Epilogue
13 months later Harrison Manor, Christmastide
A fter tea, Bett struggled to stand up from the sofa.
Noah held out his hand. “Here, let me help you, my darling,” he said, pulling her up.
“Oh, Noah. Your heir has grown quite large lately and is kicking vigorously.”
He put his hand on her rounded belly. “Hello, little one. We can’t wait to meet you.”
“I do hope it will be soon so I can stop waddling around like a duck,” Bett said.
Noah put his arm around her waist. “My darling, you’re my perfect duck, and I’ve never found you more attractive,” he said, helping her walk toward the parlor doorway.
“How can you say such things?”
He stopped and pulled Bett into his embrace. “Because no matter what you look like, my dear sweet wife, you’ll always be perfect to me.”
Tears pricked the back of Bett’s eyes. “I love you, Noah.”
He lowered his head to capture her lips in a heart-stopping kiss.
When they broke apart, she chuckled. “My darling, I do believe those searing kisses are the reason I’m in my current condition.”
“I cannot help it. You’re irresistible to me,” Noah said, squeezing her tight. “Shall I escort you upstairs for a nap?”
“That would be lovely.”
December was turning out to be colder than normal, but not unbearably so. Bett still loved to take walks, but she found she tired much more easily as her belly grew, so she had to curtail her daily walks.
Two days before Christmastide, she was in the parlor looking out the window at the blanket of freshly fallen snow covering the landscape, giving it a magical feel. A roaring fire pumped out welcome heat that took the chill out of the room as she rubbed her back. She’d been having a lot of pain throughout the day, but it wasn’t too intense, so she hadn’t told anyone.
“Bett, are you here?” Noah asked, walking into the parlor, first looking at the chairs by the fireplace.
“Over here, darling. Come look. Isn’t it beautiful?” she said.
He walked to her side, lifted her chin, and kissed her lips. “Yes, you are.”
She was about to respond when the first pain in her belly hit hard. She groaned as she doubled over.
“Bett, what’s wrong?” Noah asked, panic lacing his voice.
“I do believe your heir is about to make his entrance,” she panted.
“Really? Isn’t it too soon? I thought the child wouldn’t arrive until the new year.”
“Babies come when they want.”
“Let me help you upstairs,” Noah said, supporting her.
The butler was in the foyer, giving instructions to one of the footmen. “Jerrison, send someone to fetch the midwife.”
“Right away, my lord,” the butler said, turning to the footman. “Charles, go quickly now.”
The footman raced down the hallway to do the butler’s bidding.
It took Bett a while to climb the stairs, especially with the pain coming every few minutes. When they finally reached their bedchamber, Noah shouted for her maid. “Lydia, are you here?”
Lydia poked her head out of the adjoining sitting room. “My lord?”
“The child is coming.”
She rushed to Bett’s side. “Come, my lady, let’s get you changed and into bed.”
“My darling, I shall return shortly when you’re settled,” Noah said, kissing her gently.
Bett could only nod as another pain hit her midsection. She was trying to put on a brave face, but this one was the worst, and she groaned loudly.
Lydia got her settled in bed, and it wasn’t too long before the midwife arrived. Thankfully, the snow wasn’t deep, and the carriage was able to travel to the manor without too much trouble.
Bett labored through the rest of the afternoon and into the night. Noah had stayed with her, trying to be encouraging and wiping her face with a cool cloth, but there wasn’t much else he could do.
“My darling, my brave girl,” he said, wiping her face. “You’re doing well. I shall return in a few moments.”
Bett felt a moment of panic as Noah left the room, but the midwife was very encouraging. However, by the time midnight was nearing, Bett was exhausted.
“Lady Harrison, I know you’re tired, but your child is nearly here, and you must push,” the midwife said.
“I cannot. It’s too much. I want my husband. Where is he?”
“Men don’t usually attend the birth, my lady.”
“I don’t care. I need him,” she said as her body convulsed with another painful contraction.
The midwife turned to Bett’s maid. “Go find Lord Harrison. Tell him to come quickly.”
“Yes, mistress,” the maid said, rushing out of the room.
Within moments, Noah was by her side. “I’m here, my love. Squeeze my hand when the next pain hits.”
“Push, my lady,” the midwife said again.
Bett squeezed Noah’s hand as she pushed once again.
“That’s it. One more big push, and the child will be here.”
When the next contraction hit, Bett did as the midwife instructed and was rewarded with the cries of a newborn.
“It’s a healthy girl, a little small, but perfect, my lady,” the midwife said, cleaning the child.
Bett looked at Noah, who wore a huge smile on his face. The midwife wrapped the child and handed her to him.
“She’s beautiful,” he said, staring at the tiny pink face. He kissed the baby’s head before giving her to Bett.
“Hello, my sweet girl,” she said before looking at Noah. “Are you disappointed it’s not a boy?”
“Not at all, my darling. She’s perfect.”
As Bett stared in wonder at her daughter, another pain hit, surprising everyone. “What’s happening?” she cried.
“Take the child,” the midwife said to the maid. “Lady Harrison, another babe is on the way.”
“Another?” Noah asked.
“Yes. Now, my lady, push!” the midwife said.
It didn’t take long for the second baby to be born, but the child wasn’t crying, and an eerie silence hung over the room.
“What’s going on?” Bett cried. “Why isn’t the baby crying?”
The midwife didn’t answer as she rubbed the child vigorously.
“Please, tell me what’s happening. Is the baby alive?” Bett asked, panicked.
Everyone held their breath until, a moment later, the baby started to cry.
“A healthy boy,” the midwife said as she wiped the child clean before wrapping him in a blanket and handing him to Noah.
Noah stared at the tiny human in his hands. Not only did he have a daughter, but now he had a son as well. He looked at Bett with awe in his eyes and handed the child to her. “My darling, you were magnificent.” Tears of joy streamed down his face.
Twin babies. It was more than Bett could have ever hoped for. Holding her beloved children, she looked at the man she adored and saw a lifetime of happiness with him and their children.
Two days later, it was Christmastide, and as she and Noah snuggled, he pulled out a spring of mistletoe and held it over their heads before kissing her.
“Hmmm…mistletoe. Isn’t this how this all started?” she asked, chuckling while looking lovingly at their twins sleeping peacefully in her arms.
“My darling Bett, I don’t need mistletoe as an excuse to kiss my beautiful wife. I was thinking about how much our lives have changed in the last year, from such heartache to overwhelming joy.”
“Are you happy, my love?”
“I couldn’t ask for anything more, my darling,” Noah said, gazing lovingly into her eyes.
Happy tears flowed down Bett’s face. “Nor could I, my darling. Nor could I.”
The End