A/N: Well, this has taken me much longer than anticipated to get up. I'm sorry if I've kept you waiting too long. Hopefully you enjoy this update.
Chapter Three
Clara and her husband were enjoying a lovely morning lie in. This was a rare treat for the two of them, and they were savoring every minute of it. Both Ruth and Elias had gone right back to sleep after their morning feed, giving their parents some time together before it would be time to get up and start getting ready for the day. With their babies only a week old, both parents were still at home adjusting to parenthood together. Josh would go back to work in another week or two, but for now, he was here to help Clara as she needed.
"Oh, I'm so ready for a proper bath," Clara declared.
"My sponge baths aren't cutting it then?" Josh teased.
"They're perfectly adequate when I'm staying in bed for most of the day, but Madam is popping by today, and I need to be more fresh and presentable."
"I know, love," Josh stated, "I'm sure it'll be nice and refreshing for you. I'll draw the water and be in to fetch you once it's ready."
"Thank you," she said gratefully, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek before he rose from the bed.
Once he had prepared the water in the tub, he gently helped her out of bed and helped lower her down into the bath. He noticed her wincing as she got in, making it clear she was still in quite a bit of pain from the birth. He hoped the water would help her feel a bit more like herself.
"Do you need help with anything, love?" he asked.
"No, but thank you for asking, darling," she replied with a soft smile. "Although, I do think we'll be sticking to sponge baths for a bit longer," she admitted.
"Still in need of my services, are you?" he teased, placing a gentle kiss to his wife's nose.
"Mmm," she nodded, closing her eyes and leaning into her husband's touch for a moment as he cradled her face and pressed a soft kiss to her crown.
"As much as I'd love to stay here, I'd better go change the babies. You relax, my love. Call for me if you need help getting out of the tub."
"Alright. Thank you."
"I love you."
"I love you, too," she promised, giving him one last smile before he left the room to go attend to their little ones. She knew he would soothe them well so that she could take as long as she needed in the bath, and she was grateful for that. She truly couldn't ask for a better husband or father for her little ones.
Josh changed each baby like clockwork, quickly having them both settled within his arms as he sat down and placing them on his chest when he sat down in his favorite armchair. Elias was asleep, but Ruth was wide awake and staring up at her father intensely. "Well, little miss, you don't want to join your brother in slumber?" he asked the small baby in a whisper. "That's okay. Maybe your daddy can tell you a story first. You would like that, wouldn't you?"
As if in answer, the baby settled further into her father's embrace and looked up at him almost expectantly.
"Well alright then," he said, gently smoothing back his daughter's hair as he began to speak. "You see, Ruthie, I met your mama about 5 years ago. We started working for the Russells at the same time, and from the moment I laid eyes on her, I was smitten. She and I were both very dedicated to our work though, and so it took some time for us to open our eyes to how much we both liked each other and do something about it. One day, when your mama was inspecting the maids' work, she found herself alone in the drawing room at the piano. I was upstairs looking for the madame when I heard this beautiful sound, so I crept in and listened some more. When the song was finished, I finally worked up the courage to ask your mama to a concert, and that was the beginning of our courtship. Two years later, we married, and now, we have you."
"And we couldn't be happier," Clara interjected with a wide smile as she stepped out from the doorway, making her presence known.
"How long have you been listening?" Josh inquired, a slight flush to his cheeks.
"Don't be embarrassed, love. Everything you said was the truth, and I couldn't be happier with how things turned out," she told him sincerely, walking over to him and placing a kiss on his cheek.
"I'm happy too," he said, taking his wife's hand in his own and giving it a squeeze. "I've got a beautiful wife and two absolutely perfect babies. This is a dream come true. I couldn't dream of anything more."
"Me either," she agreed with a smile. "Looks like someone doesn't want to let her daddy go," she said, noting how Ruth's hand was curled tightly around the collar of Josh's shirt and she was now sleeping soundly.
"She's already in the makings of becoming a daddy's girl," Josh admitted. "Although that's only fair given how much Eli seems to gravitate towards you. You'll have a mummy's boy and I'll have a daddy's girl."
"I suppose so. I'm so glad they'll both know such love from you. I didn't have that from my father, but our babies deserve better than what I had."
"My father never showed very much love with us either, but times are changing, and our babies will not live like we did," Josh promised sincerely.
"I'm so grateful for you," Clara whispered, eyes shining with unshed tears of love and joy.
"And I you," Josh reciprocated the sentiment, pressing a kiss to his wife's hand before turning it over and placing another one along the inside of her wrist. "I love you so much, Clara Louise Borden."
"I love you too, Joshua William. So much."
"Always and forever, my love."
"Always."
Later that afternoon, Josh had gone out to the market to give Clara some privacy with her mistress as Bertha Russell made her appearance at their apartment. When Clara heard the knock, she got up as quickly as she could manage and made her way to the door. Upon opening it she was surprised to see her madam with a rather large basket of goods in her arms.
