Hello lovely readers,
So sorry for the long delay. Things have been so busy. Thank you for all of your patience. I love you all so much.
I hope you're all well and that you enjoy the chapter!
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Edward was not wrong in his prediction that the following weeks would be hard. In fact, Jane could not remember a time in her life where she was stretched more thin, or had less energy to do what needed to be done.
True to his promise, Edward did not make his wife's life harder by constantly fighting his bedrest. He was, however, incredibly discontent in being forced to remain put, and at times his frustrations got the better of him. Not only did he feel claustrophobic in never moving from the bed, but Jane knew that he was also frustrated in not being able to do more. In this regard Jane did miss his help, but had she let on as much then she never could have kept him in his bed, so she remained quiet on that particular point. She could also tell that Edward was lonely, for as often as she left Henry with him or spent the day beside him doing whatever needed to be done, there were times she could not and she did not see him for most of the day. As it was, he was always alone in the nights, for when the doctor had returned to check Edward's condition he absolutely forbade him from being moved.
"You must stay put for now. You cannot be disturbed. Your wife must be rising throughout the night to care for your son and you need your sleep more than she at present".
"My wife is pregnant, doctor. She needs my help"
"She will be well enough. You have a house full of servants to help her. Do not move"
By extension, though this was not specifically expressed by the doctor, this meant that there could be no intimacy between them, and this did nothing to improve his mood.
Implementing this distance was more difficult than Jane imagined, for both she and her husband. For herself, she did not sleep very well in an empty bed, but telling Edward this would have been a mistake she could not take back, so she bore the feeling as best she could. At times, however, she had not been as strong as she wished to be. One late night after Edward had fallen asleep, Jane had been resting on the floor beside him and laid her head against the mattress. She had not meant to fall asleep, but she had been so tired that she had drifted off before she knew it. Sometime later, and she was not exactly sure when, Edward had woken her up and implored her to go back to their room to get a good nights sleep. She had been weakest then, almost tempted to crawl into bed beside him, no matter how crammed, but given how pregnant she was it might actually have been impossible, and knowing what reaction it would trigger, she did not give in.
Managing the estate while Edward was healing was the biggest challenge, especially given how little experience she had in it. Though he had felt well enough to continue managing some of the logistics of the household, most things he could not do while confined in bed, and so Jane entertained visitors, met with their servants and saw to the orders arriving at the house. These had not been her normal tasks, admittedly, but she found that she could manage them if she dedicated the majority of her time to them. The cost of such, however, was collapsing into bed at the end of the night, one time while still wearing her dress from the day. It was frustrating, for she knew that had she not been pregnant, and had she not had a baby to care for on top of everything else, she could have managed everything well enough. As things stood, however, she was exhausted.
Disguising this from her husband became absolutely necessary to his recovery, so Jane used humour as much as possible- always dismissing his worried questions and teasing him instead.
"Had you taught me properly how to manage the estate when we were first married you could just be relaxing right now, and not asking me such concerning questions", Jane argued one night, brushing her husband's hair toward so that she could cut it.
"Firstly, you know very well that I do not want to be relaxing. I have done enough of that lately. Secondly, you've always been a lost cause in that regard, darling. If I had known how lacking your skills in mathematics were, I never would have approved of you being hired as Adele's governess".
Jane smiled a crooked, disapproving smile.
"Besides, it is good to know that you need me for something around here. With the way you have been managing lately I was beginning to think that you do not need me at all".
"Well, luckily for you, I will never be doing half of these things again when I am no longer required to do so, so in that sense I will be in very great need of you".
As Jane wetted his hair, however, his face fell seriously.
"Jenny told me that you fell asleep in my study the other day".
Feeling slightly betrayed by her housekeeper, but knowing it had been done with the best of intentions, Jane sighed.
"I have been tired trying to manage everything, you know that".
'I did not know you were falling asleep at my desk, Jane. There is no need for that. The servants will understand, and they will not mind things not being completed exactly on time".
"You would never allow for such" Jane argued, "You would never do that to our servants. And nor will I".
