Archie and Lilias,

Chapter 7

They were sitting in their garden together, in the shade of the oak tree, allowing for some respite from what was promising to be one of the hottest days of July so far. Archie had his back propped up against the trunk of the tree, watching his wife, who lay with her head on his lap. Her brow was furrowed in concentration and she absent mindedly bit her lip, as she read the letter that had arrived that morning from London.

'I still can't believe she married him, and is going to live in India, of all places.' Lilias declared, with a laugh. 'I cannot imagine my sister living in such an... exotic place – and so far from London society. She must really love him.'

He thought of the dashing young Captain Lennox, and the marriage they had attended a month earlier – almost exactly a year from the date they were married.

'Are they preparing to make the voyage?' he asked, more out of politeness than a wish to know.

She nodded, reading further down the letter. 'It says that his regiment has been posted to India and they are to depart in a week's time. Mama will be heartbroken, I expect.'

She put the letter down and turned her face up to him, and he smiled fondly at her and stroked her dark hair. It was loose, the way she often wore it when they were alone together, as she knew that he preferred it that way. He enjoyed the way it felt like silk through his fingers, and he ran his hands over it absently, enjoying the sensation.

He took a good look around the garden then – their secret garden. Accessible only by the two of them, by one of the two keys they owned. Lilias, he knew, preferred to keep hers around her neck, on a thin chain of silver. They were the only people who could enter the garden, and they were the only one's who tended it. Bringing it back to life had been hard work at first, but now they were beginning to reap the rewards of their labour as the garden was beginning to teem with life once again.

As promised, Archie had seen that hundreds of Roses were planted for her, and he had helped construct a wide swing, which hung from a branch of the old oak tree. They would often sit there together, rocking slowly back and forth, admiring the little piece of heaven that they had created in what had previously been dead and barren. Their garden was a wonderland of colour and scent - brightly coloured daffodils and fresias, honeysuckle, jasmine and clematis, which were beginning to climb up the surrounding stone walls, bluebells which lay scattered in the grass, providing whoever walked upon them with a carpet of violet.

'I may go and visit Susan today.' Lilias said. 'I told her I would bring her some of cook's baking, in exchange for some seeds from her Garden. It was hard work convincing her that I had to give her something in exchange, though. That woman can be generous to a fault!'

His wife had struck up a friendship with one of the local women – Susan Sowerby. She was a woman with a high standing in the community, who seemed to know all the comings and goings of Misselthwiate and of Thwaite village. He had met her a handful of times – a short plump woman, with many young children. Secretly, he had watched as his wife smiled and cooed over Susan's 'wee uns', wondering how she might look with a baby of their own in her arms one day. Our baby, he thought fondly. Our child.

'Anyway,' Lilias continued, 'I think I finally persuaded her to take a gift in exchange for her kindness. And I could think of nothing she needed more than food to feed that family of hers. She already has six children, Archie! Six! And another one on the way.'

He chuckled at his wife's amazed tone. 'I think you'll find many Yorkshire women have large famillies.'

She was silent for a moment before speaking up.

'Perhaps one day, we'll have a family of our own?' she said, looking up at him shyly.

'I hope so.' he replied. 'Nothing would please me more. But there is no hurry. When it happens, it happens.'

She was silent again, and Archie wondered if something was on her mind. She turned to face him, her dark eyes glowing softly with happiness.

'Actually...it may have happened already.'

He stared at her in astonishment, barely daring to believe what she was saying.

'What? What has happened?' he stammered, hope flaring wildly in his heart. Did she mean what he thought she meant?

'I think...' she looked up at him, and her eyes were full of wonder. 'I think we're going to have a baby, Archie.'

'A baby?' he whispered.

She nodded affirmatively, laughing at his astonishment. 'Yes Archie, a baby. Our first child.'

'Have you told anyone yet?' he asked, his mind still reeling at the thought of becoming a Father.

'Only Susan. She thinks I might be about three months along. I am planning to see William soon, to get it confirmed, but I wanted to tell you the good news first.'

He leant down and drew her into his arms, and held her tightly against him, tears of happiness springing to his eyes. She was laughing and he knew if he could see her eyes, that they would be sparkling. Could it possibly be true? She was carrying his child? The idea was incredible.

'Oh my darling.' he said over and over, 'Oh my darling, Lilias.'


'Congratulations, Cousin.' William said to him, offering him a drink of scotch. 'It is true. You are going to be a Father.' William held his glass out, clinking it against Archie's, in a friendly gesture.

The two men were seated by the fireplace of William's home, and Archie turned his eyes absently to Eleanor and Lilias, who were seated at the opposite end of the room, and watched them as they chatted and laughed. Archie leaned back in his chair, relaxing his body. Finally, he felt part of the world that for so long he had only watched from the periphery. He was now an equal - a married man. He had the love of his wife, and the respect of his peers. He had discovered that life was worth living and the realisation of it had hit him like a physical blow. He had changed so much from the man that had used Laudanum to drink away his pain and sorrow - he felt like a different person. She had changed him, and looking back, he didn't know how he could have lived without her.

'It appears she is nearing the end of her first trimester,' William added. 'With luck, and god's blessing, the baby should be born next February. Just make sure that she doesn't work too hard in that garden, Archie.' his cousin said, with what Archie took as his mock stern expression. 'Pregnancy can be hard on a woman. She will need to get plenty of rest.'

'Of course.' Archie replied earnestly. He knew without a doubt that he would do whatever it took to keep Lilias – and their unborn child – healthy. If anything was to happen to her – but no, he pushed the idea quickly out of his mind.

The servants began bringing dinner in, and the two couples took their places at the dinner table. Archie smiled, to see his wife at his side. Their future was bright and there were so many things to look forward to. Archie found her hand under the table, and gave it a squeeze. She returned the gesture, giving him a soft smile. At that moment, his love for her surged through him with such strength that he felt as though his heart would overflow.

Later that night, they were laying in bed together. Lilias's face was lit by the soft glow of their bedside candle. Her dark hair, spilling out behind her on the pillow, her eyes deep and thoughtful.

He traced his hand over her belly softly, feeling the soft swell of the new life that grew there, still hardly daring to believe that it was true. He heard her sigh softly, enjoying his gentle touch. She reached her arms up for him, and drew him down in an embrace, which Archie returned passionately. As he felt the softness and warmth of her body against his, and the sweetness of her breath, he knew that he would do everything in his power to protect her, and to see her safely deliver their baby.


You guys have been fantastic with your reviews and feedback - I am so appreciative! Well, we are nearing the end of the story - only a few chapters to go and it will be finished. Anyone who knows the story will know that it will not be a happy ending, but I'm hoping that the ending will contain at least hope for the future. We'll see. Of course, there is going to be plenty of heartbreak and sorrow for poor Archie in upcoming chapters, and I'm dreading writing them in a way, but there you go... thank you so much for the reviews - they are the only reward I get in writing this, and really make my day!

xx Elyzia