"Oh, Mrs. Russell, do come in and out of the wind," Clara said hospitably, opening the door wider to allow Bertha to pass through. "I trust the journey here went well?" she asked.
"Yes, it was rather pleasant. I was protected from the wind considerably in the carriage. Although when I stepped out of it, I certainly understood why everyone thinks a storm is coming."
"They say we might be in for a blizzard," Clara agreed. "Josh, er, that is, Mr. Borden, just stepped out to the market to get some provisions for tonight's dinner and some extras in case there really is a storm coming. Although, I'm not sure we'll need it thanks to all that's in this lovely basket," she said kindly, gently relieving Bertha of the basket and placing it on the side table in the hallway. "Thank you so much for this. It is so very thoughtful of you."
"Honestly, it was the least I could do. You've had twins. That is no small feat, and I figured you'd need some sustenance. Though with your husband being a chef, I suppose he must provide that for you well enough," Bertha joked lightly.
"Mr. Borden does a wonderful job, but still it's nice to have some treats he doesn't have to make sometimes. Thank you again," she said, ushering Bertha to take a seat on the sofa as she poured them each a glass of water before sitting down in the armchair across from her.
"I asked Wilkins to make those chocolate scones you loved so much while you were pregnant, but in case you no longer have a taste for that, I also got some cookies and chocolate covered oranges from the baker's. Oh and there's some salami, cheese, and jam in there too I picked up just in case."
"That's very generous of you ma'am," Clara said. She was sincerely touched. She hadn't known Madame was paying that much attention to things to notice her pregnancy cravings, and she felt it was very sweet of her to ask the temporary chef they'd hired while Josh was away to make them for her.
"How are the babies adjusting to life outside the womb? I trust they're both well?" Bertha asked politely, bringing Clara out of her reverie.
"Oh, yes, they're both doing marvelously well. They're already starting to put on a little weight, which I suppose means they're already growing up."
"You'll find they grow rather fast at this age, and as much as you might wish it, you can't make them stop," Bertha said, rather nostalgically.
Seeing this discreet sadness in her mistress's eyes, Clara thought maybe she ought to let her hold the babies and remember what it was like when her own children were small. "Would you like to meet them?" she asked.
"I'd like that very much," Bertha responded.
Clara got up and gently shifted Elias from his bassinet. "This is Elias William," she said, showing the baby to the other woman. Bertha cooed at him softly, tracing a finger softly over the baby's delicate hand.
"He looks so much like you," she said.
"Wait until you see the girl. She's absolutely the spitting image of her father," Clara told her proudly.
Soon enough, Clara had shifted Elias back into his bassinet and picked up Ruth from the one beside it. "This is Ruth Amelia," she informed her employer proudly.
"Well, hello, Ruth," Bertha said in awe. "Your mommy was right. You look just like your father. I'm sure he's very proud of that fact."
"He's as proud as proud can be," Clara confirmed with a chuckle. "She's already so attached to him. I'm kind of surprised she hasn't cried for him since he left."
"Her and Gladys have that in common. Just wait until they're ganging up on you to bend all the rules," Bertha teased.
"Oh, they already are. Last night, he refused to put her down to sleep even though I told him time and time again she needed to rest. He's spoiling her so much with how much he holds her."
Bertha laughed lightly. "At least she'll never want for love," she said.
"No, that is something she'll never lack," Clara concurred, gently placing her daughter down once more, smiling down at her and running a finger along her cheek for a moment before sitting back down to continue entertaining her guest. As she began a new conversation, she couldn't help but continue smiling as the majority of her mind was still running rampant with thoughts of how much her husband loved their family and how grateful she was for that fact.
Bertha hadn't stayed too long, and Josh had returned home not long after Bertha left, making Clara smile upon his arrival as always. She found that whether they were separated for a minute, an hour, or a day she always smiled upon being reunited with her husband. "How did the visit with Madam go?" Josh asked her as he took off his boots, placing them in the doorway as he entered the living room.
"It went well. She brought us a lovely basket of goodies."
"That was very thoughtful of her," Josh said, making his way into the adjoining living room to set down his own purchases and have a look in the basket. Upon surveying all the ingredients at his disposal, he decided on something simple yet filling he could make for dinner. "What do you say about salmon canapes and salami finger sandwiches for dinner?" he asked.
"That sounds lovely," Clara answered from her spot on the sofa. She loved his canapes, and the prospect of having them tonight clearly excited her.
"I know you can't resist my canapes," Josh teased. "That face says it all."
"No, it's actually you I can't resist," she responded flirtatiously. "So, before you begin your preparations, can you please come over here and kiss me?"
"Of course, my darling," he responded, quickly making his way over to her and pressing a kiss to her cheek. "Your wish is my command," he told her with a charming wink.
"In that case, my wish is for you to sit here and hold me for a little while."
Josh nodded and sat down beside her, wrapping his arm gently over her shoulder. Clara sighed contentedly, feeling warm in her husband's embrace. This was a feeling she knew she would never grow tired of for as long as she lived. This was what love felt like.