Epilogue
Bellwood Estate
The week before Christmas
One year later
Selena picked up two baskets she had prepared for the tenants and moved them to the pile in the corner of the kitchen. Looking at the one she just finished-- full of fruit, cheese, and cheese, she gave a satisfied sigh. They had been a lot of work, but so worth it. At almost nine months into her pregnancy, she felt like a waddling duck. Only a month earlier, she started acknowledging she was in her confinement. From Selena’s perspective, it made things go more quickly.
“Darling, you may continue to work on the baskets, but I must insist you allow me or one of the footmen to move them,”
Gerald said entering the kitchen and kissing her on the cheek before taking the baskets from her. He placed them on a nearby table. “Doctor Baker relented to allow you to walk around, instead of the standard bedrest, but you need not overtax yourself.
Selena blew out a big sigh. “I’m ready to deliver this child,”
she admitted. “I walk like a duck and I feel like a cow.”
Despite being warned by both his father and brother-in-law, Gerald laughed. Banbury had been the most recent to warn him about the frustrating, self-deprecating comments that women make in their final months of pregnancy, but still, Gerald took the bait. And Selena immediately turned and gave him a teary-eyed response—one Banbury had also warned him about.
“Am I fat and ugly in your eyes?”
she sobbed, as heavy tears crested over her lower lashes and rolled down her cheeks.
Damn! I’m going to have to dig myself out of this one with wit and charm. “No, darling. You are carrying our child and are the love of my life. And you could never be anything but beautiful,”
Gerald said, kissing her nose. Using his handkerchief, he wiped her tears away. “It’ll soon be your birthday, darling. I want to spoil you.”
Hiccupping through her tears, she said, “And you love me like this?”
“Selena, I find you to be the most beautiful woman in the world,”
he said, covering her mouth with his and kissing her ravenously. “I love you.”
When he finally pulled away, his wife reached up, wrapped her hands around his neck, and pulled him closer. “It’s just that these past few weeks have been uncomfortable to move and sit and sleep,”
she said. “And as much as I love carrying our child, it feels like I can’t get close enough to you, Gerald. I know I’m being ridiculous, but I cannot seem to help these feelings. Diana was right. I’ve become a watering pot these past few days. She told me that her emotions escalated during the weeks before she gave birth and warned me that I would most likely feel the same.” Selena leaned her head against his chest and then, pulled back, looked up at him.
Affectionately, he tapped her nose with his index finger. “ That is probably why Doctor Baker wanted you to stay close to the house and recommended bed rest. You’ve been busy of late, but now the nursery is complete. The baby has piles of new clothes, all washed and folded. You’ve even hired a nanny. From the planning perspective, I think we’re ready.”
Her mouth formed a large O, while her eyes still brimmed with tears. Despite her previous tears, she smiled. “I will rest more. I promise. I’ll just finish packing the baskets and let you and the footmen move them.”
He grinned. “I can agree to that. By the way, I almost forgot the reason I came to the kitchen. My family just arrived. Mrs. Evans is helping to get them settled, and I told her I would watch you and make sure you weren’t overdoing it.”
“I heard from Maman earlier today, too. She said that she, along with Angus would be here with Paul and Kat today. I’m grateful they took Paul and Kat for a visit at Rose Point.”
“Me too, it gave us the chance to get everything ready for Christmas.”
“ Maman mentioned that she and Connery had a surprise to share. I truly enjoy surprises, especially on my birthday,”
Selena remarked, as she fought back her earlier emotions.
“This year, we have much to be grateful for,”
she said, adopting a more positive attitude. “Your horses have done so well.” Both Selena and Gerald were thrilled when Aphrodite placed second at Newcastle and Hermes won at Epsom Downs.
“Yes! You helped so much with the training. I’m almost certain we couldn’t have done as well, had you not worked your magical gift.”
“It’s not a magical gift,”
she said with a roll of her eyes. “I simply talk to them.” To her, it seemed a natural skill. But Angus and Gerald touted it as something strange and not based on the animals, whom she enjoyed being around.
“Well, you were invaluable in helping us choose that gray mare. She is the perfect mate for Azure. Their offspring will be fine thoroughbreds. Connery and I are looking forward to seeing the foal and seeing if it looks like its sire,”
Gerald said.
“I’m so proud of you, darling. Papa would be thrilled to have been involved. He loved horses,”
Selena said. “He gave me my first pony when I was four years old. Or maybe I was three. In any case, Paul and Kat will love the ponies you purchased for their Christmas presents.
