Chapter Fifty-Three

Mrs Mitford Makes Plans

Getting out of bed late the next morning, after her aborted trip to the jeweller's, Harriet was surprised to be told by the housemaid that Owen was still at home and working over his breakfast. Usually, he was long gone to work before Harriet got up. Or he never came home at all, preferring to stay at his office and work.

She sighed happily as she showered in record time, then dressed in her most alluring morning outfit before applying her make-up and extremely expensive French perfume. Thinking he'd stayed at home to talk to her lifted her spirits immensely and brought a smile to her pensive face as she hurried downstairs and into the dining room.

It was going to be all right, after all. Her moment of disbelief of the day before was quickly dismissed from her mind. She waved her left hand, watching her large, diamond ring sparkle in the morning light. Her buoyant mood lifted even higher.

"Owen…" she cooed, pouring herself a cup of black coffee before pulling out a chair to sit at the table across from him. "Good morning. How very nice to see you. I didn't hear you come in last night." She fluttered her eyelashes at him.

"Good morning…" Owen allowed briefly, not looking up from the sea of paperwork spread all around him.

"Did you… I mean, do you want to talk to me? Or…" Harriet's heartbeat picked up as she glanced significantly up toward the ceiling and gave a small chuckle of intent.

"What are you nattering on about now?" Her husband raised harassed eyes to stare at her momentarily. "Honestly, Harriet. Sometimes I do wonder what goes on in that mind of yours. It's barely still morning. You really do need to stop reading those romantic articles and see the world the way it is. It's not all roses and lovemaking."

"Oh, I don't know…" Harriet's smile faltered. "I see so little of you these days. I had hoped…"

"I'm still here because I did want to talk to you." Owen sighed, shaking his head. "You're up late."

"Well, I'm glad you stayed," Harriet ventured, sipping her coffee.

Her husband stabbed an accusing finger at the large stack of household bills at his elbow. "It's about your extravagant expenditure," he grumbled. "I do not see why you could possibly need half of this stuff. The clothes, the perfume, the household accessories. I'm not made of money, you know. I work hard for every red cent."

He sniffed the air disapprovingly, obviously catching the rich scent of her very expensive perfume. "Must you use so much of that? I saw how much you paid for it."

"I know. I'm sorry…" Harriet faltered, her smile fading. "I… but, we have to maintain appearances, though," she countered. "I mean, people love coming to my parties. And I like giving them. Everyone is so nice and they all have such a good time. They all say it's such a pity you're not there to enjoy them too."

"Yes, that's because you have nothing but the very best on offer." Owen shrugged. "That must change, also. Things are not as rosy as you like to think they are. You must learn to economise in future. When I return from my trip, I will make you out a budget and you will abide by it."

"Economise?" Harriet's eyebrows rose high at the word. "Budget?"

Never in her life had she been asked to give a thought to her spending or the state of her bank balances. Even as a child, she had always been indulged and able to please herself. Her late parents had left both her and Hazel very well off.

She shook her head. "But, I have my own money. I can pay for whatever I want. If you wish me to pay for my parties and my things, then I shall do so. No one will know."

"Foolishness…" Owen shook his head, staring at her pityingly as if she were a thoughtless child. "Yes, well, those accounts of yours are now a part of our marriage estate. Surely you knew that when you signed them over to me. No woman should be left in charge of any monies of her own. It's not seemly."

"I… well, yes…" Harriet floundered. "I suppose you're right, of course." She gave a slight laugh of discomfit. "You always are."

She didn't remember signing those particular documents. But then there had been so many she'd been asked to sign the day after their hush-hush wedding. She'd always thought she was a good steward of her substantial savings accounts. But she also knew Owen was right. Even as she remembered her cousin Carolyn had always been in charge of her own money, even before Bobby had died.

But then, dear Carolyn had been driven by a lack of funds to live in that big old house in the middle of nowhere and had married a rough-mannered, authoritarian sea captain. Yes, when she thought about it, she could see the point of her husband's argument. She obviously couldn't be trusted to manage her own affairs.

She sipped her coffee and tried again. "I had thought – since you're home – that we might spend the day together." She leaned a little closer across the polished table toward him, allowing him a tantalising glimpse down the low-cut neckline of her dress. "I mean, I know you're going away again soon. I know it's for business, but I had hoped I might be allowed to go with you this time."

