True to Christian's words, it was a month later when the newlyweds decided to move to his country estate, so Ana could have their first child in peace and quiet. His grandmother had not revealed his secret and with them being married most people had lost interest in the scandal even after it had become obvious that Ana was with child. Still, they had spent most of their time at home, just enjoying the company of the other. Her brothers had been a bit upset that they wanted to spend more time in the country than London but all of them knew that Ana wasn't a social creature and preferred to live outside of the city.

When they reached his estate Ana couldn't believe it. She hadn't been to Northumberland since her parents had died but she knew his estate.

„Do you like it, love?" He asked after he had helped her out of the coach.

„You came here to hide from me?" She asked amused.

„Yes, why?"

„Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't Stanton Manor the neighboring estate?"

„Why yes, how do you know that? I wanted to buy the land too. It has a lot of potential and it has a lake that I rather like. Sadly, the land stewart who looks after it for the owner has made it clear that the estate is not for sale for any price."

„I know." She said while trying not to burst into a fit of giggle.

„You know... wait... no!" He said now laughing too.

„Yes, that would have been a fine surprise when I would have come here to visit the neighbors and had found you." She giggled and he kissed her.

„It looks like we would have found together either way."

„I know... so, what are you going to do with Stanton Manor?" She asked.

„Me?"

„Well, yes, oh dear... I never told you. You see my maternal grandfather was a genius when it came to financial business and estates. He only had one child, my mother and she passed a year before he passed away. So, he left everything to his grandchildren. He left me Stanton Manor as well as 500.000 pounds... all of it has become yours with the wedding." She said and he blinked.

„Why hasn't he put in his will that something was left for you to keep?" He asked. It was considered normal for a woman who was an heiress to at least get something to keep, so this seemed rather odd.

„As I said he was a financial genius. He knew he didn't have to do it considering that I had already inherited another estate in York and 300.000 pounds from my parents which are to be kept by myself even after marriage, though my brothers have looked after everything for me until now, so I would prefer it if you could do the same for me now." She said.

„As you wish, love... and since the lake is ours now I fully intend to make love to you there come summer." He said and she blushed.

„Outside, that's scandalous." She said but the look on her face told him that she would easily be convinced.

„Come, let's get you inside. It's already late for lunch and our child needs food." He said took her hand and led her into the house and into the dining room where they had lunch before Ana decided to take a nap, so she would be well rested before he would show her their new home.

Christian had spoken to his house steward and then went upstairs to the master bedroom and sat down in the armchair by the window to watch Ana sleep. He just couldn't help it, looking at her had become his favorite pastime, especially while she was asleep and looked so peaceful and relaxed.

He was happy, but with her pregnancy progressing there was also worry. Yes, he was happy to become a father but he couldn't allow himself to be just happy until the child was born and Anastasia was fine too. Two of his friends had lost their wives in the childbed, one of them not one but three wives in a little less than five years and the thought that his wife wouldn't survive the birth of their child terrified him.

She didn't seem to worry at all. After all her own mother had given birth to four healthy children, three of them sons who had been rather large at birth. She also knew many young Ladies who had had children in the last year or two and none of them had died giving birth but it was no help to him. No, he wouldn't stop worrying until their child was born and both Ana and the child would come out of it alive and healthy.

He watched her as she turned in her sleep and rested one hand on her belly. He couldn't resist and moved closer to rest his own hand on her belly where he could feel his child move. It was still so very fascinating to him to feel the movement of the child. The other day when they had just woken up and he looked at her bare belly he could even make out a foot when the baby had kicked her.

After Ana was awake they decided to go for a stroll and he showed her the land that came with the estate which bordered on hers... well his now but he would think about what to do with that land later. He would keep it, that he was sure off but they clearly needed two big houses, so maybe one was to be kept for their child as an inheritance.

„What would you have done?" Ana asked him.

„Done about what, love?"

„If you had found me here as your new neighbor." She asked.

„Well, first I would have brought you to my home and then I would have taken you to my bed to make love to you while we had time until the priest arrived to marry us."

„You would have married me?"

„Sweetheart, I was miserable since the second I left your home and London. There was nothing that would have been able to keep my mind off of you. No matter how much I immersed myself in work or how much drink I would have, you've been a constant on my mind which is why I decided to come home. But now that we are on the topic, why did you not tell me that you are carrying my child before I deserted you?" He asked and she blushed.

„I didn't want you to stay and marry me because I'm carrying your child. I wanted you to marry me for myself and no other reason and... nevermind."

„Tell me, what is on your mind." He asked gently.

„I knew I would never be able to forgive you had you left me knowing I'm carrying your child."

„I wouldn't have... well, at least I hope I wouldn't have. I was in such a state of distress I don't know what I would have done." He admitted which was why both were thankful she hadn't said a word back then.

Three months later Christian found himself in the salon of his home with his father and all three of Ana's brothers. They had arrived a week ago alongside his mother and cousin Mia. The women were upstairs staying with Ana while she was giving birth to their first child.

Her pains had started early in the morning but she hadn't told him until after lunch and he still couldn't believe that she had convinced him to take her out on a morning stroll while her pains had already started. Now, it was after midnight and all he could do was wait. His father was sitting in an armchair and was reading. Miles was passed out drunk on the sofa, Vincent was pacing the room and Derek was trying to keep him from running upstairs and stay with his wife himself.