"It is not the same situation. They cannot, and do not, expect the same of you that they do of me because I have been running an estate since I was twenty-five years old. Besides, you are nearing the end of your pregnancy. You should be spending your time resting".
"I have months yet to go, and I will not stop until I am forced to. You know better than to assume I would be spending my final months of pregnancy in bed".
"That is not the point I am making here" he said firmly, "Jenny finding you asleep at my desk cannot happen again. I do not care what the cost of such is"
Jane sat beside him on the chair, looking into his face.
"Edward, you have no right to command me while you are here-"
"Do you think I want to be trapped in here?" he retorted angrily.
"No I do not" she responded, "But it is the present state of things no matter what you want, and so while I am caring for the house I will decide how, and when, to do so. As soon as you are out of this bed, things will be different, but until then it must be done my way".
He locked his jaw, staring at his wife with conflict evident in his thoughts.
"Can I please finish with your hair now?"
"Leave it for tonight. Go lie down with Henry. It is his bedtime".
"Edward-"
"Go on, I'm fine"
She thought of resisting for a moment but then laid down the scissors she had been turning over in her hands.
"I love you" she said, kissing the top of his head.
He grunted something in response, but Jane left him to his thoughts and did not return until morning.
Those days were the hardest, and there had been many of them. But Jane was not frustrated with her husband, only that things could not be as they normally were. She could not blame him, for if she was confined to a bed for a month she imagined she would be in the same mood. So, she carried on as best she could, finding the silver lining in the days she could, and bearing with the more difficult days in turn.
. . . .
Things generally improved after about a month when the doctor deemed that Edward's ribs had recovered completely and that his leg was on the way to being fully healed, for he said that as long as no weight was put on the leg, Edward could be moved to and from the bed and a chair in the room. Although this did not seem like much of a change, within the context of the situation it made Edward feel far less trapped and his spirits were greatly raised. Jane moved a formal desk into his room and a comfortable chair so that he could work there, and thus he was far more contented.
One night, while Edward was rocking his son to sleep, Jane entered the room wheeling a chair that had been delivered from town that morning. When he saw it, Edward's eyebrows creased skeptically,
"What is that?"
"Well, it is called an invalid chair, though I am not quite sure that applies to you"
Edward flashed Jane an unimpressed look,
"I appreciate it, sweetheart, but I do not need that. The doctor said my leg is almost healed, and soon I will be back on my feet".
"He said it is healing nicely- not that it is almost healed, and I thought you may like to be transported between here and our room"
"But did the doctor not say today that I should remain in here?"
"He did, but I have made the decision that since your ribs are healed and we do not need to worry about you reinjuring your core, we can manage to move you between rooms. What is the difference between one bed or another?".
"Absolutely nothing" he said, "Let us go"
"Go?"
"Yes, I'm leaving this God-forsaken room right now. Bring over that chair".
Jane grinned as she rolled the chair towards him, taking Henry out of his arms when she arrived at his side. She laid their son on the bed next to her before turning back to her husband to help him up.
"Now be careful, Jane" he cautioned, looking nervously at her baby bump.
"I will be. Do not worry. One, two, three".
Jane hoisted Edward onto his good leg, helping him to balance as he maneuvered himself down into the chair.
"Is your leg alright?
"Perfect" he responded, reaching for his son, "Here, I'll take him".
When Jane placed Henry into his lap she walked behind the chair and pushed it towards the door. All in all she felt this would be a manageable arrangement. Although there was no way to get Edward down over the stairs, if he wanted to see visitors now he could while in one of the sitting rooms on the top floor rather than lying in a child's bed.
"Jane, here. Henry's falling asleep. Might as well put him to bed now"
'Oh, I'll take him" she said, stopping them in the middle of the hallway, You stay put"
"It is not as if I could go anywhere else"
Once inside the nursery, Jane laid their son amongst the soft blankets before wrapping him tightly in them. She stood over him for a long moment to make sure he would not wake again, but when she could see that he was breathing was slow and deep, she backed out of the room quietly and closed the door. Normally she would have stayed longer, especially as of late when there was no one waiting for her in her room, but she wanted to see her husband settled and then she could be at ease for the night. When she closed the door and turned, however, she was surprised to no longer see her husband where she had left him. Walking swiftly into their room, Jane found Edward pulling himself up onto their bed and rushed to help him.
