Enchanted by the Mysterious Marquess Bonus Scene

Lavinia looked out over the field, watching the road below for the coach that would bring her husband’s two sisters, two nieces and one nephew to their home for the holidays. They were visiting for two weeks, staying through Christmas and the New Year.

She was anxious to see Katherine again, as she enjoyed the woman’s company very much. She had visited only once in the last year but they had a wonderful time during her visit. She did not take Myles very seriously and teased him quite often, to Lavinia’s delight.

Myles, in return, took her teasing so well, it was almost as though he, too, enjoyed it. The friendship between the brother and sister pleased Lavinia to no end.

The Marquess’ other sister, Vivienne, was also a pleasant woman but she was very quiet, obviously content to sit and read her books rather than socialize with the public. Lavinia thought perhaps they were too much alike and found it difficult to relate to her as easily as she did to Katherine.

Vivienne was bringing her ten-year-old daughter and fifteen-year-old son to their home, and Katherine was bringing Patricia.

Lavinia was looking forward to seeing them all again.

The feel of her husband’s hands on her shoulders made Lavinia close her eyes. She was resting her hands on her large belly. She expected to have her child any day now. If her calculations were correct, she was in her ninth month but the exact due date eluded them. It could be another few weeks before she was ready to have her child.

“Are you excited to see my sisters again, Lavinia?”

Lavinia nodded, looking up over her shoulder at Myles, who was smiling at her with anxious eyes. She knew he was worried about her. She would soon give birth and he was beside himself, fretting over her constantly, rushing to her side if she said “oof”, in even the quietest voice.

He inquired about her nearly every fifteen minutes, even when she was standing right next to him.

“I am very excited, my dear husband. I am so pleased they are coming now. Why, they might be here when I have our child! At least, I hope so. I do not want to wait much longer or I am afraid I may pop.”

Myles laughed.

“I am pleased to see them, as well. I was sad when they got married and left to live abroad. I never thought I would be the only member of my family living in London.”

“Well, now you will have two more members of your family living in London. And there is no telling how long your sisters will stay abroad. Perhaps someday, they will move back to London.”

Myles shook his head. “It is doubtful.”

“One can always have hope.”

Myles closed his eyes, bowing his head. “You are correct, my dear. Look! There they are!”

The coach bringing the two sisters and their children could indeed be seen in the distance, the horses’ hooves pounding up the dirt road and creating small clouds of dust.

Lavinia took a step forward, as if it would close much of the distance between her and the women. Myles stepped with her, his hands remaining comfortably on her shoulders.

She did not leave his hands until the coach had pulled up in front of the steps. She went down hastily, excited to see her husband’s sisters and the children.

“Katherine!” she cried out, as the woman stepped down from the coach first. They came together, grasping their hands together and lacing their fingers through each other’s. Lavinia leaned forward and at the same time, they placed air kisses near each cheek.

“Oh, my sweet Lavinia, you are looking delightful. Why, you are positively glowing!”

Katherine took a step back, holding one of Lavinia’s hands high up in the air as if the pose made a difference to her countenance. The woman ran her eyes up and down Lavinia’s body, nodding in approval. “You are healthy and happy. I am so delighted.”

Lavinia laughed. “So am I. And here is our lovely Patricia! It is good to see you again, little dear.”

She placed a kiss on Patricia’s head, making the little girl giggle. She had her eyes on Myles and after receiving her top-of-the-head kiss, she made a beeline for him. He leaned down and gave her a hug.

“My goodness, she has developed a crush on Myles, I believe,” Katherine said, her look one of obvious amusement. “He is her uncle. I can see what her future husband is going to be like already.”

“At least Myles is a fine, honorable man. I do hope she can find a fine, honorable man like him. Because I will not be giving him up to any pretty little girls.” Lavinia said, winking her right eye to Katherine.

Katherine laughed and before stepping away to greet her brother, she said to Lavinia, “Oh no. No, no.”

They both shared a laugh before Lavinia turned to greet Vivienne and her children.

Just as the coach began to pull away and the group was heading inside, Lavinia felt a sharp pain in her back. She put a hand on it, looking up at Myles, who had taken the lead and was holding Patricia’s hand as they walked, and was talking to his sister, Katherine.

Vivienne was in front of her and her children flanked her. Somehow, Lavinia had managed to bring up the rear. She was not sure that was a great idea.

She stepped up on the top step and the pain came again. This time it felt as if she was being ripped in half at the waist. She cried out when a wet sensation covered her legs and soaked the porch floor.

She stared down at it. When she lifted her eyes and looked at her companions, she saw something she would never forget.

Myles’ face was one of utter fear.

***

Myles found himself frozen. At the sound of his wife’s cry, he spun around and stared at her. She had never sounded like that before.

He saw Katherine glaring at him but he could not move.

“Myles!” she said harshly. “Go in and get someone to fetch the doctor!”