Anna stepped into the kitchen. “My lady. Lady Fleur, Mr. Connery, and the children have arrived. I’ve shown them to their rooms. Since the nursery has been set up for the new baby, I’ve placed Paul and Kat in the room next to the nursery and moved the small twin beds into the room.”
Dutch trotted in behind Anna and curled up next to Selena.
“That’s a wonderful idea, Anna. I appreciate your thoughtfulness,”
Selena said. “With Christmas a week away, there’s so much to do.”
“You may be welcoming your baby soon, my lady,”
her maid said, giving her a knowing grin.
Selena let out a tired chuckle, her swollen belly making any movement a struggle. “It will be both a relief and a joy. Walking is an effort. Well, if you can call this walking. It feels like waddling to me,”
Selena remarked with a weary but warm smile. “Can you let me know when Maman has settled into her rooms?”
“I will, milady,”
Anna said, broadening her grin.
A few minutes later, Mrs. Evans and Mrs. Macdonald bustled into the kitchen and insisted that Selena take a break, something she was relieved to do. Her mother and her mother-in-law had already volunteered to help deliver them. Although Selena would miss traveling to the tenants this year, the jarring ride in the wagon would probably send her into labor and she had no desire to have her labor begin in a wagon. Gerald had promised they could do a mid-year delivery of gifts for the tenants, and she’d be satisfied with that. It would be a nice surprise to do this again in six months.
“Mrs. Evans, do you still need help finishing decorating the Christmas tree? I’m available,”
Selena said.
“Oh, yes. I could use as much help as possible,”
Mrs. Evans replied. “I’ve placed the string, popcorn, and cranberries in the family room, near the tree.
Since last night’s dream, Selena felt more than a little bit of pressure to finish decorating the house. The night before, she had had a dream in which she delivered her baby. While she couldn’t recall the sex of the child, she vividly recalled becoming a new mother.
“Happy birthday ma chérie ,”
her maman said, kissing her on the cheek.
“ Maman ! It’s so lovely to see you,”
Selena said. “Thank you for the birthday wishes.”
“Did I hear you ask about decorating the tree? You know how much I love to do that.”
“I did,”
Selena said, smoothing her hand over her belly. “I want to make sure everything is completed before the baby is born.”
Her mother’s gaze moved over Selena’s belly. “When did you say your baby is due? It’s possible you may share a birthday.”
“I suppose that’s true. It’s due any time, now, Maman, ”
Selena said. “And I’m ready for him or her to arrive.”
“Yes. I know exactly what you mean,”
her mother said, taking a seat next to Selena and picking up a string. While Selena and her mother threaded the popcorn and cranberries for the tree, Selena tried to relax, but a nagging pain in her back had started. Worried, she scanned the room for Gerald and saw Dutch trot into the room and move next to her, behaving as though he were simply trying to find a comfortable spot to lie down, but Selena knew him better than that. Dutch was as sneaky as he was brave and loyal. “I know what you’re doing there, Dutchy, sniffing at those bowls when you think we’re not watching,” Selena said. “What about all those treats Mrs. McDonald baked for you?”
Dutch tilted his head and gave her a little whoof.
“Don’t look all innocent with me,”
she giggled. “I’m keeping my eyes on you Dutch.” The big white dog huffed out a breath and retreated a few feet to the safer location just in front of the cheery fire in the large hearth.
After an hour, she and her mother had strung several strands of garland. Selena reached into the popcorn bowl and noticed it was empty. Laughing, she realized Dutch had indeed managed to sneak into the popcorn while they were decorating the tree. But her laughter slowed as the persistent pain in her lower back became sharper.
“ Maman , I think this baby might be coming,”
she whispered in between short breaths. Increasing pain made speaking difficult.
“ Ma chérie , let me help you stand. I think we can make it to your room,”
her mother said.
“No, Maman. I’m too heavy with child. You must send for Gerald.”
Selena tried to get up but lost her balance and fell back into the chair.
In that instant, Gerald entered the room carrying a newly filled bowl of popcorn. “I thought you ladies might need more popcorn. It always disappears quickly, we eat as much as we string…”
His eyes fell upon Selena, who winced in evident pain. “My God, Selena, what’s wrong? Is it the baby?” He dropped the bowl of popcorn and rushed to her side, kneeling before her.
All Selena could do was nod as another sharp pain took hold.
“Gerald, thank goodness, I was just going to find you,”
Selena’s mother said.
“When did the pain start?”
“Only a few minutes ago,”
his mother-in-law said.
He yanked the rope for a footman. “Send for Doctor Baker, and hurry,”
he ordered the footman who walked into the room only seconds later. Gerald scooped up Selena in his arms and climbed the stairs to their bedroom.
