3
Cora was glad to have company as she settled on the bed, Ianto sitting by the bed to read to her, his melodic voice soothing.
They could hear the distant music as the brass band played and Ianto stopped reading, closing the book to look over at her and he rose to pull the blanket over her then turned to find a servant in the doorway. He smiled softly and sat down again, the servant moving to collect the tea she had not drunk, then scuttling off.
Ianto wished he could shut the door, it was so unnerving the way they all stared at him.
"Excuse me"
Ianto turned to find a man there with a fresh tray of refreshments "Oh. Lovely, thank you."
Then Jack was there, flushed and excitedly talking about the flyover or whatever, Ianto making the right noises of interest as he rose for a kiss and cuddle. Then Jack asked him if he wanted that walk in the garden, apparently a lot of the media outlets were baying for blood with Ianto not being on the balcony. Although he would rather not, he smiled and nodded
"Told you" Ianto sighed "They want their pound of flesh."
Jack laughed and Ianto pulled on the huge coat he always liked for the cooler air in this piece of paradise. Jack pulled on his Great Coat, a lovely coat similar to Ianto's black but more understated with brass buttons as opposed to Ianto's gold ones.
As they walked hand in hand Jack led him to the throng of cameras, forcing him to smile politely as Jack answered questions about how happy he was for the family and the future of the bloodlines, hinting that there may be more to come.
"Well, we know it will not be you!" someone called out cheekily and Jack laughed, as he agreed that there would be no fear of that.
"Lady Gwen might not be that way?" another called and Ianto felt the red flowing up his face as Jack replied that it would be rude to accuse someone of adultery since he and Ianto had been married for almost a year. The lack of smile and low voice warning enough that the comment had spoilt the outing.
As they turned to leave someone called out "Ianto. Ianto. Not at the trooping? Not to your taste?"
Ianto glanced back and said calmly "I was feeling ill from the journey. Not sure if it was motoin sickness from the car or perhaps a tummy bug. They are going around. Thank you all for your concern."
Jack squeezed his hand as he said his gratitude without words, Ianto showing that he had remembered to add something Cora could hide behind a little longer, the last miscarriage still not known to the world at large, this newest attempt still in the danger zone so to speak. It took three failures before the little Henry Bean, also strong in their minds.
As they continued to walk and pretend there was not a mess of flashes and shouting following them along the garden path Jack said softly "So … would you have liked a baby, as they suggested?"
"Gwen is not my type" Ianto replied blandly and Jack roared with mirth, pulling Ianto into his side to let his arm rest around him, Ianto reciprocating as they meandered and Ianto looked up at one of the large trees "Lovely. Look, so large I would like to set a little afternoon tea picnic under this one day."
"Cora would like that" Jack nodded "She does enjoy your company."
They walked on unaware of the storm brewing over the innocent glance.
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DUKESS WANTS TO CUT DOWN 300 YEAR OLD TREE FOR A KNICK-KNACK TABLE
"They called you Dukess again" Jack frowned "I hate that."
"I hate that their so called expert lip readers decided me saying picnic meant knick knack or that I wanted to cut the bloody tree down instead of sit under it!" Ianto spluttered "Surely my love, that is a problem too?"
"Ianto, we must rise above it" Jack said grandly, "They will always stir the pot. Don't take it to heart."
"I know what I signed on for, right?" Ianto added then snorted and said "They only want a reaction."
Jack grinned "Exactly."
Ianto sighed, "They've not twigged to the baby though."
"Nope. Apparently it's either a tummy bug or you poisoned her and accidently ate some too" Jack said vacantly flicking through magazines "Depending on which one you read. You know … you must try to kill one of us off an a….a….oh."
Ianto looked up with surprise at his husband's soft examination of surprise and leaned over, the image of him pulling the blanket over Cora while kissing her forehead blown up to full page.
"Holy shit, that's yesterday!" Ianto spluttered.
"You kissed her" Jack said with shock.
"Yes. And a staff member too that photo. The blinds were closed as you can see the window in the background, it was taken from the fucking doorway!" Ianto snarled, "someone on staff sold it to the papers!"
Jack snatched the magazine and stared as he saw the truth to Ianto's words.
"Damn it."