas.
Apparently trying to distract her, Edwin asked, “When is your sister expected to arrive?”
“Any day now. I’m still concerned about the note she sent. Although Milton’s death had been a surprise to me, it might not have been for Natalie. She’s not usually so closed-mouth, but I found the dwindling letters from her over the past two years troubling.”
Rayne rested her hand on her stomach and smiled. “Here, feel this.” She reached out for Edwin’s hand and placed it where the child was apparently practicing swimming.
Edwin sucked in a breath. “I’m always amazed at this. How does it feel to have something alive inside your body?”
She grimaced. “It depends on the day.”
“My lord, my lady, Mrs. Natalie Garfield and her daughter, Miss Donna Garfield have arrived.”
“Already?” Rayne shifted to rise from the sofa but had to depend on Edwin to pull her up. “Stop grinning,” she said as she left the room to meet her sister.
“Natalie!” Rayne walked as fast as she could to where her sister and niece were removing their outer clothing and handing it off to the butler, Davis.
Rayne tried very hard to hide it, but her sister did not look well. She’d lost weight since she’d seen her last—which to her way of thinking was about three years before. They wrote back and forth, but her husband, Milton, didn’t allow for visits.
She also had dark circles under her eyes. But her smile was the familiar Natalie smile.
Rayne embraced her, alarmed at her thinness. She was even smaller than she looked. “I can’t tell you how happy I am you came.” She leaned back and looked into Natalie’s tired eyes. “I do hope you plan to stay forever.”
Natalie waved her hand. “Right now I just want to settle in and have Donna feel like life is normal again.”
Rayne turned to her niece. “Hello Donna. I’m sure you don’t remember me. I am your mama’s sister, Aunt Rayne.”
Donna offered an adorable curtsey and smiled, two teeth in the front of her little mouth missing. “Hello Auntie Rayne.”
Rayne pulled her in for a hug. She smelled like a little girl should. Sugary, sweet from her bath soap and a scent only a child carried. “I am so glad you and your mama are here. I have a wonderful room all set up for you in the nursery. Dolls, puzzles, drawing paper, and many, many books.”
Donna looked up at her mother, her eyes wide. “Books, mama. Books!”
Natalie smiled warmly at her daughter and ran her hand down the girl’s long blonde curls. “Yes, my love, a lot of books.”
The three walked to the drawing room where Edwin stood waiting. “Natalie, may I present my husband, Lord Edwin Sterling.”
“My lord. It is a pleasure to meet you,” Natalie held out her hand.
Edwin took it and bowed. “Please call me Edwin. After all we are family.” He looked down at Donna. “And who have we here?”
“I’m Miss Donna Garfield, my lord.” The little girl offered a slight curtsey.