"You'd be bored all day with nothing to do," Owen complained repressively. "It's for business. I cannot afford any distractions. You would decide to go shopping and then we'd be right back here again, having the same conversation."

"Oh, yes, of course…" Harriet batted her eyelashes again and tried to smile sexily. "But, surely you cannot be working all day and… all night." She pouted at him. "We haven't even had a proper honeymoon, yet…"

"Harriet…" Owen said warningly, looking up from his paperwork with an impatient frown. "We've been over this. You just need to be patient. Things will work out when I've finally sorted everything. I can't do it all." He saw the gleam of tears in her eyes and shrugged. "In time we will be together as man and wife. I've already promised you that."

A brief smile touched his lips but not his eyes. "You can trust me, you know."

"Of course, I know that…" Harriet replied a little too quickly as she sat back, pushing aside her coffee cup with a grimace of distaste. "I just hoped…" Her appetite had fled and she felt deflated and very much alone.

She glanced down at her diamond ring and inhaled deeply, releasing her pent-up breath with a long sigh. "Very well, since you're going away again, I thought I would take a few days and go down to visit Carolyn. She will need me since she's about to give birth. I can be so useful there and not be such a burden to you here."

"If you think it's best…" Her husband shrugged, not looking at all pleased with the idea. "Give her my best," he said shortly. "I did not like that husband of hers. A sea captain, of all things. Carolyn could have done so much better."

"I will…" Harriet ignored the rest of his statement as she pushed back her chair and stood up. "It will be so lovely to see her again."

"Go today, if you wish," Owen continued, not looking up again as he pushed the paperwork together impatiently. "I'll be gone for several days anyway. If not a week or two. If you're not here then it will save on your extravagant household spending. I will be thankful for that small mercy. Why don't you telephone her now and tell her you're coming down?"

Harriet stared at him as she wiped a hand across her eyes, swallowing against the sting of fresh tears. "Carolyn always knows best," she murmured, walking away toward the door.

She stopped to look back. "But, no, I won't telephone ahead. I want it to be a surprise. My very dear Carolyn has always been my rock. I will drive down to see her this afternoon. I know she will never tell me I'm not welcome."

She paused in the open doorway. "I guess I will see you the next time you're home again…" She didn't wait for a reply as she closed the door behind her with a snap and made her way slowly back upstairs to pack her suitcases.

She had a few necessary errands to run, and some purchases to be made before she went on the long trip down to Schoonerville. "Or whatever that blasted nowhere place is called…" she muttered mutinously.

Owen hadn't yet issued her with any hateful budget to curtail her spending, so she could please herself what she bought. She may not arrive at Gull Cottage until later in the evening, but she knew she would be welcomed with open arms. "After all, I am family…"

She nodded quickly. "And no one is better than family for taking the best care of her at this most delicate of times. Like I've always done."

She walked slowly up the wide staircase, twisting her diamond ring around and around her finger. "Don't you worry about a single thing, my sweet, dear, lovely, Carolyn. I will be so very happy to look after you."

※※※※※

The bedroom was in shadow when Carolyn finally opened her eyes again. There were no lights on and the curtains had been drawn tightly closed at the windows, shutting out any daylight. But the storm had finally dissipated, leaving behind a hushed silence.

Momentarily disorientated, she rolled her head to the side to frown at the bedside clock. "What time is it?"

The hands on the face stood at ten minutes past the hour of seven o'clock. "How is that possible?" she questioned, frowning as she remembered her babies had been born just after midnight. "Surely I've been asleep for more than just a few hours?"

It felt as if she'd been sleeping for days. Her whole body was cramped and sore from lying in the same position, curled on her side. Her lower limbs ached while her lips and throat were dry.

"Where is everyone?" She lifted her head to look around the room, but there was no bassinet and nobody sitting watch over her rest.

Her frown deepened. She clearly remembered her children being born. That was etched deep in the tired muscles and drawn sinews of her body.

She moved with care against the aching pain, finally managing to stretch out her limbs gratefully. All else that had followed the births had become a blur and she didn't even remember falling asleep.

But now her insistent body had brought her awake, telling her she badly needed to use the bathroom. She sucked in a quick breath with a small moan of discomfort as she tried to sit up to see what was going on and where was everyone. Where were her newborn babies?