"I'm fine, darling".
"Edward, if you fall on your leg we will need to go through this all over again and I know you do not want that"
He nodded reluctantly and shifted his back to rest against the headboard,
"You are right. I'm sorry"
'I do not want your forgiveness. I just want you to be well again".
"I know you do. Come here".
Jane approached his side but he shook his head,
"No, I mean come to me. This is the first time in a month I've really been able to hold you".
Jane kissed his forehead briefly before leaving his side to undress. She normally would have been a little faster, but with her large bump it was becoming difficult to do anything with any amount of speed. Eventually laying her dress over a chair, Jane turned to put on her nightgown, but the only one she could put her hand on was far too small, and she could not pull it down over her stomach. Looking in the mirror and then turning to her husband, she sighed.
"Look at me"
"I am. You're beautiful"
But Jane only assessed him flatly,
"You need not say it in such an adoring way".
Edward laughed,
"Just come here"
"I will as soon as I find one of your nightshirts. Jenny was in here and has everything moved around".
"Why was she doing that?"
"She felt I had neglected things in here over the past month and decided to take matters into her own hands".
"And had you?"
"Oh, absolutely"
Edward grinned as she found one of his nightshirts and pulled it over her head. It was much too long, though it was large enough to accommodate her stomach. Hiking it up and walking to the bed, Jane climbed under the covers and moved into Edward's embrace instantly, feeling the kind of peace and comfort she had not felt in weeks. She wrapped her arms around his waist and lay down with her head in his lap.
The instant that Jane took a deep breath she felt her whole body relax, as if all of the anxiety which had been building and festering inside of her over the past month had dissolved instantly. It was strange, for in truth she thought that she had been handling things well- that her emotions had been in check and that she had been temperate, but the great relief she felt in laying with her husband made her realise just how repressed all these things had been inside of her. It was like coming up for air after diving too deep in water, and this realisation surprised her. As independent as she knew herself to be, as free as her spirit and thoughts were, she was tethered to her husband in an irrevocable way. At one time she would have been surprised, if not disappointed in herself, for allowing someone so much power over her thoughts and feelings. She would have seen it as a sign of weakness to attach herself so finitely to a person, to allow their thoughts and feelings to factor so much into her decisions, but she had not understood what it was to love then. She had not understood this feeling. Of course she had been repressing feelings, but to admit how much she had missed her husband in this way would have meant she couldn't have cared for him as she needed to. But now, at the renewed sight and feel of him, all felt right in her world again.
As she thought over such things, Jane felt a hand in her hair.
"I've missed you" Edward uttered lowly, and she held herself a little closer to him.
As his thumb brushed lightly over her cheek, he felt the remanence of a tear which had fallen a moment before. Slipping his large and warm hand down the back of her nightgown, he massaged his wife gently.
"Is everything alright?"
"Mmm"
Another brush of his fingers over her back.
"Then why are you crying?"
"I've missed you too"
A long moment of silence.
"You've no idea how sorry I am for this past month. You've needed me, and my recklessness took me away from you"
Jane laid her hands on her stomach and shook her head.
"It is not that. I should not have insisted that you stay in Adele's room. You should have been in here with me. It made us both far more unhappy than we needed to be"
But Edward only chuckled lowly.
"Sweetheart, you know as well as I that had you allowed me in here I would still have three broken ribs. Besides, you only feel that way now that your head is in my lap.".
She smiled sadly before closing her eyes, listening to the crackling fire with more attention than she normally paid it. It was a soothing sound, a comforting sound, and it mimicked the way she felt.
. . .
When Jane woke, she was in the same position she had fallen asleep in and instantly felt the effect of it. Her neck was stiff, and as she pulled herself awkwardly into a seated position she realised that her back was stiff too. She stretched and turned to look at her husband who was fast asleep, arm thrown over his head, looking more at ease than she had seen him since the accident.