Myles tried to shake of the feeling of fear that pierced through him. He wanted to spring into action. But he could not. He was terrified.

He watched as Katherine and Vivienne took over the situation. His nephew, Nicholas, walked over to him and patted him on the shoulder. “Come on inside, Uncle Myles. I will sit with you. There is nothing you can do here now.”

Myles was brought out of his stupor by the calm demeanor of the young man. He had a feeling Nicholas did not know the seriousness of the situation.

“First, we must send for the doctor,” Nicholas said. “Then I suggest we sit in the parlor, where we will be less likely to hear the…” He stopped.

Myles blinked at him. He wondered how the young man could possibly know this.

“Hear the what?” Myles asked.

Nicholas flushed a little. “The screaming. I have a friend whose mother will not stop having children. He is already one of ten. He is the second child. He has seen his mother this way many, many times. I have sat with him and his siblings a few times. We comfort the younger ones when they hear their mother screaming.”

The anguish of having to listen to the woman he loved screaming like a banshee made chills cover Myles’ arms.

He shook his head.

“I do not want to hear the screaming,” he said.

At that moment, Lavinia passed him by, supported by both of his sisters.

Katherine glared at them. “What are you doing? Fetch the doctor!”

“I will do it,” Nicholas said. He looked at Myles. “I will come in the parlor, my lord, when I am done. I will not leave your side. You will need company until this is over. I used to sit with my friend and his siblings.”

Myles nodded. “Thank you, Nicholas.”

“It is truly my pleasure, Uncle Myles.”

Myles went into the parlor alone but did not turn and go in until his wife was all the way up the stairs. He knew where she would be, in a special room they had put together for this purpose. Everything she would need for her new baby was in that room, including a comfortable bed for her to sleep on, baby nappies, and other essentials. Even a few baby clothes that the sisters had given them as gifts.

He also knew that he would likely hear her screams when they started, as it was a drafty house and the vents between each room were enormous.

It was not long before Nicholas returned. The moment he opened the door, Myles heard Lavinia cry out. He closed his eyes tightly and lowered his head, running his hands through his hair. Nicholas sat in a chair nearby and leaned forward, looking at his uncle.

“It will be all right, Uncle Myles. Her ladyship is strong and healthy. I heard my mother discussing it with Aunt Katherine on the way here. They are very impressed by how well she takes care of herself and your baby.”

Myles looked up at him, grateful that he was revealing his sisters truly cared for his wife.

“How long does this usually take?” he asked, feeling awkward that he is asking the question of a fifteen-year-old.

Nicholas shrugged. “It can be anywhere from an hour to two days, my lord. I have seen both.”

Myles was not heartened by that thought. He was in agony over hearing one of her screams. To listen to that for several days would drive him out of his mind. He shook his head and lowered it to his hands again.

“You need not worry, though, Uncle,” Nicholas said confidently. “I do not think Aunt Lavinia will allow the baby to be delayed. Suspicion has it that if your delivery in late, you will be late at everything all of your life.”

Myles heard the humor in the boy’s voice and knew what he was doing. He gave his nephew a chuckle and was glad to see the delighted look on the young man’s face. He was trying to distract his uncle and Myles knew it.

His heart swelled with love for the boy.

During the next three and a half hours, Nicholas kept up a constant string of stories, telling them back to back, avoiding the subject of child birth and instead focusing on what he had done over the past few summers, who he had met, where he had gone, as much detail as he could give.

Finally, the two men heard a baby cry out.

Myles sprang to his feet immediately, his eyes wide open. He moved them to Nicholas, whose grin stretched from ear to ear.

Myles raced out of the room and up the stairs as quickly as he could with Nicholas right behind him.

“Uncle, you might want to wait a minute before you…” Nicholas’ voice trailed off as Myles burst into the birthing room, immediately confronted with the sight of his sister, Katherine, wiping off a sopping, crying, baby boy.

Her eyes darted up to him but he saw no alarm and no irritation in them since he had broken propriety and burst into the room too soon.

She grinned, tears streaming down her face as she handed the baby to him, wrapped in a thick, warm blanket.

“Here is your son, my brother,” she said, breathlessly, barely able to get out the words through her tears.

Myles dumbfounded and speechless gazed down at the most beautiful boy he had ever seen in his life. The little boy had reddish-blond wavy hair covering his little head and larger ears than a baby should have. He looked at Lavinia, who was reaching out to him from the bed. He walked toward her and bent over, the child still in his arms.

“My love, look” he whispered. “Our son has your father’s hair and big ears,” said with humor evident in his voice, overwhelmed by the entirely newfound feeling of happiness.

Lavinia laughed at the sound of his words but reacted with pain when she did so. She looked up at him with tears in her eyes. “Shall we name him Edward, then?”

He smiled, the love for his wife and son washing through him like a tidal wave. He nodded.

“Yes, my love. Edward, it is.”

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