At that moment, Olivia opened the door and swept into the room. "Ah, ah, ah…" She wagged an admonishing finger at her patient. "You're on strict bed rest for at least three days, my dear," she commanded comfortably, coming forward to push Carolyn gently back onto her pillows and tucking in the covers around her.

"But what's going on?" Carolyn stared up at her. "Where is everyone? And my babies?"

"They are both safe, sound and tickety-boo," the little medium reassured her. "They've been fed and are snuggled down asleep in the bassinet in the guest room next door. Candy and Jonathan are taking their turn at keeping watch. We'll bring them into you as soon as they wake up again."

"Well, I'm afraid I do need to get up now," Carolyn complained with a sigh, rising from her pillows as she pushed at the covers. "But I haven't been asleep all that long."

"It's no longer morning. It's past seven in the evening, my dear." Olivia settled herself comfortably on the side of the bed, reaching out to pat her hand and check her pulse. "You've slept the clock around and then some. You needed the rest. It has put the colour back into your cheeks."

"Then I have an even more urgent need to get up," Carolyn said again significantly, as the door opened and Daniel walked in.

He paused with his hand on the doorknob, smiling at her. Carolyn looked him over with a puzzled frown. He appeared to be fresh and well-rested. But then he had not just given birth, she decided moodily.

"Of course, you need to get up." Olivia nodded her understanding as she rose to her feet and folded the covers back. "Very well, but slowly now," she cautioned, taking her patient's arm. "Your body has been through a lot and you do need to take it easy."

"There is one way to be sure you take it very easy…" Daniel countered, walking to the bedside with purposeful strides.

His words held a wealth of love and understanding as he bent down to scoop his wife up into his arms, holding her high against his chest. Carolyn settled with one arm thrown around his neck and his blue eyes smiling warmly down into hers.

"I'll change the bed while you're gone," Olivia said with a nod as she set about stripping back the covers. "I've laid out a clean nightdress and the necessaries in the bathroom for you. Take your time and take it slow."

"Thank you, Olivia," Carolyn replied. "For everything."

"Oh, don't give it another thought…" The little medium waved aside her gratitude with a swift hand. "I'm just glad I could be here for all of this. It makes me feel so young again."

She swiped a quick hand across her eyes as she set about remaking the bed. "My spirits are all very pleased with the outcome."

"So am I…" Daniel whispered against his wife's ear as he carried her from the room.

"I can walk, you know," Carolyn complained softly. "I have given birth before and I'm not an invalid."

Her stubborn husband shook his head. "But where would the fun be in allowing you to walk when I am here to carry you?" he countered easily, showing no sign of putting her down as he carried her from the room and down the hall toward the bathroom.

"I'm sorry…" Carolyn cupped his bearded cheek. "How are you?" she asked softly. "I seem to remember crushing your poor hand at some point. Have you had any sleep at all?"

"Enough…" Daniel laughed softly. "And yes, you did that, indeed." He leaned down to kiss her cheek. "But the pain reminded me that I am alive and thankful for everything you have given me. I never knew how lonely I truly was until you came into my life and turned it completely upside down."

"I'm glad, too…" his wife whispered, kissing him gently.

Daniel lowered her slowly to her feet outside the bathroom door, keeping a steadying hand on her elbow. "I'll be right here when you're done. No arguments. Dr Ferguson has returned and seen our babies. All is well with them. He left strict instructions as to your care."

"Aye, aye, Captain Bligh…" Carolyn saluted him quickly before she went into the bathroom and closed the door on his warmly appreciative smile.

By the time her husband had carried her - protesting once more – back into the bedroom, the bassinet had been moved in and placed at the foot of the bed. Two cooing babies were snuggled within, watching everything with their dark blue eyes wide open and alert.

Daniel allowed Carolyn to slide out of his embrace and stand next to the bassinet, looking down at the infants. He kept a supporting arm around her waist as she whispered them and toyed with the tiny fingers which latched so quickly onto her own.

"They really are a true miracle…" she murmured, for Daniel alone.

"Yes…" He kissed her hair as she communed with them. He gave a soft, rueful laugh. "But I do think they are both destined to be sea captains because their lungs are excellent. If they are denied even the smallest attention they start shouting the odds, one trying to outdo the other. A force ten gales makes less noise."

"Then they are definitely your children." Carolyn laughed at his loving and comical expression, reaching up to kiss him softly.