“Gerald, please don’t leave me alone,”
she said as he gently laid her on the bed. “They may tell you that you cannot stay, but you must,” Selena rasped. “Promise me. I’m so worried something will go wrong.” The only person that made her feel safe was Gerald.
“I promise, sweetheart,”
he said, squeezing her hand and kissing her forehead. “I will not leave your side.”
Dr. Baker arrived within minutes as he was in the area. According to Mrs. Babble, the midwife, who’d arrived the day before in anticipation of the birth, staying with Selena was highly irregular. But Gerald refused to leave, holding Selena’s hand and whispering loving words whenever she needed comfort.
The verbal tug-of-war ended with a loud ‘harumph,”
from the wiry, white-haired woman, who threw up her hands in frustration when Gerald threatened to send her packing. She chose, instead, to assist Doctor Baker—who had arrived and had taken over the midwife’s efforts.
Several hours later, a throaty cry sounded from Gerald and Selena’s bedroom. The room was abuzz with activity and Gerald was completely in awe. He marveled at the strength of his beautiful and delicate wife to push something the size of a pumpkin from her person. It wasn’t that he hadn’t witnessed births—but they had been horses or dogs. Never had he seen a woman give birth to a child—but Selena had just given birth to his child. His love and admiration for her soared as he beheld her strength and courage throughout the labor.
Holding his son in his arms, he had to blink back tears.
“You did it, my darling wife.”
“We did it, my wonderful husband,”
she replied in a tired but happy voice.
He bent down and placed a gentle kiss on her lips.
“I love you. Thank you for our son.”
“I love you too. Isn’t he beautiful?”
she whispered.
“He certainly is,” he said.
The midwife took the baby from his arms and made shooing motions indicating they needed to clean up the bed and his wife. Leaning down, he kissed Selena again and told her he’d be back after he spread the good news to their family and friends. Gerald found them gathered in the family room around the newly decorated Christmas tree.
“We have a healthy boy,”
he said to cheers and hearty slaps on the back. “We named him William Phillip Lawrence.”
“A fine name! You have honored both grandfathers,”
Banbury said.
“And how is Selena?”
Diana asked.
“She’s resting but she’s as happy and elated as I am. I’m so proud of her.”
Just speaking of his wife and the birth gave him a jolt of euphoria. It felt good to release the tension and worry that had tied him into knots over the past several hours.
“I’ve never known a doctor to let the husband in the room,”
Percival said. “That must have been an amazing experience to welcome your son into the world.”
“It was.”
He couldn’t contain his excitement. “I plan to always be in the room if we are fortunate enough to have more children. Good God, I’ve never been so scared in all my life—scared for Selena and scared for the baby. And worried I wouldn’t be what she needed. It’s an experience I will never forget, Percival.” Gerald paused and took a deep breath. “If you want to see the baby, Selena should be ready to have visitors in a day or two. I know she’ll want to see all of you,” Gerald said. Selfishly, he was glad she needed a couple of days of rest—which he planned to spend by her side.
“Congratulations, my friend,”
Wright said with a wry smile. “I always knew you had it in you. That’s a sterling name you’ve given your son. What will you call him—Phillip or William?”
“My guess is Phillip, but I’m sure Selena already has ideas on that. After all she did to bring him into the world, it’s her decision,”
Gerald said.
He was happy to share the news with everyone, but he was anxious to get back to Selena and their son. He couldn’t wait to hold them again. He’d spent the last hour with his friends and their family, while Anna and the other women were making made Selena more comfortable. Anna came down to let him know that Selena was settled and asking for him. He excused himself from his family and friends and ran up the stairs, taking them two at a time. Stepping into the room he found his wife and mother-in-law deep in conversation. Thinking he needed to give them privacy, he turned to leave.
“No, Gerald, please stay!”
Selena exclaimed. “ Maman just gave me some exciting news! Connery has asked Maman to marry him. They plan to marry on New Year’s Day, and they’d like to have Paul and Kat be part of their wedding. They will be so excited to be part of their new grandparents’ big day.
Gerald smiled down at his lovely wife. She was blissfully happy. To think, he’d spent half of his life resenting being engaged to her, only to find out marriage to her was the path to his happiness.
“Well, that tells me why Connery is suddenly consumed with getting the chapel refurbished. But now that I understand, I’m sure we can hire additional workers to see that’s it done quickly,”
Gerald said.
And they did.
Christmas morning was magical. It was everything Gerald could have wished for, spending a quiet morning with Selena and their new son.
