"But Mother, I don't want to eat. I want to ride Lightning!" Complained Braden as I ushered him and Brielle into the washroom to clean up for supper.
"Braden, you may ride after supper, but only if your father permits it and only if you allow Brielle to ride a little as well; and when I say a little, I mean more than a couple of yards."
Braden gave me a disappointed look.
"Braden, you will allow Brielle to ride. And if you don't, you will not ride." I said, casting Braden a stern look. "Now wash up and go downstairs."
After Braden and Brielle had finished washing and had gone downstairs, I washed up and then went downstairs to the kitchen. There, I took the meal I had prepared out to the dining room, where Braden and Brielle sat waiting, and set it on the table.
"Lovely meal, my dear." Said William, pulling out a chair for me, and then took a seat at the head of the table.
"Thank you." I replied.
"Father, may I go riding after supper?" Asked Braden.
"We'll discuss that matter when the time comes." William replied.
Braden nodded, and Brielle muttered angrily under her breath.
"Brielle Damara Anabelle Davina Ebony Tavington, I'll not have you carrying on like you are!"
"But Mama"
"Brielle! Enough!" Said William sternly.
Braden smirked; William turned to him with narrowed eyes.
"Braden…"
Braden averted his gaze.
"Sorry Father…"
"Not to me, to Brielle."
"Sorry Brielle." Said Braden, an edge in his voice.
"That's better." Said William, his gaze softening slightly. "Now, let's eat shall we? And without any more talk of the pony until after supper?"
I nodded and glanced at Braden and Brielle; they both nodded.
"Yes Father."
"Yes Papa."
"Very well. You may begin eating."
After supper was finished, and everything had been cleared from the table, I went upstairs to bed.
I had only been in bed for about forty-five minutes when there was a soft knock on the door and Brielle entered the room.
"Mama, are you awake?" She asked.
"Yes Brielle, I am."
Brielle walked over to the four-poster and climbed up next to where I was lying.
"Where is your brother?"
"Out riding with Papa." Answered Brielle in a disappointed tone.
"Did you not ride as well?" I asked.
"Yes." She replied. "But I got tired."
"I see. Brielle, I know you're upset, and I understand why. When my brother got his first horse I had to wait five years before I too, had one of my own. Just be patient. We haven't forgotten you."
Brielle smiled.
"Will my brother or sister have to wait too?" She asked, placing a small hand on my middle.
I laughed softly.
"Yes."
"Good." Replied Brielle.
"You know Brielle, I should get you ready for bed.
"Oh no Mama, please! Not yet! Can I stay here with you?"
"Alright, but only for a little while."
Brielle
slid between the covers next to me.
"I brought a book, Mama.
Will you please read it to me?"
"Alright, but then it's off to bed with you."
Brielle nodded, yawning sleepily.
"Here." She said, handing me the book, which I recognised as one of Braden's books, Aladdin.
"What about your own books Brielle?"
"I like this one. Braden read it to me and said I could borrow it."
"Alright. Let us begin…"
I had only gotten about a page or so in when I looked down and saw that Brielle had fallen asleep; I put the book on the nightstand and got up to take Brielle to bed when William walked in.
"Sound asleep?" He asked with a small smile.
"I believe so. I was just going to take her to bed."
"I'll do it. You're tired, and you need your rest now more than ever."
"Trying to save me from fatigue?" I asked teasingly.
"Not really. It's not as if you sleep anyway once you're in bed. I just don't want you to strain yourself."
"Really William, I can handle it."
"You look pale and worn. Not to mention, you seem to have filled out more this pregnancy than the previous ones."
Indeed, William was right; even I had noticed that I had filled out more during this pregnancy than I had my previous three.
"Alright, you may take her. But only because it wouldn't have made a difference if I had said you couldn't."
William smirked. He gathered Brielle's sleeping form in his arms and carried her to her bedchamber; I lay back down and waited for him to return.
After about five minutes, William re-entered the room and got ready for bed. He slid between the covers, wrapping his arms around me.
"I haven't seen you very much today, save for this evening; how have you been?"
"Tired, as you observed earlier; and morning sickness hasn't helped anything, not to mention, I've also got Braden and Brielle to look after; for the most part, they behave, but they do have their moments, and that can get wearing."
"Well then, why don't you take a few days to rest and I'll take care of things and watch the children for a while."
"William you're awfully busy. Are you sure? I don't want to burden you with anything…"
"Burden me? Mary, you're six and a half months pregnant; you need some time to yourself."
I smiled.
"Thank you."
William gave me a lingering kiss.
"You're welcome, my lady." He said, placing a hand on my swollen belly. "Well, there's certainly life with in you. I say, no wonder you don't sleep at night."
I laughed softly.
"Yes, and it will all be worth it within two and a half months."
William smiled.
"I can hardly wait."
