“Well,” the doctor started. “You are pregnant, my lady. Congratulations.”
“Thank you, doctor,” she said and stood up while the doctor took his leave.
That instant, she felt her mother’s hand on her shoulder.
“I am going to be with you every step of the way. So will Christopher. You have nothing to fear. As you can see, you already have all of us; all you need to do is to be happy.”
Ophelia felt something loosen inside her as she heard that. All of a sudden, she burst into tears of excitement before her mother embraced her.
“This is too good to be true! I will be a mother!” she said amidst tears and Emily joined in the embrace.
After a while, they all pulled apart.
“Thank you so much, Emily,” she said as she sniffed. “I don’t know why it frightened me all of a sudden. You are right. There is no reason to be afraid when I have all of you. What a lucky baby.”
They all laughed.
“Christopher will be so excited,” said her mother.
“Yes, he will be, but I want to make it a surprise for him. You both should say nothing to him.”
The two women nodded excitedly.
“So, any ideas on how I can surprise him?” Ophelia asked.
“Yes, you can just wait at the front door and just shout-I’m pregnant!” her mother said.
Ophelia and Emily looked at her and burst into laughter.
“That will never do,” Ophelia replied. “Emily, what do you think?” she asked.
Emily thought for a while. “I will think some candle light and some flowers. A romantic night will put him in the right mood and while you two are getting busy under the blanket, you just tell him.”
“Perfect! Oh Emily! You are a genius!” she shouted excitedly. “Now, let’s get going, he is coming back today.”
* * *
Christopher arrived at his house late in the evening. Every part of him was tired but he was excited as he was back home to his beautiful wife.
“My Lord,” Rosa, their maid said as she sighted him. “You are welcome.”
“Thanks Rosa. How is my wife?”
The maid smiled. “She missed you.”
“Where is she?”
“In the room, waiting for you,” she replied before excusing herself.
Christopher hurried to the room they both shared and opened the door. He was surprised to see beautiful candle lights everywhere, brightening up the room in a romantic splendor.
“These are beautiful,” he said to himself as he admired them. But he was even more surprised when he spotted petal flowers all over the room and even the bed where Ophelia waited. She was dressed in the pink silk gown which he had always loved on her.
“Oh my darling! This is a royal welcoming! Did you do all these?” he asked.
“Yes, my love. Now come quickly, my body misses you.”
Quickly, he walked over to join her on the bed.
“I have an announcement to make, a surprise for you,” she said, giving him a mischievous grin.
He frowned, brushing a hair from her shoulder and planting a loving kiss on her bare skin. “What surprise might that be?”
Slowly, she took his hand in hers and placed it on her stomach.
“I’m with child.”
Christopher looked at her stomach and then at her then at her stomach again. “Are you sure?” he asked softly, settling his gaze upon her.
She smiled, pulling his lips closer as she pressed them against hers. Then she replied, “The doctor confirmed it this morning.”
Christopher gasped in excitement. “I love you so much,” he said, lifting his hand from her stomach to stroke her cheek. Their lips came together and they kissed slowly and tenderly.
“Little one, I love you so much too,” he said, swooping down to kiss her stomach, causing Ophelia to giggle. Then he pulled her gown over her head to plant kisses all over her pale skin. He pressed his lips firmly to her stomach. He was mumbling sweet nothings to her stomach, making Ophelia laugh out loud.
She ran her hand through his hair and whispered, “I love you both, so much.”
The Extended Epilogue
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A Preview of my upcoming Novel
Chapter 1
* * *
Miss Selina Clifford
Bristol was lovely during the spring, Miss Selina Clifford thought as the carriage rolled into her aunt’s property and the beautiful garden was in full bloom. Daffodils were her favorite flower and seeing their bright colors always made her happier.
“It is as beautiful as ever, isn’t it, Granny?” Selina asked the older woman in the carriage; Mrs. Mary Clifford, her grandmother on her father’s side.
“I’m sure it is, darling.” Mrs. Clifford smiled at her granddaughter and then sighed. “I am just glad the journey has come to an end. The trip was much more pleasant when I was your age, dear.”
“Don’t be silly, Mama.” Joseph Clifford chuckled and winked at his daughter, making her hide a laugh. “You are more energetic than Selina, some days.”
“Well, a woman must maintain some vitality even when she’s old.” Mrs. Clifford sniffed and raised her chin. “My Mama taught me that when I was a little girl who helped her deliver clean sheets to the Count’s Estate. She worked until she was gone from this world and I always saw her out and about.” She sighed. “Of course, she never reached my age.”
“I wish I could have met her, Granny.” Selina took her grandmother’s hand.