“How many children should we have, my dearest?”
Gerald asked.
Selena chuckled. “We just got through our firstborn’s birth, darling. And we’ve adopted Paul and Kat. I think we’ll be busy for a while with three children. Besides, that decision rests with God.”
“Of course, but God needs a little help from us don’t you think?”
he laughed. I could see myself enjoying at least one a year for the next five years,” Gerald said.
She swatted at him. “One a year! Heavens, that would mean I’ll be fat for the next five years…”
“I prefer to think of you as curvaceous, my love.”
He grinned, waggling his brows at her.
Selena promptly blushed. How he loved to make her blush.
“Not in front of Phillip,”
she gently scolded, covering their son’s perfect little ears as she nursed him.
“Phillip’s just a newborn. He can’t understand what we’re saying yet,”
Gerald laughed.
“Well, even so, I need a little breathing room in between. Maybe we can agree to two more. That will be five children—some people might believe that a large family. What do you think?”
“We can start with two more and, then we’ll see.”
“You’re incorrigible,”
she giggled.
“Only for you, my love.”
He watched Selena sing to their son as she continued to nurse him. He would never tire of watching her. Smiling, he reached into his coat pocket and withdrew a long velvet box and one that was ring-sized. “I thought these might be fitting,”
he said, softly.
“Oh, darling, thank you! Please open them for me,” she said.
“He opened the first gift, and she gasped in delight, her eyes filling with tears. “I’ve never seen a bracelet such as this, she said.”
“It’s a charm bracelet. You can select charms that symbolize meaningful memories or events in your life. I’ve selected a pearl with an aquamarine stone in it to symbolize Phillip’s birth month. And I’ve added the opal for Kat and the emerald for Paul. There’s a golden document with a diamond in the middle. Known only to us, that’s my effort to symbolize the betrothal agreement, he said, grinning. The beginning of us can be traced back to that momentous agreement and for that, I shall be eternally thankful.”
Selena wiped tears from the corner of her eyes. “It’s the loveliest bracelet I’ve ever seen with such a beautiful sentiment. Thank you.”
Gerald opened the second gift and held it up to Selena, who promptly began to cry again. It was a gold band with the children’s birthstones surrounding her own. “It’s beautiful. I’ve never had a ring with my birthstone.”
“I will add additional birthstones—as we have more children— to it,”
he said with a grin.
“I love it!”
Gerald slipped it onto her finger and kissed her. “Thank you, love.”
Then, a faint flush stained her cheek. “Gerald, I have nothing to give you…”
Gerald arched a brow. “Are you jesting, my love? You’ve given me a son…an heir. You’ve welcomed Paul and Kat into our home as their new mother. I could never ask for more. And you’ve given me your heart. What more could a man want? I’m the most fortunate of men. Happy Christmas, darling.”
They decided to open the rest of the presents until after the family had a late breakfast. By then, Paul and Kat had begun to fidget with excitement.
Paul and Kat both whooped with joy when Gerald took them out to the stable to meet their new ponies. The children loved the ponies Gerald and Selena had for them and they couldn’t wait to ride them. Dutch took an active role in holding the lead and walking the ponies around the ring outside the stable. Dutch had also taken little Phillip into his circle of protection, with Selena and the children. When he wasn’t sitting with Selena or spending time in the nursery watching over her children, he was in the stables, visiting old friends. The dog had become an integral part of their family.
Later that afternoon, Gerald was lifting Selena’s feet onto a plump stool in their bedchamber, Selena tapped him on the head. “Yes, my queen,”
he chuckled.
“I think something is brewing between Anna and Percival,”
she whispered. Anna seems to talk about Percival a lot when she’s up here. She even asked me if I thought he was handsome.”
“And what did you say?”
“I said he was, handsome but not as handsome as you,”
she giggled.
“Good answer,”
he whispered, leaning down for a kiss.
“Now that you mention it, I saw them chatting together in the drawing room earlier . His lips twitched with humor as he’d observed the newly minted Viscount seeming to be doing his darndest to walk a blushing Anna under the mistletoe.
"They would make a lovely couple, don’t you think?”
Selena said. “Every time Percival stops by for a visit to supposedly ask your advice about something, he inevitably finds some reason to accidentally bump into Anna.”
“You don’t say…”
“I do say. I think we might have another wedding within the year,”
Selena whispered to Gerald.
Gerald sat down next to Selena and kissed her cheek. “Sweet wife, are you planning something?”
Selena grinned and laid her head on his shoulder. “Oh, just everyone’s future…”
[JD1] what does this mean? can you clarify this for the readers?