"Is something the matter, Evangeline?" Tora asked, coming into the sitting room sometime after dinner.

Distracted, Evangeline looked up from her knitting. "What? Oh… I'm sorry. I hadn't heard you come in."

Tora sat down next to her stepmother. "I asked if something's the matter."

"No, I'm all right."

"You've just been so strange all day. Since last night, really."

"I'm quite all right. A little tired, but all right."

"All right…" Tora said, unsure if she believed this answer or not.

Setting her needles and wool aside, Evangeline sat up and tried to lighten her tone. "You know how it is after a long winter. It can make you feel a little dreary sometimes. We've got spring to look forward to soon."

Tora nodded.

"Why aren't you with your father and the others?"

Leaning back against the sofa cushions, she crossed her arms. "Because I'll go mad if I hear that book Chrissie's got herself keen on one more time."

Evangeline laughed.

"How come you never sit with us when Papa reads? I thought you loved to hear stories."

"Oh, I do. I guess I just thought it's important that you all spend time together."

"You can spend it with us."

Touching Tora's cheek, she said, "That's very kind of you."

"Is it that you don't want to spend time with us and Papa? Or that you think we don't want you around?"

"Really, Tora. Where are all of these questions coming from suddenly?"

She shrugged. "I suppose I've wondered for a while. Seeing you so down made me want to ask."

"You don't have to be so worried with me, sweetheart, but I do appreciate the concern."

Hesitantly, Tora said, "Mama used to sit with us and Papa in the evenings. We had a jolly time together."

"I remember," Evangeline said. "And I guess that's why I assumed I should let you be. You know that it's never been my intention to take your mum's place."

"We all know that. That doesn't mean we don't want you around. You're still our family and stepmother."

"Keep this up and you're going to make me cry."

Tora smiled. "How is your reading coming along? I think Chrissie would quite like if you were the one to read to us one night."

"Oh... I don't know if I could read aloud to anyone yet. I'm only just able to string sentences along without pause."

"Perhaps you can practice with Lily?"

"Maybe... but I think I'll start by listening to your father read."

Tora stood and held out her hand. "Join us now?"

"Are you very sure?"

"Positive."

She hesitated a moment longer before she took her stepdaughter's hand and let her lead them into the nursery. All of the children smiled, but none so wide as Cedric's.

Maybe some distraction would do her some good.

. . .

"I'm glad you decided to join us tonight, darling," Cedric said as they walked hand in hand into their bedroom.

"It was Tora's doing," she admitted. "I didn't realize you all thought I didn't want to spend time with the family."

"I think we all figured different reasons."

"So long as you don't think I'm imposing."

Wrapping his arms around her waist, he said, "You're my wife and their stepmother. Don't think for a moment you are ever imposing."

"I just get to thinking sometimes…"

She looked like she regretted her words, but he urged her on anyway. "What is it?"

Evangeline bit her lip. "I know that you love me. I just wonder sometimes what might've happened if things had been different. What if Aunt Adelaide hadn't forced you to marry? I'd still be your servant."

Cedric retracted his arms. Not angrily, but in a troubled way as he started to pace.

"There's no point in thinking that way, Evangeline. Things aren't different. They are as they are."

"I know that. Which is why I want to be respectful."

"I appreciate it, but I also don't ever want you to think that I don't want you around me or the children. It's evident you love them as your own and always have. I could never resent you for that. Is this what's been bothering you since yesterday? Did one of the children say something?"

"No, of course not," she answered swiftly. "But I suppose in a way this plays into it."

Taking her hands, he said, "I do wish you'd talk to me about it. I don't want to push, but there's no reason for you to be so upset on your own."

"That's actually the reason I stopped by your work today."

"Oh?"

"But I decided that wasn't the place to tell you. It was a foolish thought. It's best we're alone. At least as alone as we can be."

"You're starting to worry me, Evangeline. What's going on?"

Becoming teary-eyed, she said, "Promise me you won't be too angry. Because it's something I had limited control over."

Hearing this, he raised an eyebrow not being the start he'd expected. "Has something broken? Is company coming?"

Pressing the back of her hands to her eyes, she said, "It's the latter in a way."

"I beg your pardon?"

The deep breath she took did nothing to help her steady her emotions. Instead, it only made her choke out a sob. "Oh, Cedric… I think I might be pregnant."

He gaped at her, motionless aside from dropping down to sit on the edge of the bed.

Evangeline said nothing as he processed her words, glad she never expected enthusiasm upon the news. However, she eventually needed to say something instead of standing there a teary mess.

"It's early if so, but the doctor doesn't suspect anything else. We won't know for sure for a time yet, which is why I didn't want to tell you, but I don't think I could have kept it. I… I've nowhere else to turn."

Cedric snapped back into consciousness as Evangeline started to cry harder, holding out his arms and pulling her beside him.

"Please, don't cry," he begged. "I'm not angry. Not at all. I'm only… confused. Of course, planning isn't foolproof, but I thought we'd done a good job."

"I must have miscounted," she said, her face buried against his neck. "How very stupid of me barely being able to count. I should have known better!"

"I won't have you talking like that," he scolded. "You understand?"

She nodded only to appease him.

"We'll make this work… We have to."

"I'm so sorry Cedric. The last thing I want to do is put you in debt."

Pulling back so she had to look at him, Cedric said, "Don't apologize for being with child. Never apologize for that."

"But the money—"

"The money will work itself out. We aren't short of hand-me-downs. The baby will be nursing for a while so there's time to sort out some of the finances."

"I'll do whatever I can. I can go back to the cleaning to help save an expense. I'll barter for supplies, maybe sell some knitting—"

"You'll do nothing of the sort," he said, though not tenderly. "Out of the question."

"But why?"

"You are to rest from now until the baby arrives, do you understand?"

Gently, she reminded him, "I'm not even sure if there is a baby yet. It's only a possibility. I haven't even had any bouts of morning sickness yet."

"It's no matter. I'll not have you taking any chances."

Wiping her eyes again, she said, "I know you have reason to worry. I won't make a promise I can't keep but I can tell you as of right now I feel fine. I don't want to risk anything as well."

"I can't lose you the same way, Evangeline. I can't."

She rested her forehead against his cheek. "The doctor says he's optimistic."

Cedric scoffed. "Yeah? The midwife said to Agatha that she was an old pro and not to worry about a thing. This will be your first. There's so much unknown about the first."

"This is why I didn't want to tell you even more than the worries about the cost. I know you're scared and it pains me to be the reason you're upset. I fear the same reaction from the children."

Cedric buried his face in his hands. "Good grief, I hadn't even thought of them."

"There's nothing I can do," she cried. "I can't tell you how sorry I am."

"I've already told you not to apologize," he snapped, sitting up again.

"But I feel awful about it."

His expression softened. Once again, he wrapped his arms around her. "My darling…"

He couldn't finish his thought just yet, feeling overcome himself. He could only hug her, letting her cry as he let a few silent tears of his own fall.

"I've robbed you of all your joy," he finally finished after a few minutes. Pulling back a slight bit, he ran his sleeve over his eyes before brushing her tears away with each thumb. "You shouldn't be worrying so much about me. If your suspicions are right, you're going to have a child. I want you to feel the happiness that comes from such a gift."

"How can I be if you're not happy with me?"

"I… I am happy. Or I will be. It's… complicated."

"I know," she sniffed.

"I will be the happiest man alive as soon as I see you and our baby alive and well together."

"Will you very much resent me in the meantime?"

"Never," he said, pausing to kiss her forehead. "Absolutely never."