Richard's happiness over his cricket victory was short lived when he awoke the next morning to the sound of Audrey in the bathroom being sick again.
He got up and went into the bathroom, he found her standing by the sink rinsing her mouth out. Audrey looked in the mirror and saw her husband standing behind her, she turned to face him.
Seeing the miserable look on her face Richard said nothing just opened his arms to her. As she stepped into his embrace he sighed "Darling, please will you go and see Dr Horton now, this is the second time this week you've been sick"
He felt her nod her head "Alright I'll telephone him this morning" she didn't tell him it was actually the third time she had been sick and that she herself was now worried that this was more than just a bug.
He pulled back to look into her eyes "Thank you Audrey, I just…I love you so much darling I don't want anything to happen to you" he said cupping her cheek.
"I love you too, I'm sure it's just a bug but if it eases your mind I'll see him" she leaned in and kissed him.
Audrey had been lucky that Dr Horton could see her that morning but Richard wasn't happy that he couldn't be there with her, he had been called away to taunton on some matter to do with one of Uncle Grevel's businesses.
He was going to cancel but Audrey had persuaded him to go with a promise she would tell him what had happened as soon as he got back.
She was glad he hadn't been there with her, not because she didn't want him with her but because now she knew what was wrong she wanted to be the one to tell him.
She was waiting by the front door for brabinger to bring the picnic basket.
"All ready madam"
"Excellent Brabinger, now have you left the note for Sir Richard?" She asked as she picked up the picnic blanket.
"Yes madam, I placed it on his desk as you instructed"
"Right let's go"
Audrey had chosen the spot by the lake that her and Richard often came to, her mind wondered to a few weeks previous when they had come out here in the middle of the night for a midnight swim. Yes she thought this was the perfect place to tell him.
Once Brabinger had help her lay the blanket on the grass and arranged the food he left her to return to the Manor. On his way back he bumped into Richard who was on his way to the lake.
When Richard had got home that afternoon he had worried when he couldn't find his wife. When he found the note on his desk though his mind was put at ease.
Darling,
Saw Dr Horton, as I suspected nothing to worry about.
Meet me by the lake for a picnic.
Love
Audrey x
Richard saw Brabinger walking towards him "Good afternoon Sir, Lady DeVere is waiting for you by the lake"
"Yes thank you a Brabinger I got her note. I'd better not keep her waiting" he said continuing on his way.
When he got to the lake his breath caught in his throat at the site of her. She was sitting on a blanket looking out over the lake, the gentle breeze blowing through her hair. She was a vision.
Audrey sensing the presence of another turned to see Richard gazing at her, smiling she reached her hand out to him.
"Hello darling, come and sit down you must be hungry"
He took her hand and sat down next to her, "I am actually, I'm so pleased your alright you really had me worried" he said stroking her cheek.
"Dr Horton said everything was fine, there's no need to worry. Darling take off that jacket and tie you must be frightfully hot"
Richard smiled reaching up to undo his tie then remove his jacket, laying them on the blanket beside him.
They chatted as they ate just enjoying each other's company. Richard looked around in the basket for something to drink once they'd finished eating, when he only found orange juice he looked at Audrey.
"Darling I can't find any wine"
"There isn't any Dr Horton told me to avoid alcohol for a while, just until my stomach was more settled"
Once they'd finished they sat side by side looking out over the lake, Audrey ran a hand up his shoulder to the back of his neck, her fingers playing with his hair.
Richard turned his head to look at her, wrapping an arm around her and pressing his lips to hers as he lowered her to lay back on the blanket.
Audrey deepened the kiss, pulling him on top of her, her tongue tracing his bottom lip as she wriggled beneath him.
"Richard please darling" she gasped
"Are you sure Audrey? What if someone sees us?" he panted
In reply she grazed her teeth along his throat and reached to unbutton his shirt, her nails scraping down his bare chest causing his lower half to press more fully against her.
Not worrying about being seen anymore Richard unbuttoned her blouse to find she wasn't wearing a bra.
He cocked an eyebrow at her "I was being adventurous darling" she giggled
Richard leaned down to kiss her again as she reached to undo his trousers to release him. He bunched her skirt around her hips, then pulled her underwear down her legs enough for her to kick them off.
Audrey curled her fingers around his manhood, he groaned in pleasure and dropped his forehead onto her shoulder as her fingers moved over him.
"Make love to me darling" she whispered squeezing him.
Looking into her eyes Richard eased her thighs apart more and settled between her legs. She positioned him at her entrance and at her mod he slid inside.
Audrey buried her face into his neck and gripped his waist holding him tightly to her. They made slow passionate love. The only sounds filling the air were their moans as they moved faster and faster to their peak until finally they lay sated in each other's arms.
Richard rolled off of her breathing heavily, still a little worried about being seen he did up his trousers quickly as Audrey pushed her skirt back down and buttoned her blouse.
When she was finished he held his arm out to his side "Come and have a cuddle darling" he sighed.
Audrey rested her head on his shoulder, her hand resting on the exposed skin of his stomach, fingers stroking the hair there where his shirt still lay open.
They dozed for a while just content to be with each other until Richard was awoken by Audrey trailing kisses along his chest, she sat up and rested on her elbow leaning over him to wait for his eyes to open.
"We really should be getting back" she whispered looking down at him.
"Mmm yes I suppose we should" he murmured.
She sat up and began doing his shirt buttons up, "Come on darling" she said standing and holding her hand out to him, he took it and got up, she tugged on his hand and led him to stand by the waters edge.
Richard sighed "It's beautiful here, we really should go riding around the lake one day"
With that thought he had unknowingly given her the perfect opportunity to tell him her news.
"I don't think I'll be riding for a while...probably around 9 months" she sighed then looked at him waiting to see if he had worked out what she was trying to tell him
"Oh, why you love riding...wait 9 months...darling...are...are you" his eyes widened.
Audrey smiled nodding her head "I'm pregnant"
"Audrey!" Richard cried, wrapping his arms around her waist he held her tightly to him. After a few moments he pulled back and crashed his lips to hers lifting her off the ground and spinning her round in his happiness.
Quickly realising he probably shouldn't be doing that he put her down "Oh my god I'm sorry, are you alright?"
Audrey laughed and cupped his face in her hands "I'm fine darling...we're both fine"
Richard hugged her to him, his face nuzzling her neck "Oh darling a baby, we're having a baby"
"Are you happy?" She asked him.
Richard pulled back enough to look in her eyes "I'm so happy I feel as if I could fly"
She giggled "Your mother will be too. I think she's been waiting to knit a baby blanket for a very long time"
Richard laughed "I'm sure she will be knitting more than just a blanket," he paused looking unsure for a moment "Darling, can...can I ..." he asked his hand hovering above her belly.
Smiling she took his hand and placed it on her belly. Richard looked at his hand as it rested over the life they had created together.
Bringing his eyes back to hers he couldn't hold back the tears as they fell down his cheeks "I love you Audrey, I love you both so much"
Audrey with tears in her own eyes cupped his cheek wiping away the moisture there with her thumb as she whispered "We love you too darling"