Disclaimer: See Chapter 1.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Alright, we have Jack and Lena, and they've been at it for awhile, now. Everything's falling into place, they're happy. . .but wait, Lena's not the only one who wants a child.
wesleyssilverphoenix: Thanks, for the review! I loved it! Here's the next chapter, so I hope you enjoy!
London, England, January 1882
Waking, as she heard Jack stumble around their bedroom, trying to find his shirt, Lena smiled and savored being able to watch him without his knowledge. He was always flustered when he couldn't find something, though Jack never lost his temper. He was always calm and usually quiet, except in his early morning scramble.
Finding his shirt, he pulled it over his head, and tucked it in, then, looped his tie and pulled it through, only now catching sight of his wife, silently giggling at him.
"Do you think that is funny?"
"Quite, Jack."
Smiling, he made his way to their bed, where she lay, and leaned down, kissing her on the lips, softly, though it deepened as she pulled him towards her, back into the warmth of the sheets and comforter, not to mention her body.
"Stay home, today. You can keep me company while I must remain in this bed."
"You know I would love to, but there are so many who need me."
"Let William tend to them."
"He is not a trained doctor, my love."
Frowning as he left her, and grabbed his jacket, Lena propped herself up on one arm, and pulled the blankets around her body, trying to stay warm. She longed to have Jack stay with her, and make love. They had not in months, but she knew before she asked he could not, and accepted it.
"You will be home, tonight?"
"Of course. For dinner, and bed."
Saying this with a wink, Jack kissed her on the forehead, and then handed her a glass of water and some pills from his own medicine cabinet to help with the nausea and vomiting.
"These should help. Take them this morning, after you eat lunch, and right before dinner. Also, try to rest, you are ill, and as stubborn as you are, Helena, I think you can recognize when you are defeated."
"What? By a weak flu? I think not, Jack Wyndam-Pryce."
Smiling, and letting his hand wander under the covers, a gesture that promised he would join her later, Jack stood and was halfway to the door before she stopped him.
"Would you mind having Sophie bring me some ice, dear?"
"Are you warm?"
"No, I want to eat it. Odd, I know, but I want ice."
"Of course, I'll have her bring you some ice, but I think we should leave it out of the bedroom, tonight."
Winking, he closed their bedroom door, leaving Lena feeling quite lonely and wishing for his immediate return, though she knew this would not happen. Jack was devoted to his wife, but also to his work. Rolling over, she covered herself, and closed her eyes, suddenly exhausted, as she had been for the last few days.
Somehow, she had gotten quite sick, though she had been careful to wear warm clothing when she went out, and she had not eaten anything to make her sick. It was most curious and even Jack did not have the answers, but figured she'd be better once he gave her some medicine, which he had, but it did not make her feel completely well, just dulled her symptoms.
Closing her eyes, she drifted into a warm sleep, dreaming mostly about her husband, but other dreams of cricket and tea parties did drift in and out of her head, until finally, she fell into a deep sleep where dreams could not reach her.
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Lena, aware of someone else's presence, opened her eyes, but immediately closed them and pulled the covers over her head as the bright, midday sun reached her eyes.
"Mistress, are you well? I have brought your ice. Gregory got it from the market the moment Master Jack asked for it."
"Marie. I am glad, thank you, but could you please pull the drapes, my dear, the sun is hurting my eyes."
"Yes, ma'am."
Hearing the drapes being pulled across the window, blocking out the cold, January day, Lena removed the covers from her head, and found a large bucket of ice cubes on the bedside table, which she immediately began eating.
"Mm, thank you. I don't know why I wanted ice cubes, of all things, but I just had this mad craving."
"Perhaps. . .never mind, it is not my place. Besides, I did not only bring the ice cubes, but also news that Lady Margaret Spennings is here."
"Oh, dear. That woman will put me in my grave."
"Do you wish me to tell her that you are not well enough to entertain guests, Madam?"
"No, no, you might as well send her up. She will pursue until she gets what she wants, anyhow."
"Yes, Madam."
Exiting, as Lena adjusted herself, so she at least appeared half presentable in her state, the maid's company was soon replaced with that of Margaret Spennings, who sat down in a chair next to the bed, Gregory, the butler, had brought.
"Ah, my dear, you are pale. You are not well, at all, are you?"
"No, I am afraid I have come down with the flu, Madam Spennings, brought upon by this dastardly weather."
"Oh, that it is. The wind blows, and the. . .good gracious, child. Why is there a bucket of ice on your bedside table?"
"I had a craving for it. It is nothing, though, I do not have a fever, so do not worry, Jack does enough of that for everyone."
Smiling, Margaret placed her hand on that of her goddaughter, and gave it a small squeeze. Jack had been a very fitting husband for Lena, they got along so well, and everyone, even Frances, who barely took a liking to anyone but his dogs, loved the boy. He had been thrilled when Jack had announced that he would like to join the Council, and be Lena's official Watcher.
"A craving, you say, dear?"
"Yes, it's quite odd. One moment I will be incredibly hungry, and the next, I will not. I think I want something, but then have this mad craving for something else, even odd items such as, believe it or not, salt."
"Salt? What does Jack say of this?"
"He says nothing, but smiles and complies, he knows I have a will of my own. The cravings are nothing compared to this flu, however."