“You got your red hair from her, you know?” Mrs. Clifford leaned to say it and it amused Selina.
“I thought I got it from my Mama.”
Mrs. Clifford stopped for a second to think. “Maybe you got it from both of them.”
“Probably so, Granny.” Selina smiled to her father who was also looking at the older woman in amusement and then back to her. “Everyone knows I look like you, when you were my age, though.”
It wasn’t a complete lie; while she remembered her mother clearly, and looking much alike with red hair and heart-shaped face, Selina inherited the Clifford nose, bright blue and beautiful cheekbones.
Mrs. Clifford looked very proud of herself, then. “Of course you do. I was the prettiest girl in my village, everyone knew that. Mr. Clifford was lucky I picked him out of so many suitors.” She all but giggled.
“Don’t be absurd, Mama.” Joseph scolded his mother lightly. “When Papa was alive, he always told us how much in love you were. Sickly so, may I add.”
“We were, eventually.” Mrs. Clifford looked sad for a second and then the carriage stopped, and she pushed the feelings away. “Oh, good. Dear Matilda is already waiting for us, or rather, waiting for you, Selina.”
Being an only child, the closest Selina had to a sister was her cousin Matilda and they rarely saw one another since Matilda moved to Bristol a few years before, with her parents.
The carriage door opened, and she was helped but shrieked in happiness when her cousin came running in her direction – her Aunt was for sure to scold both later – and hugged Matilda, who was more than happy to hug her back.
“Tilly!” Selina exclaimed in happiness.
“Lily!” She replied and both started to giggle with their childhood nicknames. “Oh, I have missed you so! All the girls here are not as good as you are to me.”
“And don’t you ever forget it.” Selina gave her cousin a final hug and both turned to look to the carriage. “Come on, let’s greet Papa and Granny before she scolds us.”
They intertwined their arms and walked back to the carriage and once again in her life, Selina marveled about how different she and her cousin looked – she had red hair and blue eyes, while Matilda had brown hair and hazel eyes – but somehow they managed to look as if they were of the same family. The cheekbones were what linked them the most. That and the dimples when they smiled.
“Granny!” Matilda let go of Selina to hug her grandmother, who seemed strangely out of breath, while her son held her hand so she could exit the vehicle safely.
“My dearest one.” Mrs. Clifford smiled to her youngest granddaughter and accepted the hug after Matilda curtsied. “Don’t you look beautiful and all grown.”
“Thank you, Granny.” She turned to her Uncle and curtsied. “Uncle.”
“Hello, my dear.” Joseph smiled. “I hope you are well.”
“Of course, Uncle.” Matilda offered her arm to her grandmother. “Let’s go inside. Mama and Papa are waiting for us.”
Crawley Mansion looked as charming as always, with the beautiful large windows to let the sun come in, the beautiful details on their pillars and ceiling that always fascinated Selina.
Mrs. Jane Crawley, Selina’s aunt and Matilda’s mother, was waiting for them at the small library and she smiled brightly to the family who just arrived.
“Oh, Mama, I have missed you! I hope the journey was pleasant.”
“As pleasant as it can be for a woman my age, my dear.” Mrs. Clifford replied and accepted the kiss on the cheek when her daughter was close enough.
“It is nice to see you too, Joseph.” Mrs. Crawley told her older brother. While her Papa’s hair was almost all white, her Aunt Jane’s blonde hair just started to get a few streaks of silver, which she wore very elegantly, Selina noticed.
“And you, dear sister.” He replied and bent over to kiss her cheek. “Where’s Mr. Crawley?” He wondered. “I hoped I could speak to him.”
“He is in town but will be home for dinner, he promised.” Mrs. Crawley told him and then her attention turned to Selina. “You, my darling, remind me so much of your mother, God rest her soul,” she put a hand under Selina’s chin “I am glad you are as much as a good friend to my Matilda as your mother was to me. Just as pretty, too. There will be a ball in a week, you are more than welcome to come with us. It’s time your Papa let you out of the house and let you choose a husband.” Mrs. Crawley winked and Selina giggled while nodding.
“Jane, please.” Mr. Clifford scolded his younger sister. “Selina may go to the ball, but let’s not talk about husbands just yet.”
Selina frowned in her father’s direction – while he had been very protective of his daughter throughout the years after her Mama had died, he was never so harsh about it. Was something wrong?
He always said when she would have a say in who courted her and would let her choose a husband she liked.
Something passed her Aunt’s expression and Selina was about to ask what was wrong, when she cleared her throat and smiled at her guests.
