Page 74 of An Earl to Save the Diamond
Andrew looked doubtful, but he agreed. “We will wait until the child is born then.”
They then spent the rest of the evening predicting when Marjorie would give birth, and Marjorie, who sat in the corner pretending to be offended, watched the rest of her family with her heart swelling with love. They had all been through so much together and came out stronger, Gerard and Ellen, she and Andrew. She watched each of them emotionally until her eyes landed on Andrew who looked at her, those eyes loving and accepting. A promise of safety for a lifetime.
“Forever,” Marjorie whispered.
“I love you forever,” Andrew replied. It was the promise of a lifetime.
* * *
The day Marjorie was due to deliver, the family doctor had been sent for in haste, and Gerard and Ellen had paced the floor with Andrew. When Doctor Philips arrived, he went up immediately to find Marjorie. She would not stop screaming, and the entire household was terrified at the unearthly sound that Marjorie emitted. Andrew could not keep still, he had been denied entrance into the room, and he was almost going insane. He was so terrified of losing Marjorie, despite Gerard’s and Ellen’s assurances that Marjorie was strong and would pull through. They could see servants going in and out carrying bowls of steaming water. The labor lasted a full long day, and as each hour passed by, Marjorie’s cries were getting weaker. It got so bad that Gerard had to take Andrew out.
While they got outside, Andrew broke down. “I cannot lose her, Gerard. She is in so much pain, and I cannot do anything about it. What if something bad happens?”
Gerard’s heart went out to his brother-in-law, and he tried to assure Andrew that nothing bad would happen to Marjorie. “If anyone can get through this, it is Marjorie. Tomorrow, she will tease you about how terrified you are now, I guarantee it.”
Andrew nodded, unconvinced but willing to grasp at any line thrown at him. “I will name him Caleb if she survives. She can name him anything she wants. Caleb Bamber sounds like the perfect name.”
Gerard laughed. “Come on. Let us go.”
When they went back inside Grant Manor, they were met by Ellen who announced that Marjorie had given birth to a boy, and she was taking a nap. Andrew ran up the stairs to the room where he watched Marjorie sleep. He rubbed her hair and kissed her face until she woke up. Marjorie looked up at her husband and smiled weakly.
“You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen,” Andrew whispered.
“Are you trying to seduce me again, Your Grace?”
“Always,” Andrew affirmed, and Marjorie grinned.
“Caleb. His name will be Caleb,” Andrew declared with tear-stained eyes.
“Thank you,” Marjorie murmured as she drifted back to sleep.
Behind them stood Gerard and Ellen, who had entered the room and watched the scene before them. They went to see the baby who had been cleaned, wrapped up, and was now peacefully asleep beside his mother.
Ellen felt her heart clench, and she started sobbing. “He is so beautiful.”
“I know,” Gerard said, his voice hoarse.
“I cannot wait to have one of our own as well. What do you think we will have first?” Ellen asked
“Definitely a boy, but he shall not be called Caleb.”
Ellen laughed softly taking a look at handsome Caleb as she held him.
“Welcome to the family, Caleb; you do not know how loved you already are.”
The baby cooed as he snuggled in his aunt’s arms.
The End?
