It was June and the world became colored with poppies and foxgloves. The golden threads of sunshine emboldened every detail of the scene. By Mid-June the Brandon family went home to Cardiff. They said goodbye to their extravagant castle and all of the staff who work there. Then they traveled back to Hapus House. Although the Duke promised his wife "I think the castle will serve us nicely. Being only half a day's journey away, the two of us can visit for alone time." He flashed his roguish smile that shows off his pearly white teeth. Of course, her husband would only be thinking of that, but then she cannot help but grin at the thought too.
Mary loves summer. She loves spring and the beginnings of new life in the world again. She loves fall draped in the beautiful splendor of foliage and cozy days by the fireside. She loves winter and the first snow of the season, so pure, so white, so forgiving. But she LOVES summer most of all. Everything good and right and sweet and magical happens in the summer. The days are longer. The stars seem to sparkle just a little bit brighter. The water, and weather, get warmer. And life— life gets sweeter. It's happy times and good sunshine.
Last summer was a wash as she was heavily pregnant and miserable carrying the twins. This summer however she is going to live it up. With determination, she is going to do all the summer things she enjoys doing. Things like sitting on the back lawn, fanning herself, and sipping cold tea with sprigs of mint leaves. She's going to be one of those fancy ladies who lunch with their friends, cause she has friends now. Dot, Lady Flora, Lady Agnes, Joan, and even Doctor Pearce's wife Ina.
Since it's much too hot out for sleeved dresses, she's also going to wear sleeveless dresses. Married women can do that. She's married. And she really, really wants to wear dresses without sleeves. Ever since May, when they took the holiday in Cardigan, she's been sneaking some into her daily outfits. When thinking about it, if she were still under her father's thumb it would cause a scandal to be sure. But here in Wales being married to Charles she can. Although she promised him "I will take pangs to not show too much skin. It wouldn't be proper."
He only laughed and teased by saying "This coming from the woman who stripped and laid naked in the middle of the maze? Darling, you've now left proper in the dust." In response her blue eyes narrowed, her hair was tossed over her shoulder, and she stalked out of his study. Despite this, sleeveless dresses are on the summer menu.
And speaking of menus... She's also going to pick blackberries and learn how to turn them into jelly, preserves, or whatever. Mrs. Evans told her she'd teach her. It should be fun, at least she thinks so. Dot however did the same as the Duke had done. She laughed and teased. "You?! You're going to learn how to make jelly? This I will have to see with my own eyes. Please let me know when you're having your lesson. I want to come to watch." She howled with laughter. The two of them can laugh it up and poke fun, but she will make jelly and wear perfectly proper sleeveless gowns.
Another on the Duchess's summer to-do list harkens to her industrious nature. She will also find ways to bottle summer, meaning she's been itching to make new soaps and creams. A summer soap with summery scents like vanilla blackberry or raspberry bouquet. Idea after idea started flitting through her head regarding her hand creams and soap-making craft. So much so that parchment and ink were grabbed to write them down so they wouldn't vanish.
Finally, she is going to wander where the sun kisses the earth. To walk in nature is to witness hundreds of thousands of miracles happening. This is what she and the boys will do. They will wander the grounds of their estate, picking wildflowers, going on wildlife scavenger hunts, venture down to the beach and let William get his feet wet. They will do all sorts of cheerful things and not be shut up indoors all day long.
Every part of summer was moving along at a splendid pace. Her sleeveless gowns were just the thing, as it was sweltering and sticky. Which is similar to her jelly lessons from Mrs. Evans. It was hot in the kitchens and she would always leave a sticky mess, along with pieces of her hair that would become wispy. Charles and Dot poked fun. She let them and when she allowed them to taste the jelly one morning they stopped laughing. The pride, and delight, on her husband's face, made her filled to the brim with joy.
And just like that, another plan was born. In addition to soaps, and hand creams, she would also sell jellies. Plus jelly making could come in handy if they ever had to survive in the wilderness, perhaps. Nonetheless, her summer plans were impeccable until the beginning of August. This is when the great stomach sickness of fifteen thirty-five hit Hapus House. It visited everyone but the twins.
The illness started with Sir William, who had come to visit. He is a frequent visitor to their estate. So much so that Charles has talked him into being the head of his wife's security detail. The man had sat down to dine with the family. No sooner had the roast duck come out on a platter, than he began to look clammy. William threw up on the spot. He was not seen for days.