"I'll get all this sorted." Olivia walked toward the open door, carrying an armload of used linen. "Get yourself back into that nice big bed and rest, young lady. Doctor's orders. We both know you're going to need it in the days and weeks ahead. All this luxury will be a very distant memory."

"Aye, aye…" Carolyn smiled as she did as she was bid, climbing gratefully back between the fresh sheets.

Olivia slanted Daniel a questioning look as he showed no sign of leaving the room. "You're happy to stay in here? To help out?" she asked, somewhat cryptically. "Most husbands usually don't. The business end of babies is seen as women's work. But two hungry babies will be a lot for your lovely lady to cope with all at once. I'll come back up if you think you can't handle being in here."

She shook her head as she smiled wryly. "Some men have even been known to pass out at the very thought. You certainly passed that test last night."

"I…" Daniel straightened from tucking his wife into bed. He frowned at the medium before what she was asking became clear. "Of course," he replied quickly. "Where else would I want to be but here? And, as you well know, I'm not like 'most husbands'. And I have never fainted in my life. I do not intend to start now."

"Good. I'm very pleased to hear it." Olivia's smile widened. "I'll leave you to it, then." She left the room, humming happily to herself.

"Are you hungry?" Martha asked as she walked in.

"Starving," Carolyn admitted honestly, leaning back against her pillows with a sigh. "And thirsty."

Privately, she could admit that she could get used to so much pampering. And aware that such luxury would not last. Three days of enforced bed rest would fly by all too soon.

"They've been really very good, Mom," Candy said, following the housekeeper into the room to hover attentively over her new siblings. "But they are a bit loud."

"Yeah…" Jonathan followed, not to be outdone. "I got to give them a bottle each."

"We both did," Candy asserted, quickly.

"Yeah…" Jonathan said again, playing fingers with the babies.

"Well, now's the time for your parents to enjoy them," Martha said firmly. "Come on, you two. I've got some dirty dishes downstairs that won't wash themselves."

"Aw, do we have to?" Jonathan wheedled. "I want to stay."

"Yeah, we want to stay and help," Candy added. "We know what to do."

"Well, what these two need now, I'm afraid you can't provide," Martha told them, shaking her head. "It's your mother's turn to take good care of them. Come on now and no more complaining."

The pair of them pulled discontented faces, very anxious to continue with their big brother and sister duties. They were deeply disappointed to be firmly shepherded from the room, but they went anyway.

The housekeeper paused in the open doorway. "I'll make up a tray for your dinner and bring it up directly." She winked toward the bed as she closed the door behind her charges' protests.

"It's time for all of us to get better acquainted," Daniel commented as he scooped up the smaller of the two babies and deposited the little girl into her mother's arms. He joined Carolyn on the bed with his small son gently cradled against his chest.

"I love you…" Carolyn smiled up at him.

"I love you too…" Daniel leaned down to kiss her lingeringly. "But you do need to rest while you can. I'm afraid these two have no sense of time. Neither Greenwich nor normal time. Bells mean nothing either."

"Then you will just have to teach them everything they will need to know," Carolyn countered with a confident smile as her daughter began to nuzzle against her, seeking warmth and sustenance.

Carolyn glanced up at her husband. "Thank you for wanting to stay," she said with a grateful sigh.

"Where else would I wish to be other than right here and right now?" Daniel replied with a shrug. "For always…"

"Yes, always…" Carolyn nodded. "But you do know, no one will rest until we have settled on their names. My mother, especially, will be clamouring to know. I shall have to telephone her tomorrow."

"Tomorrow…" Daniel nodded. "We shall discuss everything in earnest tomorrow." He leaned close to kiss her forehead. "But, for tonight, it is just the four of us…"

※※※※※

Harriet opened the trunk of her car and deposited her pile of suitcases within. It was already late afternoon and she was aware she would arrive at Carolyn's house until after dark. But her shopping trip had taken longer than she'd expected. It had soothed her troubled soul to buy presents and other small gifts.

She glanced back at the house. She'd heard her husband leave without coming up to see her. The front door had slammed behind him and then a strained kind of silence had settled.

"Carolyn will understand. She will know what I need to do…" she comforted herself, as she slid behind the steering wheel.

She sat for a moment, staring down at her diamond ring. She shrugged and put the vehicle in motion.

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