Chapter 26

As the days grow colder and shorter I grow bigger. By Doctor Blundell's estimate I'm around six months pregnant now so it shan't be long now until I get to hold my baby. Everyday I grow more confident that I shall see this baby, something that I'd only dared hope for once I'd passed the same stage of pregnancy that I lost my last.

Just as I'd thought William has been incredibly protective ever since we found out I was with child; he's stayed by my side through everything. I've felt rather sorry for Doctor Blundell who has found himself called here often for any pregnancy symptom that I've experienced. Anytime that I've tried to calm William down about them he's refuted with not wanting to take any chances.

"How have you been?" Lady Yorke, Lydia, asks as she and Emily have joined me for tea today. Unlike many nobles they've elected to remain in London despite the season ending months ago, much as we've done Lord and Lady Yorke have remained here to be close to their doctor. The illness that had been affecting Lord Yorke during the ball has lingered but he's now recovering.

"Tired but happily so," I reply with a large smile as I rest a hand on my stomach feeling my child move. Once I'd felt the quickening it was amazing and while last time I'd thought that I'd felt the baby move it's nothing compared to now. Everyday this baby grows stronger and moves more.

"Children are a blessing," She replies with a fond smile, "I'll be journeying to our estate soon to see my own. I have missed them," She and Lord Yorke have been married for close to five years now and have welcomed two children, a boy and girl, in that time.

"I cannot wait to hold him," I comment my mind filled with that image. I'm sure that this child will be a boy, William's son and heir, "It shan't be much longer so we'll be returning to Knole in preparation for the birth. We both want our child born there as William was."

"I feel the same," Emily adds happily having found out about her own child a few months ago, "And just think Eleanor out children shall grow up together. With Lydia's to act as older siblings of course."

The three of us laugh with joy at having our children being born so close together. It's a great relief to me that my child will not grow up as alone as I did and that despite losing my first child this baby will still have older siblings. I can't wait to meet Lydia's children either, we've promised that after the babies are born we shall arrange a time for us all, families included, to meet.

"And it shall do them some good. Florence quite enjoys being a big sister and I'm sure that Randall shall be happy to no longer be the youngest," Lydia comments helping herself to another slice of cake.

"I can't wait to meet them," I tell her having heard many amusing stories of her children's antics. Emily voices her own agreement about meeting the children not having had the chance to yet despite being married for close to two years.

"Come summer I'm sure we can persuade out husbands to visit. We have only to decide at whose estate we shall gather," Lydia suggests casting a pointed look in my direction, "Knole is the largest with the best gardens. What a lovely place it would be for the children to play," She says with a sly smile on her face.

"I haven't had a chance to visit yet," Emily adds with a teasing smile. The two of them wait in silence then for my reply not they've left me with much choice as they both express such interest in visiting my home.

"Very well. I shall ask William closer to the time about inviting you all to Knole," I finally relent with a playfully much aggrieved sigh. On either side of me they break out into laughter which continues until they're both red in the face and out of breath.

"As if he would refuse you," Lydia gasps out between deep breaths as she calms down, "He's completely besotted, I never thought I'd see the day. You could ask for anything and William would find a way to give it."

"It's true," Emily adds as I start shaking my head trying to deny it, "I find myself rather jealous even with as good as my George is to me."

"He's just worried. After what happened last time," I refute having told them about my last pregnancy. They both offer sad smiles knowing that it still pains me to talk about that child who would have been a few months old by now if I hadn't lost it.

"Nevertheless, it's amusing. And I shall tease William about it mercilessly," Lydia concludes proudly moving us away from such a sad topic. Before any of us say anything else there's knock at the door which is pushed open to reveal William.

"Sorry to disturb you ladies. But I brought some candied fruits on my way back," He says in explanation as he comes in and places a box on the table. Pressing a brief kiss to the top of my head he's gone just as quickly as he arrived. Looking at the box I find that it's from my favourite store, William had gone to visit his solicitor which is in the opposite direction to this store.

That fact doesn't go unnoticed by Emily or Lydia who look at the box, at me and then each other before bursting into laughter again. I end up joining them this time as William has unknowingly proven their point. Once we've calmed down it doesn't take long for the three of us to finish off the box of sweets, most being eaten by Lydia as too many sweets wouldn't be good for me or Emily at the moment.

We call an end to our tea not long after and bid our farewells with the promise to exchange letters as we won't be able to all meet again before the children are born. I see my friends off before heading to the drawing room to find William. His visit to the solicitor was the last time on his agenda for today so he'll have retired there to relax for the remainder of the afternoon.

"How are you, my love?" He asks rushing to my side as soon as I enter the room to help me to a seat. I appreciate his help as my walk is now more of an awkward waddle due to my size and it's only getting worse as the baby gets bigger.

"I'm fine William. I promise to let you know if anything is wrong," I reassure him as I've done many times before. It's a question that I find myself answering several times a day at least, more if we've been apart for any reason. As frustrating as it can be repeating myself I know that he asks out of love. "Is everything settled for our departure?"