Then it passed to Dot, Lady Agnes, and the whole staff one by one. The Duke and Duchess had thought it bypassed them altogether. However, they were wrong. One evening His Highness vomited up breakfast and lunch. He became familiar with his own "royal throne", so much so that he told Mary "If I die in the privy please make me out to be a hero. Just promise you won't tell people I died on the toilet." Now she is the one laughing at him. Never has she ever heard of someone dying on the toilet. The bathtub maybe, but not the other.
After his week-long episode and his constant talk of pain, she had had it up to the heavens. Charles had sequestered himself to the bed. At one point she had to bite her tongue. He was going on and on about how "The pain is unbelievable. I can hardly bear it. My muscles have never been this sore, not even in war." And his moans are the worst. You can hear them well on the other side of the house.
All of this to say, Mary really, REALLY wanted to tell him "Look. I pushed two babies the size of melons out of my body. You have a simple case of stomach sickness. It is not the same." But she did not. Instead, she took care of him like the loving wife she is and prayed she would not catch the stomach sickness.
However, her prayer was in vain. For she did catch the sickness. Every morning for a week she vomited. Her head hurt, and she just felt plain awful. By week three the sickness still remained and that concerned her because it did not linger in anyone else. So why is it lingering in her?
One gorgeous Wednesday morning, she threw the covers back and sprung up out of the bed. In a dash, she went to the chamber pot, where her kidneys met her stomach. Charles got up too and held her hair back. As she went to lie down again, he wet a cloth from the water pitcher in the room and placed it on his wife's forehead. He snuggled under the covers and close to her. His worry mounts with each passing day.
So much so that he finally voiced it. Rolling onto his side so he can see her better, he spoke. "I think you should visit Doctor Pearce. The sickness shouldn't last this long." His response was a stubborn huff. "I'm serious. As your husband, I am not backing down on this. As the man who loves you I beg of you, please go see him or I'll have him sent here to you."
Taking exception to this, Mary placated him by saying "Sure". Although her "sure" sounded much too sugary sweet to be true. And while the two of them were eyeing each other, but not the kind that send their hearts racing, a footman knocked on the bedroom door. Charles got up to see what the matter is. The footman handed him a letter. Walking back into the bedroom, he laid back down beside his wife and inspected the parchment.
Sneaking peeks, Mary wants to know "Who's the letter from?" Once he turned it over and her eyes saw the seal, "Oh. My father of course. What does he have to say this time?" She muttered something about "My father and his stupid letters".
Charles broke the seal and read the contents. Must come to Whitehall Palace. Important. Plan to stay through Elizabeth's birthday. Bring the family. Much to discuss. ~His Majesty, Henry. In an instant, he wondered what the King wants.
"Interesting," Mary murmured. She used her finger to show her husband. "He didn't call her Princess Elizabeth. He just wrote Elizabeth." She wonders what that implies.
The Duke read the letter again and he picked up on his wife's notion. Before they left the palace in May, Henry had said he'll be rid of the Queen soon enough. If he sincerely plans to do such a thing, then calling her Elizabeth is a testament to that resolve. With the words important and much to discuss, it makes him think the Queen is something the King will talk about with him.
As for bringing the family... "With you still being sick I don't think you should go. Plus every time you go with me, something intentional and mean-spirited happens to you. I'll let your father know you've been unwell. What are your thoughts on this? Do you think you could stomach the trip?" He chuckled lightly at his joke.
She nudged him with her arm. "You are so funny that you should be the court jester and not Will Sommers. I am in agreement with you though. I'd rather stay here." Her thought trailed off and she wondered out loud. "You'll be gone a couple of weeks then. He'll no doubt have a joust in honor of her birthday, so I won't see you until after." She let out a huge sigh of irritation.
His hand ran over her hair. It irritates him too. Just as life gets sweet the King interrupts it. Still, "Tomorrow you have to go to the doctor. I realize with my leaving in the morning, you have no motivation to do so. I hope for my sake and sanity that you will. Please don't lie and say you did when you did not. I cannot come home and find you on death's door. I just can't. After what happened with the accident, I can't lose you." He shuddered a breath and kept his tears at bay. Just thinking about that time is not without difficulty.
Holding his hand in hers, her soft voice told him "I guess there's just one thing to do." His eyebrows raised in question. "We have to live to a ripe old age. Then I have to be the one to die first."
Inclining his head fully to her, a surprised expression sat on his face. "Why do have to die first? I literally just told you I can't live without you. So if anyone's dying first it's me."