Jane yawned and lay down on her side of the bed. The cool sheets were refreshing, and she thought for a moment she may be able to fall asleep again, but it was fruitless. As pregnant as she was, she was frankly lucky to get any amount of sleep, and because she had slept completely solid the night before, it would be wishing too much to fall back to sleep now. So she stretched, and without thinking kicked her husband's leg so that an agonising groan caused her to shoot up out of bed and turn.
"Oh, I'm sorry!"
"It's fine" he assured her, though the pain was not well disguised in his voice.
"I'm sorry, darling"
But when he caught sight of his wife's face he only smiled,
"I can see that. You look more guilty than if you had confessed to killing a man, Jane. Come and bid me good morning".
She smiled and turned into him, but when she moved to rest her cheek against his shoulder he tilted her chin up so that he could reach her mouth. At first the kiss was soft, though it made Jane turn instantly greedy and wanting. Sitting up slightly, she cupped her husband's face and deepened the kiss, pressing her body against his. The groan which issued from him sent a shiver down her spine and across every nerve of her body. Regretfully, she pulled back.
"We cannot"
"Why not?"
"I cannot simply kiss you and be satisfied"
"Then let us try more than that" he emplored, pressing his hand on her chest. The warmth spread through her like fire as his thumb stroked her throat.
"What if I hurt you- again?"
"You won't. And if you do, we will stop".
But Jane still hesitated,
"It will not be much longer now if we just wait-"
"With your eyes practically begging me as they are right now? Impossible"
But Jane only watched him as she considered.
"Let us try, please".
Nodding, she climbed cautiously over him. She rested her weight gently against his middle, lowering herself onto him as slowly as she could manage before looking to him for approval.
"Is this alright?"
"More than alright"
Leaning forward, Jane pressed her lips to his as his hands found the buttons on her nightshirt. He undid them slowly and skillfully, tracing the skin above the collar ever so slightly so that shivers moved all down her back. When he had finished undoing the last one, he slid his hand inside of her shirt and ran his thumb over her nipple. The anticipation of it made Jane's breath hitch in her throat, though the groan which followed was unexpected.
"That's right" Edward coaxed, kissing his wife's neck, "That's my girl"
"Your girl, am I?"
"Yes, mine".
Reaching for her chin, he tipped her head back, drawing her to his mouth as he pushed the nightshift from her shoulders so it fell around her waist.
"God I need you" he breathed in between his kisses, stalling his wife's face and looking into her eyes.
Jane held his face, running her thumb over his lips. In that moment she had the overwhelming desire to protect him- to show him how much she loved him, and when she told him as much, or at least tried to, a look she did not quite understand moved over his face and he brought her lips greedily back to his.
Thoughts of how easy and natural it was to love and be loved by her husband lazily drifted in and out of Jane's mind as his intoxicating kisses consumed her senses. As easy as it was to love him, it was necessary- as necessary as breathing air. And in those moments Jane was still stunned by how much she loved him, and how no amount of time with him would ever be enough. But then the kiss was broken abruptly and her cloud of thought was dissolved.
"I'm sorry, my love, but I cannot wait any longer for you- not after a month. I am not sure I can manage to pleasure you as much as you deserve right now."
Jane touched his face appreciatively but shook her head,
"I want only you".
"Look at me then" Edward implored lowly, "And do not look away"
The moment she promised his dark and feeling eyes that she would do just that, he lifted her hips gently and moved inside of her in one slick and easy motion. The moment Jane felt him her eyes rolled up in her head and she bit her lip.
"Don't look away" Edward reminded her, drawing her face back to his,
An exclamation of pleasure escaped Jane's mouth but she could not immediately close it again- not while he was pushing into her at the same time he was grinding her against him. With each thrust, Jane felt the air being pushed from her lungs and it was pure joy that filled her senses. Her husband's face was serious and flushed with desire, but softened with love and feeling. It was a combination she would only ever see through his eyes, and so to her it was sacred. When he adjusted her slightly, a whole new sensation moved through her and it was not long before Jane felt her leg shaking beneath her. She broke the kiss to clutch her leg, biting back a smile.
