Healing the Endearing Marquess Bonus Scene

Graham rolled over in bed and came face to face with his wife. She stirred but did not awaken. At least, she did not look as if she were awake. If he had learned anything about marriage this past year, it was that women knew a lot more than they sometimes let on. He kissed her nose, and her eyes fluttered open. He would never tire of this view. Her deep blue eyes blinked back at him, and she smiled.

“Good morning,” she said sleepily.

“Good morning,” he said. He wrapped an arm around her and pulled her in close to his chest. “Do you realize what today is?”

“Of course. It’s the day you became the luckiest man on earth,” she teased.

“I cannot argue with that. Happy anniversary my love,” he said and kissed her neck softly.

“Happy anniversary,” she replied. It had been a wonderful first year of marriage. Of course, they had their ups and downs, but on the whole, their life together was filled with happiness. Arabella turned over slowly, her bulging belly making it difficult to move. They were expecting their first baby any day now. She sighed as she tried to find a comfortable position. Nothing she did seemed to help anymore. This baby could not come soon enough.

Graham Went down to breakfast with his father, but Arabella did not budge from her bed. As a married woman, she was allowed to breakfast in her room. At first, it had taken some time for her to get used to, but she enjoyed the ritual now. Especially today. She would have stayed abed all day if she could.

Arabella got out of bed after eating a piece of toast and drinking some tea. For some reason, she was not very hungry today. She dressed slowly with her maid’s assistance. She then sat at her dressing table and allowed her maid to arrange her hair. She would have much rather let her hair hang down her shoulders, but it would not do for the future Duchess of Bolingbroke to be seen in such a manner of undress, even if it were close to her time for delivery.

She went downstairs and joined Graham in the study. He had been working for an hour before she finally came down.

“Hello, my dear. How are you feeling?” he asked. He set down his work and came around the desk to meet her.

“I am fine. I’m just overly hot today. I was wondering if you would like to go for a walk in the gardens. Perhaps the shade and a nice breeze would help,” she suggested.

“I would be delighted.” He offered her his arm, and they strolled outside for their promenade around the lawns. Graham let Arabella set the pace. She was slower these days, but that was to be expected. Graham noticed her wince in pain and immediately stopped in his tracks.

“What is it, my dear?” he asked.

“Nothing, my back has been rather painful today,” she replied. She massaged her lower back and tried to wipe the pain off her face.

“Are you having pains?” Graham asked, looking her up and down.

Arabella shook her head. “I don’t think they are contractions. I just get a tightening in my abdomen every few minutes. They aren't consistent, however. The doctor said that might happen.”

Graham looked at her as if to say, “how can you be so calm?” He would have called the midwives as soon she started showing any signs of pain or of imminent labor.

Arabella laughed at him, “It’s not time yet. Besides, the baby can’t be born on our anniversary,” she teased. Her smile was short-lived, however. A moment later a real pain came and they both heard a ‘pop!’ Arabella looked down and saw that a puddle was forming under her skirts.

“Oh, dear,” was all she could say.

Graham called his mother, and she came running out into the garden to assist her daughter-in-law. They both helped her up to their rooms and Graham went for the doctor. The birthing chamber was no place for a man.

When he returned with the midwives and doctor, he simply pointed up the stairs in the general direction of his room. But instead of hearing screams, as he had anticipated, he could hear nothing. Arabella must not have been as far progressed as he had thought.

He waited with his father in the library for what felt like an age. The sun made its way across the sky and set, but still the baby did not come. Graham grew increasingly worried. He wanted to be with his wife, to help her in some small way, but he knew he could not. His father slapped him on his back every so often, to reassure him, he supposed.

“Was it this hard when you waited for me to be born?” Graham asked, frustrated by his lack of usefulness.

“It was hard at all the births. I won’t presume to say that waiting is the hardest part of childbirth. Any woman would disagree.” They shared a laugh. “The hardest part for us with you came after you were born. We had lost two babies before you. The hardest part was wondering if you were going to be taken from us, too.”

Graham nodded. His father seemed to sense his fear and tried to put it to rest. “Arabella is a strong, healthy young woman. I’m sure she is doing splendidly.”

“Yes, she must be,” Graham replied.

