I wrote the main dialouge of this chapter and then had a hard time building up the rest of it. Hopefully you won't find it too awkward. Thank you for reading!
The week passed all too quickly and much sooner than he would have liked Robert was waiting with Anna in the dismal back room in the prison.
"If you like…if you like, I could tell him about…" Robert felt unable to finish the sentence so how he was going to fulfill this offer was unknown. He did know however that Anna's hands were trembling and her face was flushed. Whatever awkwardness he felt in mumbling out a few words couldn't match what she was feeling. But fortunately Anna replied, "I think this must be something he must hear from me, my lord."
There was a click behind him and Robert turned to see Bates seating himself across from Anna. Robert saw his eyes stray over Anna, until finally he asked, "Are you alright?"
"Yes, it's just…I have something to tell you and I'm not sure how you're going to react."
"Moseley hasn't made you an offer?"
"No, he has not." Anna said definitively, her voice ultimately dissolving into quiet laughter. Bates smiled and grasped her hand, laughing to himself. He reexamined Anna and then something struck him. He became very pale and rigid.
"Do you want a divorce?" he asked gravely.
"No! No." Anna cried. "Perhaps I shouldn't tell you just now. Perhaps I should wait."
"Anna, I don't mean to interfere," Robert said, stepping closer to the table, "but you really must tell him. He…he should know."
For the first time that afternoon Bates eyed Robert, looking terribly confused and somewhat frightened.
"What is it?"
Robert saw Anna take a deep breath as she composed herself. Her face very set, she said calmly, "I'm pregnant."
The change in Bates' bearing was instantaneous. He shut his eyes tightly, still clinging to Anna's hand. He became hunched over, his head bowed, his entire body clenched. His breathing was heavy and his voice was tentative as he repeated hoarsely, "Pregnant?"
Anna nodded. "Yes."
Bates inhaled sharply and raised his head. "You're certain? You've been to see a doctor?"
Anna nodded again. Her eyes darted around the room, anxious.
"Should I not have told you just yet?"
"What other time would you have told me?" Bates asked, rubbing his forehead.
"Well…when you're released."
Bates opened his eyes slowly and sighed. He took Anna's other hand and stared at them.
"Are you unhappy?" she asked at length.
"Am I unhappy that you're carrying my child? No, no." he replied quietly. "But…I'm upset with myself."
"I don't understand."
"No, of course you don't. To you I'm the victim but I'm not. If I had exerted some self-restraint in the time leading up to this…I've put myself here, in many ways."
"You can't think like that." Anna protested. Bates said nothing, eyes set on some point over Anna's shoulder. The silence was uncomfortable and lasted far too long.
Finally Robert said quietly, "Bates, are you alright?"
Bates' eyes suddenly came back into focus. "Yes, my lord. I'm just not very pleased with myself."
"Even if you had acted differently this still might have happened. You aren't entirely to blame for your situation, old chap." Robert replied.
Bates smiled sadly. His eyes drifted back to Anna. "I think I can be blamed for yours, though." He said hoarsely.
"No you can't!" Anna insisted. "I chose this. No matter what anyone else thinks, we both know I came into this marriage willingly and without ignorance…and that's all that matters."
"As usual you're right, Mrs. Bates."
"Yes, I am." Anna agreed proudly. Bates chuckled.
"I hate to cut this visit short," Robert said, "but we really must be going."
"Of course you must, my lord."
Robert walked to the door, glancing back to say goodbye to Bates. However he was silenced when he saw that he had hold of Anna's wrist. Gazing up at her he whispered, "I love you."
"I love you, too." She replied, beaming back down at him.
Robert turned away but from the corner of his eye he saw Anna quickly lean down and place a kiss on Bates' cheek.
"Goodbye, my lord."
"Goodbye, Bates."
"Well," Robert said as he and Anna walked through the prison, "he took that better than I thought he would. Whenever Cora told me she was pregnant I always felt ill for about a week before I could talk about it."
Anna laughed quietly as she got into the car.
"Not to be intrusive but you're sure you're prepared for the months ahead? I can provide you with any sort of material support but that may not be all that you need."
"I think, my lord, I'll be able to manage."
"You're terribly resilient. Bates will have hands full between you and a child."