"Yes, we'll be ready to leave within the next few days. I've arranged for Doctor Blundell to join us closer to the time," William replies seating himself next to me and placing a hand on my stomach to feel our child move. Smiling I move his hand slightly so he can better feel the movement.

"Your son is strong," I tell him after a particularly strong movement that may have been a kick or perhaps an elbow.

"So long as he is healthy nothing else matters," He refutes gently his worry for another loss like the last still lingering. I still fear it as well but I find it easy now to bury the fear under the feeling of my strong, living child inside my stomach.

"Only a few more months," I say wistfully picturing how an afternoon like this may look then. With our child in my arms as William wraps his arms around the both of us, not needing to talk of anything but perfectly entertained just watching our baby. I don't believe it will even matter if he is awake or not just the sight of our perfect child will be enough.

"I have though of names," William tell me rubbing his hand soothingly over my stomach, "Arthur for a son and Charlotte for a daughter." Despite my insistence that this baby is a boy William had insisted on having a name ready for either one.

"They're perfect," I reply turning my head towards him for a kiss, "Although we shall only need the one. Our little Arthur." I place my hand atop William's delighted to have a name for our baby.

"We'll be ready either way though. And the unused name shall be ready for our next."

"Already thinking of another child my love," I say teasingly as the thought of more children has crossed my mind as well.

"Our child should not be alone," He replies confidently, "But I shall be happy with any children you give me. Even if it is only this one." We've not spoken of the birth itself despite both knowing the danger that awaits me. Having lost my own mother in childbirth before I could even know her I'm terrified of the same happening to me. I don't want to leave William nor my baby along but there is no way we can know what will happen when the time comes.

Having Doctor Blundell present will be a comfort as he's proven to be an excellent doctor yet if something should go wrong there is no guarantee that he can save me. So before I do anything more than think of many children with William I will have to survive this birth.

"Well on the matter of him not being alone there is still Lydia and Emily's children," I remind him, "In the summer I'd like to invite them all to Knole. Lydia, Emily, their husbands and the children should all come and stay for a while so that the children can play together."

"Our baby will be all of six months so I don't think Lydia's children will be interested in playing with such a young baby. And Lady Wyle's will be even younger," He points out looking at me in confusion.

"It won't be too early for them to bond," I insist wanting my baby to have at the very least friends, "Please say that they can come and stay."

"They can come and stay. I'll let Delves know when we get back to Knole so he can start planning ahead. We'll make more plans closer to the time once we know when they'll actually visit."

"Thank you," I reply happily pressing a kiss to his cheek in gratitude. The urge to write to let Lydia and Emily know straight away is strong but I'm too comfortable to move at the moment. I'll send the letter tomorrow so we can start determining when they will visit although we might not be able to figure it out until Emily and I have had our children and recovered.

Three days later we set out for Knole. William rides in the carriage with me this time keeping me company for the journey which he's insisted on taking slower than before. At a normal speed it takes less than twelve hours but with the pace that William's set that's been extended to close to a day.

We stop several times for a rest and even take lunch at an inn rather than eating something packed by the cook before we left.

It varies the journey well enough but still by the time we're walking through the front doors of Knole I'm exhausted. So long in a carriage is annoying enough but doing it while pregnant is even worse. I want nothing more than to go to sleep and perhaps not move at all until tomorrow afternoon, that sounds like a wonderful idea.

"Welcome back your Graces," Delves greets us as William helps me through the front door, "And may I say congratulations."

"Thank you Delves," William replies with a nod although his focus remains on me and making sure that I don't fall. My legs are aching and combined with my large stomach I'm grateful for William's support inside ensure that I don't lose my balance.

"Would you care for some tea?" Delves offers knowing by now our usual routine when we've arrived back home. I'm far too tired for that though.

"William you go and have some but I'm going to go and rest upstairs," I reply trying and failing to smother a yawn.

"I'll see you upstairs first," He tells me walking over to the staircase with me. Delves departs with a bow and letting us know that he'll send Marguerite up to assist me.

"You don't have to," I try to dissuade him from helping even as we get halfway up the stairs. I can't help but feel like a burden needing so much help with something as simple as getting up the stairs.

"But I want to," He replies calmly and we continue on in silence. Marguerite is waiting for me at my door having managed to get there much faster than the two of us could, "I shall join you soon my love."

William leaves me in Marguerite's capable hands who soon has me feeling far more comfortable in a nightgown. With my increasing size I've had to have some more made while we were in London and some that I'd brought are even larger just in case. It'll save Marguerite the work of having to let them out if I do get any bigger.

Climbing into bed I let out a sigh as I can finally relax. It feels amazing to sink into the mattress and pillows, my bed in London I know is just as comfortable but somehow this one now feels like the best bed that I've ever slept in. So much so that I drift off to sleep in only a few minutes despite William's absence.