"Mmm, that feels good" Jane breathed, raking her fingers through her husband's hair,
They exchanged smiles as a particularly strong wave of pleasure moved through Jane and surged to become a throbbing between her legs. She felt lips at her neck as a moan rumbled in her throat.
"My God, you make me feel as if heaven is on earth" Edward groaned, "You put every other woman in this world to shame".
"Do not exaggerate" Jane begged, "You will make me blush"
"Do you not think that your face is not already flushed for me?"
Jane went to respond but her husband pushed into her with more force and she only gasped and then whimpered lowly.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and pushed him a little deeper inside of her. With one thrust she could feel herself becoming undone, and when her husband's hand moved to her center of pleasure and stroked against her she knew she stood no chance of prolonging the orgasm. As she trembled against him, she felt her husband finish inside of her and for a moment could do nothing more than kiss the shoulder which her head rested lazily upon. The beating of her heart felt as if it was up in her throat, and bright spots flashed behind her eyelids. Her breath, too, was shallow, her chest rising and falling uncharacteristically fast. When Jane eventually could pull up her head to meet Edward's face she knew he would be watching her, and he was. The serene smile which was shed upon her was the very sunshine of feeling, and when she returned it he bent to press his lips to her forehead.
"How do you feel?"
Edward chuckled lazily, throwing his hand over his head.
"Do you really need to ask?"
"No" Jane mused, "I find that I do not"
When he pressed a kiss to her temple, Jane settled against his chest again, feeling him pull the bed covers up around her shoulders.
"Thank you" she muttered sleepily, closing her eyes.
"Have I tired you out that much, my darling? I suppose we are a little out of practice-".
"No", she chuckled, "It is this little one. And our other little one. I thought I would be unlikely to get any more sleep this morning, but I am beginning to feel otherwise".
"Rest then, darling. Get as much sleep as you can, for in a short while I am sure we are to have none at all".
But at that moment there was a hard and fast knock on the door which made Jane jump and clutch her heart. Edward stilled her before turning angrily towards the door.
"Master, Lady Denver is just arrived"
Edward glared at the clock,
"It is eight in the morning, Carter"
"She is aware of the hour, sir, but she said her errand cannot be delayed".
Jane looked to her husband meaningfully before pulling up her nightshirt from around her waist and rising from the bed,
"Put her in the upper sitting room, then" Edward called grimly, throwing back the blanket, "We shall be out as quickly as possible. Offer her tea, if she would like it".
When Carter's footsteps could be heard moving back down the hallway, Jane hastened to the closet for a dress.
"I am sure that you do not need to come out, Edward"
"What if it is to do with her estate again?"
"If such is the case I could just come back for you"
"Just help me up now so I can get dressed and come out with you. It will be easier. Henry will be up soon anyway"
Jane nodded and stood in front of him so he could button up the back of her dress. As it was, this was one of the few articles of clothing which still fit her and it was getting rather too tight.
"Finished?"
"Hold on, I missed one"
When Edward dropped his hands, Jane stepped away from him so that she could get his clothes from the wardrobe.
"I do hope nothing is wrong"
"I doubt anything is seriously wrong. And if this is the case, Lady Denver knows better then to be calling upon people this early in the morning".
"Especially as I was exceptionally comfortable and looking forward to spending a little extra time in our bed this morning"
Edward looked up at his wife flatly,
"Damn her"
A small grin.
"Which suit would you like to wear?"
"I don't care" he said grumpily, pulling himself to the side of the bed. When Jane handed him his clothes he stilled her hand and held her in place.
"As soon as she is gone I want you back in here with that dress on the floor, do you understand?"
But she only kissed his cheek before moving back to her vanity mirror and braiding and pinning her hair into place at the back of her head. She fumbled slightly in her increased speed, and though she had to admit that it had looked more elegant at times, she at least appeared clean and presentable when she was finished. Standing and smoothing her skirt, she walked back to her husband who was now dressed and aided him in buttoning his tailcoat before helping him into the wheelchair still resting beside the bed. Once in it, she took a brush to his hair before assessing his overall appearance.