"And this flu, Jack has given you medicine?"
Looking at the bedside table, next to the bucket of ice, Lena withdrew her vitamin pills, and showed them to Margaret, then popped two in her mouth, as Jack had instructed. He said the vitamins would make her better.
"Yes."
The curious look on Margaret's face made Lena a little uneasy, but then, she felt motherly warmth to her godmother as she sit next to her on the bed, stroking her black hair.
"What has this flu entailed, Lena? What are your symptoms?"
"Well, I'm deathly nauseas in the morning, and usually am sick, but Jack stays with me on these mornings to make me feel better."
"And tell me, have you gained weight since you've been feeling bad?"
"Gained weight? A little, though I have not been eating that much, and I hope Jack does not notice, and think me undesirable."
"So, your stomach, it does grow, then?"
"Margaret!"
"No, no, my child, I do not ask for those reasons, I ask, because, well. . .let me see it, and then I may tell you for certain."
"I will. . .fine."
Letting her curiosity get the better of her, Lena decided it could no harm letting Margaret see her stomach, though for what reason she did not know, as she lifted her bed shirt, which had grown tighter with her weight gain, and allowed her godmother to see her stomach. Though, as Margaret smiled, she began to feel that something other than weight gain was at work.
Feeling the girl's stomach, which was not tender like that of someone who was getting heavier, but rather firmer, as with a woman who was with child, Margaret, placed her bed shirt back down, and took her hands.
"My dear, you are not ill with the flu, and the cravings are normal for a woman who has conceived."
"Conceived! Wait, conceived?"
Lena sat upright in her and Jack's bed, a smile breaking out on her face, as Margaret hugged the girl who had always been like a daughter to her.
"You're quickening with Jack's child! Believe me, he will not think you undesirable when he learns that you grow, because you have his babe growing in your womb."
"A babe? I'm going to be a mother, and Jack a father? I must tell him, I cannot wait!"
"No, you must. You must plan this. Tell him when you are alone, it is better if there is not an audience, for he may want to spend the moment with just you."
"Then, I will have to wait until tonight, after supper."
"Then, so be it. Before this, however, you must write a letter to your mother and father, then send it after you have told Jack. Your parents are going to be so excited, my dear."
"Oh, Margaret, we have talked of conceiving a child, but I do not know how to tell him I am pregnant."
"You have not to worry, Helena, he loves you, it is obvious to anyone who sees the two of you together that you are both madly in love with the other. Your child shall grow in this love."
Hugging Margaret, again, Lena silently prayed that Jack would come early, then realized that before that, she should make herself presentable, and have the cook make Jack's favorite meal, to set the mood for her joyous news.
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That night, it was freezing outside and the sun had fled the sky by five in the afternoon, just as Lena was finishing dressing herself, though the dress she chose barely fit her expanding stomach. She felt she needed to talk to the babe, referring to it as 'darling', for she did not know the sex, and playfully scolding it for causing her to lose her shape.
"Your father had better be on time, tonight, though, I don't know how I am going to contain myself at supper. I must, though, for William will be there, and Margaret said that I should inform him of you in privacy. Silly me, you must be hungry, I should eat something for the both of us, shouldn't I?"
Taking careful steps, she left the bedroom and made her way to the entry hall, then the dining room, sitting at her usual seat, left of Jack's, which was at the head of the table. Waiting what seemed like hours, she had her soup served, coming to the conclusion that she was too hungry to wait for Jack or William, who often joined the pair for supper.
"Darling, where are they?"
Suddenly, a gust of air blew in and the front door closed with a thud in the entry hall. Exhaling, Lena stood and walked, slowly, not wanting to appear too eager, though found only William hanging his scarf and coat in the closet.
"William."
"Lady Lena, I'm sorry, I did not see you when I came in."
"I was in the dining hall waiting for the lord and yourself."
"Oh, yes, about Lord Jack, he is going to be late, a patient."
Trying hard not to let her dismay show, Lena put on a fake smile for William's sake, and then led him into the entry hall, where he took a seat across from her, watching her as he began eating his soup, though she did not notice for she was distracted by her thoughts.
"Is something wrong, my lady?"
"Hm?"
Looking up from the table cloth, which she hadn't been purposely staring at, Lena found William's blue eyes boring into her brown ones, a quizzical look on his face.
"Is something the matter? You do not seem yourself, my lady."
"Oh, no, I just. . .I need to rest, I'm tired all of a sudden."
"Really? Are you still ill?"
"Not very. Thank you for inquiring, William. I shall see you, tomorrow?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Have a good night, then, dear."
Smiling, Lena left the table, promising she'd eat something later for the baby and herself. She just couldn't get anything down while she was so anxious, and just sitting there waiting was making her sick to her stomach. So, she retired to the bedroom, stripping her dress, and pulling on a linen nightshirt that belonged to Jack, for it fit her swelling stomach better than any of her nightgowns.
Climbing into bed, she wrapped the comforter and sheets around herself, silently saying her evening prayers and placing her hand on her stomach to comfort her unborn child.
"Goodnight, darling."
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Next chapter, Jack comes home, bringing some secrets of his own to their family. Also, William? Blue eyes? Sound like anyone we know?