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Chapter 2

Her body was shaking, everything was starting to spin around her and she found herself struggling to breathe.

"Mary?" She blinked, unable to tell which of the adults surrounding her were speaking to her. Perhaps they all were. Her hands came together tightly in front of her chest, as tears filled her eyes. She hadn't heard that name in years. But he had been at the Duke's house. He had been near Lavinia. A shaky sob left her lips. "Mary?"

She now felt a hand on her shoulder that was trying to soothe her. But her head only shook.

"I….I….I didn't know he was going to be there…I…." The words came out between unsteady breaths.

"Take her home," Anna insisted. Mary glanced up to see Anna looking to Matthew. "We'll keep George here for a while. Just get her home."

Mary opened her mouth to argue that she was fine, but a pained cry escaped instead. Despite wanting to be the cool and collected Mary, she was not, not in this moment. Her body was struggling to hold it together, to keep her from falling into a heap upon the floor of John and Anna's restaurant.

Matthew gently tugged at her arm, pulling her from the seat. He then held her tightly, pressing a loving kiss to her cheek.

"Come on, darling," he whispered into her ear. "Let's go home."

The drive home was only a blur. Mary couldn't remember how she had gone from the restaurant to her bedroom, but she was here now, sitting at the edge of the bed with Matthew beside her. It was then that she burst into tears. Her shoulders quaked and her body lunged forward, caught by Matthew's arms.

"I know this is hard," Matthew just soothed. "Just let it out."

But Mary couldn't let it out. Her head shook and she turned toward him, frantic.

"Lavinia!" She finally was able to get out. "He…he was….what…about…my…fault!" She heard Matthew sigh, as he pulled her tightly against him, rubbing his hand up and down her arm.

"I'll call and see if he hurt anyone at their house," Matthew promised. "Had we known, we would have told them not to host him. But it's not your fault, Mary."

"But it is!" Her voice rose an octave and she was trying to stand up on her feet. Matthew helped her, before brushing his hand over her cheek.

"You need to rest. Why don't you lay down?"

Mary furrowed her brows, as her hands tightened in fists by her sides. "Don't treat me like a child, Matthew. I'm fine."

Matthew eyed her carefully as though he didn't quite believe her, but he nodded. His hand clasped around hers and he pulled her closer to him.

"It's not your fault," he whispered again. Mary shook her head, a fat tear now sliding down her cheek.

"I never said anything. I should have…." Her breath hitched within her throat, before the dam broke and tears streamed down her cheeks. Her hands fell over her face and Matthew just held her, allowing her to cry.

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

Tears stung her eyes. Her head rested against the cool porcelain of the seat, trying not to think about how gross that actually was. But she was too tired and ill to move her head. She had been feeling fine when this new threat of sickness had come.

John was downstairs working and keeping the boys occupied. She was so grateful for him and how hands on he was. She would not be able to raise Jack alone feeling like this.

Attempting to sit up, another wave of nausea hit her and she placed her head back on the toilet seat. Her hand came up to rest on the small swell of her belly and she rubbed it.

"Alright little one," she murmured. "Give your mama a break, please." A weak chuckle left her lips, before she closed her eyes and attempted to quell the nausea that was overwhelming her system.

"Oh, my darling," John worriedly said, entering the bathroom. "I came upstairs when I realized you had been gone nearly an hour."

Anna winced, her head aching. Had it really been an hour?

She felt arms beneath her and being lifted up into John's strong arms. He swayed momentarily on his feet and Anna wanted to say something about how he shouldn't be lifting her with his bad knee. But he steadied himself and walked her to the bedroom, gently lying her down on the bed. He brought the covers up to her shoulders and ran his hand over her cheek.

"Maybe I should call Dr. Clarkson. He still does house calls."

"It's just morning sickness,' Anna tried to brush off, though she knew it was likely more than that.

"I'm calling him," John just said.

"It's costly," Anna disagreed. "I can make it to tomorrow."

"We can afford it. You are deathly pale." John's brows creased in worry. "I'm going to call him. You close your eyes and try to rest. I spoke with Nanny. She is going to come and pick the boys up and take them to Robert and Cora's house."

Anna could only nod. She was grateful they would be cared for by Nanny and not at Mary's house. Anna wished she could call her friend and see how she was doing. She hated that she was too ill to contact her best friend. But it was good that the boys would be going to Robert and Cora's. Jack loved it there and he loved spending time with George. It would be helpful too, as she was unable to work and having two boys underfoot for the dinner rush would not be good.

Finally, she was able to settle and fall asleep for a little while.

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

Tapping his fingers against the edge of his desk, Matthew awaited for the phone to be picked up on the other end. He was sure that the Hastings' house was busy with phone calls and reporters trying to get all the information about the death of the Turkish diplomat.

"Matthew?" Lavinia's voice was full of curiosity.