"You look well. How do I look?"
"As if you just climbed out of bed five minutes ago"
Jane smiled before pushing her husband out of their bedroom door, stopping to open it awkwardly with her foot before wheeling him through the threshold. When they arrived at the small sitting room just down the hall, they found Lady Denver inside with a tea tray in front of her. She had not touched anything on it, but the moment that they came into sight she situated herself a little straighter and looked towards the set in front of her.
"Ah, I see I am now free to have my tea. Are you two not quite the sight"
Jane supposed to herself they must have been, with Edward in a wheelchair and she as pregnant as she was, but she ignored the comment.
"Good morning Lady Denver" she replied instead, moving her husband beside the couch before sitting next to him. Lady Denver sized up the man before her, her look softening ever so slightly.
"Naturally I heard of your accident. I was sorry for it, but am glad to see you are recovering"
"I was very lucky" Edward replied honestly, "But the recovery has been long and frustrating, none the less"
"For a man of your vigour of course it is. It is not within man's nature to be contained by any means".
"And certainly not with my wife in her condition"
Lady Denver turned on Jane,
"Yes indeed. You know, back in my day, it was unfashionable for women to have babies any nearer than two years apart"
"I imagine there was a practical reason for such" Jane smiled, "I would say that we will have our hands full for quite some time"
"Mmm, yes indeed"
A moment of silence passed in which Jane and Edward left her the opportunity to speak for the purpose of her early visit, but she said nothing. She only sipped slowly on the tea which had been poured for her. Hoping to prompt her, Jane made a comment.
"You have had an early rise this morning, Lady Denver"
"I am an old woman. I rise early every morning"
"True. But then you have paid us an early visit. Is anything the matter?"
She shrugged.
"Nothing out of the ordinary. Nothing changes much in my world anymore"
After a brief pause she knit her fingers together and her eyes dropped to the floor, running over different sports on the carpet. Finally she gained some resolve and looked at the two before her.
"I am going away for some time. This winter has been too cold for me here and I need something else for my constitution"
"Where is it you are going?" Jane asked, slightly taken aback. Lady Denver had never travelled in all the time they had known her, nor had she ever expressed a desire to be with other people. As far as she knew, Lady Denver had no one to call upon. Why this sudden change?
"I own a house in London"
"And for how long will you stay?"
"I cannot answer for that. Until I have tired of it, I daresay".
Jane and Edward both looked at each other, trying to understand what was different in Lady Denver's demeanor. She was as brusk and blunt as she always was, yet there was less fierceness in her manner. But when Jane looked back at her she found that she had looked too long, for Lady Denver caught her eye and spoke in frustrated haste.
"What I am asking for is for you to look out for my house and to see to its upkeep when I am gone. My servants are to accompany me, so if the house is tried by robbers I fear it will be far too easy for them to take whatever they want".
"But surely you need not take all your servants," Edward said, "You can well afford to leave a footman or two just so the house does not appear empty to a passer-by"
"I will do no such thing" she snapped, "I ask you whether or not you will do something for me. I do not need your opinions on the task I have dictated, I need only an answer".
Edward stared at her for a long moment, some retort on the tip of his tongue, but he resisted.
"Tell me exactly what you would like me to do, Lady Denver. Though you must know what you ask of me is impossible as present. I cannot saddle a horse, nor can Jane go in her condition on my behalf".
"I only ask that you make sure it is well cared for" she replied clearly, "I trust you, and will leave the matter in your hands".
She would not explain why, Jane was well aware, but there was a great sense of urgency in what she asked and it evidently meant a great deal to her that what she wanted was done. When she departed a few minutes later with little ceremony and little fuss, Jane stood on the front step longer than she normally would have, turning the keys Lady Denver had given her in her hand. They were heavy and brass, the type which hung around the waist of a housekeeper.