“Well, then. Mary, our maid, will show you your rooms, even though I am sure Selina will sneak off to share with Matilda.” Mrs. Crawley pretended to give them a stern look and the girls just smiled, knowing it to be true; there was gossip to be passed, after all. “I will show Mama her rooms, though. I have missed her so.”
“You only say that because I do not live with you, my dear.” Mrs. Clifford told her daughter, who smiled.
“And I shall forever be grateful for that, Mama.”
“You…” Mrs. Clifford tried to sound angry, but the love she clearly felt for her youngest child – and the other way around as well – made it pointless.
The maid led the way and while the adults were up ahead, Matilda and Selina started to whisper to each other.
“Go get ready for dinner and afterwards, you must tell me all about London.” Matilda said.
“Of course. Have you heard about Millicent Stewart?” Selina asked – Millicent had been a friend of theirs when Matilda still lived in London.
Matilda gasped. “No! What happened?”
“She got engaged last week to Mr. Garrett Stanford.” Selina said and Matilda gasped.
“Oh, no! Millie hated him.”
Selina sighed. “Her father arranged it and the poor thing can’t get out of it otherwise Mr. Stewart will leave her without a pension. Not one pound.”
“Poor Millie.” Matilda shook her head in disappointment. “I will write to her before my maid comes up to help me get dressed.”
“I am sure she will appreciate it.” Selina sighed and saw the maid trying to get her attention. “We will see each other at dinner.”
“Of course.”
The light blue dress she wore for dinner blended perfectly with her eyes, Selina thought mindlessly as she made her way to the small library to meet her family before being called for dinner.
She stopped for a second in front of a mirror to arrange one of the curls that seemed to have gotten away from her hairdo – she had to often do that, her hair was almost untamable – when Selina heard her father’s voice coming from a slightly opened door.
“…I do not know how Selina will react.” Hearing her name, she frowned and stepped closer, curiosity winning over her very strict education. “I told her she could choose whom she wants to marry.”
“We always tell our daughters that, Joseph.” Her uncle’s voice answered. “I heard, though, that Lord Ainsworth isn’t as much of a gentleman as he seems to be. He passes as a good man, but he is actually very repulsive and-”
“I know what I am doing, Philip. I am her father; I would never put her in any kind of peril. A title will secure her a happy life and so will money. That is all I want for her.” Her father said. “She has met Lord Ainsworth and he was very charmed with her. I believe they will have a good marriage and she’ll be a Duchess someday, if it all goes according to plan.”
It felt as if someone had drenched Selina with cold water. Her whole body froze with his words. Had her own father arranged her marriage without even talking to her?
Before her mind realized what her body was doing, she entered the room, blue eyes wide in disbelief. Both men turned and her father paled for a second.
“Papa?” She asked in a whisper. “Please, tell me what I heard isn’t right.”
“Selina.” He cleared his throat while her uncle stepped closer to the fireplace, a glass in hand. “What have I told you about-”
“No, Papa.” She stopped him. “What did you mean by I will be a Duchess if it goes according to plan? I have not chosen a husband yet.”
Mr. Clifford took a deep breath. “As you know, the Duke of Bellford has no living children and his title will be passed to his nephew, Reginald Ainsworth. You have met him before.” Yes, Selina had met him and she couldn’t stand the man; something about him didn’t sit right with her. “He came by the house while you were out with Mama and he asked me if he could court you when we return to London, as this trip was already set.”
“What?” Selina whispered to herself in disbelief that her father would have done something like that to her. “You… You never even asked me if I wanted him to court me. Papa… Lord Ainsworth is not a good man.”
“Nonsense, Selina.” Her father said. “You have only spent a few minutes with him at a ball.”
“And so did you, I suppose, when he came to visit.” Her eyes started to burn with unshed tears. “How could you have not seen it, Papa? He is a mean man. He smiles, but his eyes are cold and unloving.”
“I need more proof than his eyes, Selina.” Mr. Clifford said harshly.
“How about my wishes?” She started to cry, then. “How about how you had always told me I could choose whom I wished to marry?”
Mr. Clifford scoffed. “Selina, you were sixteen and knew nothing of the world, what else was I supposed to say? You need someone with a title, my dear. Who else would be worthy of you?”
It was as if she had been slapped. Her father had lied to he
r all these years.
She thought she was free, but she was just another caged woman waiting for her father to find someone he thought was good enough,for his daughter.
“Anyone else but him, Papa.”Selina dried her face. “I will not marry him.”
“You will do as I say, Selina Clifford.” Her father’s face was red with anger. “You are my daughter.”
“Something you appear to have forgotten.” She said. “What would Mama say if she could see you right now?”
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