"Hello Lavinia," he replied, trying to keep calm and even. This was a delicate balance. He needed to make sure that no one had been hurt at their home, but he also didn't want to give away Mary's secret. It was something she had protected for many years now. She did not like to speak about it and liked to move forward, as though it had never happened.

"I'm guessing you've heard?" Lavinia let out a nervous chuckle. "It's all over the news."

"Yes," Matthew said. "It is. I didn't know you knew him."

"Oh, we didn't. He came with one of Simon's business associates for a small gathering we were having. Did you know him?"

Matthew's jaw clinched and he swallowed hard, biting back the anger he held toward that man.

"Not well."

"It is quite tragic."

"Lavinia," Matthew then carefully began. "How long was he at your home? Did he…did he hurt anyone?"

The line went quiet for a moment. Then he heard a breath leave Lavinia's lips.

"He…he was found in a room of one of our other guests. She said she couldn't remember anything from the night before," Lavinia's voice was low. "Please don't tell anyone. This guest is very shaken up and I won't say her name."

"No," Matthew agreed. "I won't breathe a word about it."

"You knew he was dangerous?" Lavinia asked, but there was no accusation within her voice.

"I knew he was unsavory," Matthew stated, thinking of his traumatized wife upstairs. "It was something I couldn't speak of, but had I known he was coming to your home I would have suggested not to invite him."

"He's dead now," Lavinia just answered. Matthew knew that he should feel better about that fact, but instead he just felt fear of what all this would bring up for his wife.

"I'm sorry that this has happened at your home, Lavinia. Please let me know if you or Simon need anything."

"Thank you."

The phone went dead and Matthew sighed. He fell back into his chair and rested his head into his hands. What was he going to tell Mary? The bastard hadn't hurt Lavinia, but someone else had been his victim.

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

"Mrs. Bates," Dr. Clarkson kindly said, asking her to move to her back and lift up her gown for him to do a quick examination of her belly. John slid onto the bed next to her, taking her hand.

"She's been like this for a while now, Dr. Clarkson," John went on to explain. "She has moments where she's alright, but this sickness takes over for most of the morning and evenings."

Anna just shook her head and then smiled at John, ever her protector. She tightened his hand within her own and inched slightly over when Dr. Clarkson's cold hands touched her stomach. He nodded.

"Everything seems to be growing as it's supposed to," he told her. "Let's hear the little one's heartbeat and then we'll talk more about what symptoms you are experiencing and if there is anything we can do to help."

"Alright," Anna whispered.

Dr. Clarkson pulled out the small, handheld Doppler and moved it over Anna's belly. He searched for a moment, paused, and furrowed his brows. Anna lifted her head and her heart began to race.

"Dr. Clarkson?" She felt John's hand close more around hers. Dr. Clarkson glanced up and gave Anna a shake of his head.

"I think I know why you are so sick," he just stated, winking. "Listen."

Anna furrowed her brows, looking to her husband. The wonderful sound of the heartbeat filled the room. Anna chuckled. Every time she had heard Jack's heartbeat when she was pregnant with him, it had always filled her heart with such joy. This was no different. It was so surreal.

"Do you hear that?" Dr. Clarkson asked.

"Is something wrong?" John questioned.

"No, not at all." Dr. Clarkson sat up and wiped Anna's stomach. "It's twins."

"Twins?" John and Anna squeaked.

"Yes," Dr. Clarkson chuckled. "Two very strong heartbeats."

"But at the eight week appointment they only saw one baby on the ultrasound," Anna stated, feeling a bit fuzzy with this new news.

"Sometimes one baby can hide," Dr. Clarkson just simply shrugged. "But there are definitely two heartbeats."

"Oh my god," John was laughing now, kissing the top of Anna's head. "Two more babies."

"And they are alright?"

"The heartbeats sound perfect," Dr. Clarkson assured Anna.

"What about her sickness? Does she just have to keep feeling like this?" John was back to his worried self. She fell back against him and he kissed her head, once more.

"No," Dr. Clarkson answered. "I have some tablets that will help and I will write you a prescription for more. I suggest you still go to your OB appointment tomorrow, Anna. But this medicine will help with your morning sickness. It is completely safe."

"Thank you, Dr. Clarkson."

He finished his examination over Anna to make sure that there were no other underlying issues and then he left John and Anna by themselves. Anna rested back against the pillows, still exhausted.

"Twins," John chuckled, rubbing Anna's back. "Oh my darling."

Anna shot up then.

"What is it? Should I get Dr. Clarkson?" John was up before Anna could answer and she laughed, reaching out for John.

"No, come back," she pleaded. John did as he was asked and sat back down on the bed next to Anna. "I was just thinking, we do need a bigger home now. Two more babies. We should find a house, maybe something with a backyard for the children?"

John smiled.

"Yes, that sounds perfect."

To be continued...

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