Twice he had run out of the room, both times Ana's scream could have been heard through the hallway but Derek had pulled him back. He was right of course, he had no business being in there after all he had no idea how to be of any help while his wife was giving birth to their child.

His mother had come down a few times to tell everyone that Ana was doing fine but it had been more than two hours since she had come down the last time and it had been more than fifteen minutes since the last scream could have been heard. Something was wrong, he just knew it. This was his punishment. He had treated her so poorly and now he was being punished and she was taken from him while giving birth to his child.

He couldn't take it anymore he had to find out why no one was giving them any news. He had just left the salon and was almost by the stairs when there was another scream and he felt Derek's hand on his shoulder.

„Please, come back to the salon, I know you want to see her, frankly, so do I, but neither of us can do anything for her right now." Derek said and pulled Christian back into the salon while the screams where still coming from the bedroom upstairs.

„Knock me out." Christian pleaded.

„Can't do that, Ana will have my arse if I do so. Come have a drink." Derek said, but Christian hadn't touched it even thirty minutes later when suddenly his cousin came into the salon.

„What is happening?"

„Everyone is alright, give us ten more minutes and you can see your wife." Mia announced with a huge smile.

„Ana is alright?"

„Yes, your mother and her maid are with her. Come up in ten minutes." She said.

„The child?"

„Healthy and so very beautiful."

„What is it?"

„Ana asked me not to tell, she wants you to see for yourself." Lady Mia said and left the room.

Exactly ten minutes later Christian ran up the stairs and was let into the bedroom by his mother. Ana was lying in bed, she looked a bit pale and tired but she was smiling at him and that was all he needed to run to the bed and his her.

„Are you alright, love?"

„Yes... just very tired." She said her voice a little hoarse.

„Sleep then."

„I will, but first don't you want to meet your child?" She asked and as soon as the words had left her mouth his mother came around and placed the child in his arms. He opened the blanket and smiled.

„A son... thank you, love. He is precious." He said and kissed the chubby cheek of his son. He could already see himself in the child that had a headful of dark, copper-colored hair that he had no doubt would be as unruly as his own when he was a little older.

„Christian?" Ana asked but he just couldn't take his eyes of his son.

„Yes, love?"

„Don't you want to hold your other son, too?" She asked amusement evident in her voice and his head snapped up to her. For a moment his eyes locked with hers but then they moved to the bundle that was safely cradled in her arms.

„Twins?" He asked.

„Yes, it came as quite the surprise... Mia was almost out of the door to inform you that our son was born when the pains started again. Your mother informed me that twins were running in your father's family. Here, hold him." She said and he gave his first son to his mother to take his second son in his arms and this little boy was clearly taking after his mother with her dark brown hair and huge blue eyes.

„The best of both of us." He murmured and kissed the second child.

„Have you thought about names?" Ana asked him and he smiled.

„The one in your arms will be named Theodore and this little fellow is going to be named Mason." He informed her.

„After my father?" Ana asked moved.

„Yes, love." He said and smiled. Not only had his wife come out of this alive but she had also given him two sons, he couldn't be happier even if he tried.

Five years later

„Look at them, aren't they adorable?" Ana asked as she watched her children. Her twin boys were five years old now, followed by another boy, Raymond, who would turn four soon. And then there was the youngest, her daughter, Elisabeth, or Ella how they called her. She was just a year old and had recently started to walk. Now, she was toddling around the room each of the twins held her by a hand to keep her steady while little Raymond was walking in front of her encouraging her to take just a few more steps to reach the blanket where their toys were lying on the floor.

„They sure are, love and I'm very happy to see how protective our boys are over her." He said and kissed his wife's temple while they were sitting on the sofa watching their children play in their London home. They had come to London to attend Derek's wedding.

He was the last of her brother's to get married and by now she had five little nieces and nephews from her older siblings. The scandalous events that had taken place before she had gotten married were long forgotten and so was the thread that Christian's secret would ever be exposed.

His grandmother had passed away just two weeks after Ana had the twins and then there was Lady Hensley. Her passion for spreading rumors and sharing gossip had become her downfall in the end. She had made it public that a well-known Lord's tastes were rather deprived. Not even two days later while taking a stroll in Hyde Park she had been assaulted and been assaulted and died the same day of severe blood loss from a stab wound. The man who assaulted her was a hired hitman who claimed to have been hired by the same deprived Lord. There was no proof, so he was left to hang alone, however, the Lord had soon after left London and died in riding accident only months after that.

Of course, there were enough bored, gossip-hungry Ladies to take her place in the gossip mills but Ana had learned to simply avoid and ignore them. She was happiest to live far away from London with her husband and children. She had made some good friends in Northumberland and that along with her family was all that she needed. Much to her surprise, soon after Vincent had married, he had moved to Northumberland himself, so she was very close with her sister in law, Lady Amber, who also preferred to stay in the country.

Though most of her time was spent with her husband who involved her in most of his activities. When he had shared with her that he would love to travel the seas they had decided to travel when their children were all in school to see what else this world had to offer.

She was happy, she found the man of her dreams and made him hers, even when with all the scandals and secrets there was nothing that could keep them apart and she knew it would forever stay that way...

Thank you so much for reading and commenting :) I'm going to upload the prolog for a new full-length story called It Happened that Night tomorrow...

Sunny xxx