The clock struck midnight, one, two, and three - but still there was no word. Graham sat in a chair next to the hearth, dozing off. A knock sounded at the door, and he was awake in an instant. A maid came into the room and curtsied. Graham and his father looked at her expectantly.

“Please, my lord. You have a daughter,” she announced. Graham looked over at his father in wonder.

“I have a daughter,” he repeated, almost unable to believe it could be true. His father came up beside him and slapped him on the back.

“Congratulations, my boy!”

“Thank you, Amelia,” Graham said to the maid and rushed out of the room. He bounded up the stairs to the second floor bedrooms and knocked on the door.

“Come in!” a voice said. Graham turned the knob and pushed the door open. Arabella lay with pillows propped up behind her, holding a tiny bundle in her arms. She had already changed, and the room had been put to rights . He made his way quietly to the bedside and sat down. Arabella looked tired but altogether lovelier than he ever remembered. He looked down at the swaddled bundle in her arms in wonder.

She had a full head of peach blonde hair. Her eyes were closed, and she was making the most adorable cooing sounds in her sleep. He touched the soft peach fuzz on the top of her head and fell in love instantly. He looked up at his wife, who beamed back at him. She looked back down at their daughter.

“Isn’t she perfect?” she asked.          

“Yes, she is,” Graham replied. He was still having a hard time believing this was real. He was a father. A father! The joy he felt in this moment was unlike anything he had ever felt before. As he looked into the face of his tiny daughter, he also felt a protectiveness unlike any he had ever felt before. He knew that he would lay down his life for her. He stood and sat on the edge of the bed, wrapping an arm around Arabella’s shoulders.

“How do you feel, my love?” he asked quietly.

“Tired. But so incredibly happy,” she replied. He could see just how tired she was. She could barely keep her eyes open. “Would you like to hold her?”

“Yes,” he replied. She placed the baby to his waiting arms, and she settled down to sleep. She deserved it after 20 hours of labor.

He stood cautiously, trying his best not to jostle Arabella. He took his new baby girl over to the hearth and settled into one of the chairs near the blazing fire.

He sat for the longest time, simply admiring her beautiful face. As the sun started to rise a few hours later, the baby began to stir. Arabella was awake immediately. Graham walked back over to her and handed the baby over.

“What shall we call her?” he asked.

“I know we had discussed naming her Mary, but it just doesn’t seem to suit her,” Arabella replied.

“I agree. I've been thinking of something the last few days and I’d like you to hear me out. What about Julia? For my mother?”

“Julia. Yes, I like it. And Grace for her middle name, after my mother?” She asked.

Graham nodded, “It is perfect. Julia Grace.” She began to fuss. He stood and went to the door. “I’ll go and tell Mother.”

He brought her in a few minutes later and Juliana could not stop exclaiming about how wonderful the baby was and how well Arabella had done. Arabella smiled at her mother-in-law. Things were not perfect between the two of them, but they were always getting better. Arabella handed Julia over to her grandmother’s waiting arms. She was visibly moved as she looked down at her new granddaughter, and Graham knew she was remembering her own lost children while also welcoming this new life. She smiled through a few tears, truly honored, when they told her the name they had chosen.

***

The next few months flew by, and they were soon preparing to celebrate Christmas. Juliana had become a doting grandmother, and Julia Grace adored her grandmother and her Great Aunt Helena. Arabella had been built for motherhood, it seemed. She was thriving in her new life, and Aunt Helena and Uncle Jacob were overjoyed to see her doing so well.

Christmas was a little quieter that year. The family wanted to enjoy Julia Grace’s first Christmas and decided to forgo parties and merrymaking in favor of a quiet celebration at home.

Julia was not yet crawling by the time Christmas had come, but Arabella was sure she would beginshortly. She could sit up on her own however, and the family had fun watching her open her presents. Graham wrapped his arm around Arabella’s shoulders and sighed. Juliana was bouncing Julia on her knee whileAunt Helena sat next to her, laughing with Julia as she squealed in delight.

Julia had joined the two families together. Class no longer mattered. The bonds of love were stronger than the petty jealousies and separations of social classes. Arabella and Graham watched, thankful that their family was now complete.

“I love you, Arabella Evans.”

“I love you, too,” she said smiling up at her husband.

He bent and kissed her. She had been worth the wait.

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