Authors: Raine Miller
“I have seen Mr. Thornton a time or two. He is very solemn and quiet, a mature gentleman, who always comes to church alone. His comportment seems rather severe, actually. I don’t recall him attending anything social, like an assembly or a gathering on a feast day. I think Papa tried to draw him out in conversation, but with little success.” Cariss provided what little information she knew.
“But, Mina, he is more than twice her age! Why would Jocelyn agree to marry such a man, especially if he is severe and cold as Cariss says? How could she have an attachment, or feel obliged to accept him?” Imogene suddenly felt the twinges of her earlier nausea return to lick at her insides.
“I cannot imagine what would persuade her to do such a thing, only thinking that if he is in need of an heir, he has chosen her because she is young…” Mina trailed off and Jocelyn’s situation hung in the spring air, for all to ponder. “He is well placed financially from what Mamma says. Perhaps my sister feels the need to be independent of them now that we are all married.”
“Oh, dear God. It is unconscionable to me that she would sacrifice herself so. I cannot believe what I am hearing. She has settled for him, and now she has to live with that choice.” Feeling very upset, Imogene complained, “I am sorry, but I think it’s dreadful.”
“I was thinking the same thing, Imogene. Oh, Jocelyn, what have you done? I pray there is a good outcome in this.” Mina now had tears visible in her eyes.
Imogene’s stomach was roiling wickedly now, the news of her friend making her well and truly sick. She leapt up out of her chair and thrust the baby toward the nearest pair of arms that happened to be Colin’s. “Excuse me. I beg your pardons, I think I’m going to be sick!” Clamping a hand over her mouth, she ran, making it only as far as the hedge before everything came up.
Imogene was out of view, but certain everyone could hear her retching. The mortification distressed her further as well as the crying that accompanied her embarrassment. The calm voice of her sister and the soothing hands that held her hair back were welcome. “There now, Im, it’s all right. Breathe and it will pass.” Philippa rubbed her back and continued to hold her hair away. “Come, let me help you to your room so you can lie down.”
COLIN was still holding baby Gwendolyn when Philippa turned back and called to him, “Thank you, Mr. Everley. I’ll send the nurse down to take her. I’m just going to help Imogene up to her room right now.”
“Not to worry, Mrs. Brancroft, I am delighted to hold your daughter. If we get into trouble I’ll call upon one of the ladies.”
Graham came striding right up, a frown darkening his features. “Why are you holding the baby? I saw Imogene running into the hedge. What has happened?”
“Easy, Brother,” Colin admonished. “It was imperative. She got sick in the hedge and her sister is taking her back to the house.”
“Sick?” he bellowed. “Good God! She has not been truly well the whole of this trip.”
He made a move toward following them, but Colin stilled his arm. “I think you should wait, Graham. Leave them to it for now. She received some distressing news about her friend Jocelyn Charleston and the shock of it made her sick. I saw the whole thing.”
“I’m getting Brancroft. I want him to examine her right now.” He stalked off to find his brother-in-law, Dr. Brancroft, who was shooting targets with Elle and Nicky Hargreave.
You, my brother, are a lovesick mess.
Colin had yet to fully witness the complete personality change in his brother—and in such a short amount of time—and only since meeting Imogene.
But he was happy they had found each other.
Happy that Graham and Imogene could find something he didn’t think was possible for him to ever know.
“WELL, Sister, I am confident it is as you suspect.” John smiled at her. “Congratulations, little mother. Late November should be your time. You are to drink plenty of water and light on the wine, for it can bring on a headache. Rest as you feel you need to. The nausea should pass in a few weeks so until then try to avoid the foods that bother you. Your sister had a pretty easy time of it, so hopefully you will as well. If you have any bleeding, even just spots, or painful cramping, you are to get off your feet and call for me at once. Other than that, you may remain as you are in your usual activities, riding and such, at least for now.”
“Thank you, John. We are so lucky to have you. I know I am in excellent hands.” She smiled dreamily up at him. “I am happy.”
“I can see that you are, and we are very happy for you as well. Now, my dear, there is a beastly man just outside that door. He is growling and fussing something terrible in his worry over you. You ought to have some mercy on him before he does himself harm and then I have another patient on my hands. What do you say to letting him in?”
“Let him in, Dr. Brancroft!”
John stepped out into the hall and conferred with Graham briefly before the sound of his retreating footsteps told Imogene he had left them alone.
Graham approached her tentatively where she sat on the couch. He knelt at her feet and put his head in her lap. She stroked his hair. “How are you,
chérie
? Are you well now? John didn’t tell me anything. He said you could tell me. I have been very worried about you.” He brought her hand to his mouth and kissed her palm.
“I am well, my darling, and you have no need to worry over me for I am not ill.”
“But Colin said you got sick in the hedge when you got some bad news about Jocelyn Charleston, and you have been very tired.”
“Well, I am distressed about Jocelyn but I can do nothing about it. I hope she will be happy in her choice and I wish her all the best. As for the other symptoms, I am told they are perfectly normal.” He looked at her questioningly, patient and calm, waiting for her to continue. “I am sorry for all of the dramatics of late. I fear you will be the one to bear the brunt of my sensitive, idiotic emotions.” She put her knuckles up to his cheek. “Graham, darling, how would you feel if I told you that you were to be a father?” It was a joy to see the look of comprehension and then happiness take over his countenance and Imogene thought she would never forget it, as long as she lived.
“
ENCEINTE
,” he breathed out as his eyes widened. “My God. For truth,
chérie
?” He jumped up next to her on the couch, drawing her into his arms. “I am—we are blessed. You will be the best, most beautiful, most perfect mother to our child.” He laughed, unable to control his emotions. “I am to be a father.
Some little person will call me Papa. Extraordinary… Are you happy,
chérie
? I think you wanted this.”
“I am deliriously happy, my darling. We have made a child together.” She reached for his face. “You will be such a wonderful father. I can’t wait to see you in the role.”
He pictured himself as a father to their child, and it was a most wonderful vision. “Our child.” He put his hand over her very flat stomach, bending to kiss her there. “Our baby is right here, sleeping and growing inside you. I feel filled-up with happiness and love,
chérie.
Please tell me everything that John has said to you.”
She relayed John’s orders. “He said my time will come in late November.”
Graham smiled at that. Realizing that their baby would be born at exactly one year from the time they first met, he pondered the blessings being given to him. Knowing that even though he didn’t deserve such miracles, he would grasp onto them anyway. He would take Imogene’s love and the blessing of their child, and cherish his gifts in full measure.
Family…
His family was being restored, and nothing—
nothing
—not a person, or a curse, or a sin from the past, would be allowed to take his family from him again.
BUT the monster came for him in a dream that very night, not willing or able to leave him to his comfort in Imogene’s joyful news.
…He tried desperately to fight it off. This time the monster slithered around his legs, trapping him, trying to bring him down to the ground. From behind, he could hear the mother screaming, and her child crying. He struggled in vain to get his feet free so he could help them. The monster had him around the neck now, choking the breath from him. Straining mightily, he could do nothing to free himself from its grasp. It was going to kill him—
Bolting awake, he breathed deeply attempting to calm his wildly beating heart and to avoid disturbing Imogene.
He would have to tell her all of it.
He knew he couldn’t go on like this.
He’d go mad.
The guilt was going to kill him as surely as a draught of poison.