"Miss?" Jenny called from the doorway, "Are you well, miss?"
"Yes, thank you" Jane said, her thoughts broken, "It was just rather an odd visit. I am left here thinking on it".
"Are they not always strange visits when Lady Denver is involved?"
Jane smiled,
"Somewhat, though this one was different"
"Why miss?"
"She asked Edward to keep an eye on her home while she travels to London. She claims this country winter has been too cold for her and wishes for a change of scenery"
"But surely miss she has servants to leave at the house. Why would you ask the master to do it?"
Jane shrugged,
"I am not sure. I am not sure how Edward would manage it, for a few weeks at least, while his leg is still healing, but she was insistent".
Jenny sighed,
"Well, miss, there is always something. Can I do anything for you or the master at present?"
"No thank you, Jenny. But I will inform you if anything comes up"
. . . .
When she arrived back upstairs, Jane woke her son up so she could feed him. As she picked him up in her arms he cuddled sleepily into her frame, and she savoured how warm and soft he was in her arms. She brought him to her lips and kissed his cheek, noting the mark where he had been laying on his blanket.
"Good morning" she whispered, smiling and kissing his cheek again, "Good morning sweetheart. Did you sleep well?"
But he only cooed and snuggled closer to her.
"I know, I know my darling. You want to sleep but you need to be fed"
He closed his eyes and rested his face on his mother's chest as she carried him next door into her bedroom. Unsurprisingly, she found Edward had wheeled himself into their room but he was waiting patiently beside the bed for her to help him into it. When she saw this, she smiled appreciatively.
"I see that you do remember how to listen to me"
Edward chuckled,
"I do listen to you, my darling, or try at least"
Laying Henry down on the bed, she helped hoist Edward up onto his good leg and then guided him back onto the mattress. As he slid to rest his back against the headboard, she picked up their son and placed him into her husband's arms so that she could undress. It was certainly out of character for Jane to do such after having gotten ready for the day, but today felt different and she was tired. Besides, it was obvious that with everything that had happened recently, and knowing that in a few short months they would have another baby to care for, she should have been savouring every quiet moment she could. So, when she was in her nightshirt again, she crawled into bed and rested against her husband's shoulder as she began feeding their son.
"Do you mind the task she has set for you?"
"No, so long as she has no expectations of me before I can ride over there"
"Does she have reason to be concerned?"
"No. Her home has always been inhabited, and anyone thinking of trying the house would know this, even those just passing through. I just do not know why she would not leave a servant or two inside the house"
"Perhaps she has less servants to leave behind as of late?"
"Not according to her estate which I took care of a few months ago"
"Then perhaps in her old age she would be anxious in feeling she did not have all the help she could need while away"
Edward nodded,
"Well, whatever the reason I doubt we will ever know. She is a woman who knows what she wants and is unwilling to compromise."
Jane smiled and rubbed her husband's stomach,
"You have been a great comfort to her. I know she has valued your trust and help far more than she will ever be able to admit".
Edward rubbed her arm,
"I know. You have softened me, witch. I actually believe that I have some sympathy for her now"
"Not for the past two years?"
"Be quiet, you".
Jane grinned, allowing the silence to stretch between them until all she could hear was their son cooing. Looking down at Henry, Edward ran his thumb along his forehead thoughtfully.
"Do you ever think about what our life will be in the future?"
"I think of it all the time", Jane half smiled to herself, "It is strange to think about, for in one sense we are on the very verge of our lives and the possibility of anything is before us. But right now, laying here with you, I cannot imagine anything different for us".
Edward took his wife's hand before staring forward into the fire.
"I sense that our lives are about to change".
Furrowing her brow, Jane turned to him seriously.
"Of what do you speak?"
"I feel as if we will wake one morning and all will be different in the world".
Jane looked into his face for a long moment. She wished she could tell him it would not be so, but such would have been beyond her power. Settling against his arm again she sighed,
"If it is, we will still have one another, and that at least will be the same".
"Yes" he said, 'Yes, my darling"
Holding his wife a little closer, Edward could have had no way of knowing just how right he would be.