She poked him in the arm. "No. It doesn't work that way. I called it first since I cannot live without you. I don't ever want to return to a life without My Duke in it."
Giving her a serious look, he declared "I suppose the only thing to do is for both of us to die together. I also refuse to go back to a Mary-less life." Their eyes locked and their faces inched forward. At just the moment their lips were to meet, the Duchess clapped a hand over her mouth. She sprung out of the bed and ran to the chamber pot again. During which Charles shook his head reflecting on why she had to vomit at that particular time.
The next morning, the Grand Duke left instructions for both William and Jeffery. He especially let his friend know "Guard my wife with everything you have. She's precious to me and I don't want her out walking alone in the forests without some kind of protection." Will nodded in accord with his words.
Before he boarded the carriage, he said goodbye to his wife and children. First were the boys, who he held in both arms. "You're getting so big my arms hurt." He placed kisses on their faces. "Now you have to promise to be good for Mama and Lady Ashdown. That's right Owen. I heard what you did. Peeing in someone's face is never appropriate." He gave a stern look to the babe and the tot put on a displeased look. It made Charles smile. "And you William, help keep your brother in line. I'm counting on you for that." He patted his father's face in response.
Now at ten months old, the twins are a mess. For one thing, they can eat more solid foods which is a wonderful thing. Mealtimes are messy as the floor is often covered in food, but Duke (the dog) loves this. For another, they are both eager to explore the world. Once they mastered crawling, they crawl everywhere and usually in opposite directions. This gives their father fits, as he worries about them bumping into something and getting hurt. They love to crawl after their parents the most. They are also able to pull themselves to standing positions, which was a joy to witness. The only thing they cannot do, yet, is talk. But Mary thinks it will happen any day now.
He passed the twins over to Dot and Lady Agnes. The boys protested at first, but then calmed. Taking Mary by the hands he spoke. "Last night you promised you'd go see Doctor Pearce today. Don't neglect that. All the important documents are in the folder locked inside my desk. I love you and I will be thinking of you every day and night. You should see me again after your sister's birthday." He pulled her in for a much too short kiss, then entered the carriage. His hand waved out the window until it could not be seen anymore.
It's never easy for her to say goodbye to him. This time she is determined to not be so sulky. In the meantime, "Please ready another carriage Glen. I need to make a trip to the doctor." Glen bowed and went to round up the other carriage driver. She took Owen from Dot's arms and snuggled him close. The group headed back inside to begin the day officially.
Inside, Lady Ashdown took the twins so their mother could freshen up. Once that was taken care of, she met Dot downstairs. The other carriage took the ladies to the doctor's office. On arrival, she was ushered to the back, where Doctor Pearce, Edmund, and Mrs. Nevitt began the examination. The doctor asked all kinds of questions pertaining to her sickness and throwing up.
After several minutes of deliberation, Doctor Pearce asked "When was the last time you bled?"
Oh, Lord! The Grand Duchess clapped a hand over her mouth. In all of her summer busyness, she has failed to keep track of it. Shame-faced, she spoke. "I can't rightly remember. June perhaps?"
Dot gave her a look that said I cannot believe you forgot something that important. However, she held her friend's hand in anticipation.
With a light chuckle, the good doctor let her know "You are most definitely having another baby. Allow us to be the first to congratulate you, Your Highness. The sickness you're experiencing is the mother's sickness. It comes in the morning, most usually, and by the afternoon all is well. Edmund has gone to fetch some herbs for you that should help to settle your stomach and nausea. Now tell me how is your knee. Let me check it."
While the doctor began checking her knee, Mary did nothing but smile a bright, brilliant smile. They're having another baby. They're having another baby! All along she hadn't been sick, just baby sick. She hadn't even known it since she hardly had that pregnant with the twins.
She failed to hear anything Doctor Pearce is saying. She'll have to rely on Dot for that. All she can think about is their new babe growing inside her. It makes her think that all the love between she and Charles is so big that they couldn't keep it all to themselves. So another little baby was made out of it. And she wonders if maybe it'll be a little girl, for she can't get her husband's words out of her head.
One night, while they were lounging in bed with their books, he admitted "I really hope our next child is a girl. I want a little angel that looks just like her mother. A little sweet thing to dote on." Her smile grew bigger. Perhaps this one could be their little sweet thing, their little girl. But even if it's another boy the babe will always know the love of their parents.