“I’m expecting a baby?” Arabella asked.
It was hard to believe that she was carrying a child.
Edward jumped suddenly, wrapping his arms around her, and once again she felt comfort. She didn’t know when she started crying.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to cry,” she told him when he began to worry.
“It’s all right, love.”
He could feel his shirt getting wet from her tears, but he just hugged her more tightly and let her cry. At least they were tears of joy.
Edward smiled down at her. She had given him everything he didn’t know his heart had desired, and now his heart was overflowing with joy.
The doctor excused himself and turned to leave. He opened the door but then jumped back. They all turned to see what had happened and saw Charles rub the side of his head. Apparently, he’d been hit by the door.
“My apologies, My Lord,” the doctor said awkwardly.
“It seems you’re after getting another patient.”
“Not at all.”
They laughed as he scurried off.
“I heard you all screaming. Is everything all right?” Charles asked.
Edward laughed. “Oh, just shut up and come here. I know you too well,” he said with a smirk, loosening his grip on Arabella.
“Look who is becoming a father.” Charles walked over to give Edward a warm hug. “Prepare to mourn your freedom.”
“Eavesdropping bastard!” Edward laughed. “You’re lucky the door didn’t take your eye out.”
Charles raised both hands in the air innocently, but he couldn’t hold back his laughter. “Congratulations, Brother.”
They hugged again.
Arabella and Edward started a debate on baby names, with the others chiming in once in a while.
“If it’s a girl, we’ll call her Emma, and if it’s a boy, we’ll call him David,” Arabella suggested.
“Why David? James is perfectly charming.”
“David is courageous.”
“And?” Edward deadpanned. “No woman wants a courageous man—just one who appears to be.”
Everyone laughed as Arabella pouted.
“So, you’re not courageous, husband?” she asked with a lopsided grin.
“I’m an exception, love.” He winked at her.
They fell silent for a while.
“Umm, I’ll go get… water,” Harriet announced suddenly, getting up and grabbing Charles’s hands. “Charles, you should get water, too. Let’s go.”
“I don’t need water, Mother.” Charles frowned. “You could just send a maid to fetch it.”
“No. You know I like to move around.”