Chapter 203 - Expectant

The next day it wasn't long before Delaney found herself worn down by Miles and Cora's company. It wasn't fair to them and she knew it. They couldn't help it that they were delighted and there was nothing wrong with that. She loved her brother and sister-in-law. But they were so excited about their baby that they barely talked of anything else.

The more they talked about the unborn child, the more Delaney found herself unable to escape the fact she wasn't pregnant and may never become pregnant. In a few months' time, her marriage could be dissolved and she would lose the man she loved. They would never know what it was like to have a baby of their own.

Meanwhile, Cora and Miles would be off living their fairytale life with their growing family.

By the time they finished their midday meal, Delaney was tired of hearing about how wonderful everything was for them. She informed the couple and Violet who was still there, that she was starting to develop a headache and needed to go rest for a while. Cora and Miles looked at her with concern but Violet's gaze met hers and the older woman only nodded. Delaney was relieved at least someone knew how hard this was for her.

Up in her room, Delaney paced back and forth for a time before trying to make herself sit and read. Unable to focus though she soon went back to pacing. Luckily a knock came at her door before she had worn a hole in the rug.

The seamstresses had sent the clothes for little William. Excitedly, Delaney called for Ms. Bird who brought the boy back to the room they had used when they tried on the old clothes. She thought about inviting Cora and Miles or at least Violet to join them but in the end, decided both she and Will would enjoy it more if the others weren't there.

When the duchess lifted the lids off the boxes the servant boy's eyes went wide in awe. With Delaney's permission, he stepped forward and ever so gently lifted things out to examine them. When he came to his winter coat, he looked up at the duchess with happy, tear-filled eyes.

"What do you think of it?" Delaney asked him with an anxious smile.

"I-I-I th-think it's th-the most w-wonderful th-thing I've ever seen," he managed through his tears, the overwhelming emotion making it even harder for him to speak.

Delaney looked at him fondly and crouched down to use her handkerchief to wipe away his tears. She took his small hands in hers and held them tight.

"I'm so glad you like them. You will never have to worry about clothes or food or anything else as long as you're in the Adair house. I promise you that. Lord Adair will always be sure you are taken care of."

"And y-you?"

Delaney dropped her gaze. She realized she couldn't promise the boy that she would always take care of him because very soon she might not be at Edgewood Manor.

"As long as I am here I will take care of you too," she managed, "But Lord Adair is the Duke so he is all you will really need."

"Are y-you l-leaving?" Will asked then, his face filling with worry, "I-I-I don't want y-you to g-g-go."

Delaney gave his hands an encouraging squeeze. She remembered what it had been like to be an orphan and feel a lack of security. She had never known what was going to happen to her either and she had feared her Aunt and Uncle growing tired of her and abandoning her. She knew Will was likely feeling something similar and she didn't want to lie to him as she had been lied to. It would make her possible future leaving hurt him even more.

"There may come a time very soon Will when I won't be able to be here anymore," Delaney spoke quietly as she looked into his big brown eyes, "You don't need to be afraid though. You won't ever have to leave here. This is your home now."

"W-Why would you leave?"

The duchess sighed, "There are things we can't control. Things that can keep us apart even when we want to be together. But I still love Lord Adair completely and will stay here with him as long as I'm able to."

"W-What if something b-bad happens to him?" the boy asked, surprising her, "Y-You couldn't b-be the d-duchess without the D-Duke. I-If that bad person k-kills him will y-you still leave?"

"The Duke and I haven't had any children so he wouldn't have an heir and I'm afraid I would have to leave," she nodded sadly, "But you don't need to worry about that. You will always be taken care of here. Lord Adair's brother Miles, the man visiting, is the next heir to Edgewood and he is a good man too. I've already told him how special you are to us."

Tears filled the little boy's eyes and he stepped back, shaking his head and pulling his hands from hers.

"E-E-Everything w-would be r-ruined!" he shouted then before turning with a little sob and running from the room. Ms. Bird rushed after him, calling for him to come back, but the child was already gone.

"I'm sorry my Lady," Ms. Bird shook her head, "I suppose it's just been a lot of excitement for the boy today and he cares about you and Lord Adair very much. Even more so now I would imagine."

"It's alright," Delaney sighed as the bell announcing dinner rang, "I will try talking to him again later."

"Why don't you let me give it a try?" Ms. Bird suggested, "I think little William has started to see me as sort of a grandmother. He might talk to me about what's upsetting him."

"Thank you Ms. Bird that would be very kind."

-

At dinner Delaney mostly stayed quiet, listening as the others talked. Thinking she still didn't feel well, her silence wasn't a concern. She didn't care about their conversation anyway. She was anxiously waiting for the meal to be over and everyone to retire to their rooms so she could sneak out to meet Opal again. Tonight was the night she would get her potion. She also wanted to ask the witch what she had meant by her strange words.

Glancing at Miles she watched as he barely took his eyes off his wife long enough to take a drink. She had wanted to tell her brother-in-law and possibly even Cora about the witch, the potion, and her last words but the two seemed to be able to think of nothing else but each other and their baby.

Delaney knew she was thinking with jealousy and pettiness but she couldn't manage to stop herself. She didn't want to share anything with them at the moment. She wanted her husband to come home and she could share everything with him. All her pain and bitter feelings. He was the only one who could truly understand.

She felt a stab of longing in her heart as she looked at his empty chair. He couldn't return soon enough. Vincent had a lot of work to do but Miles had told him about the baby which meant he knew the couple would be coming to tell Delaney. Her husband would know that the news would hurt her so he would do even more to hurry back to her. She tried to take comfort in the knowledge.

-

Cora had been tired from their day so thankfully, everyone had gone to bed early. Violet had offered to stay another night and Delaney was actually relieved she had. Her mother-in-law had proven to be a good buffer between herself and the expectant couple. Without Violet, Delaney might have lost her temper and said something she would regret.

In her room, Delaney pulled out her boots and laced them up. Ms. Bird had done her hair into a braid that ringing the top of her head like a crown. She wore a dark purple gown and pulled her long black cloak over it.

A basket sat beside her door that she had prepared earlier to take to Opal as thanks for her help. In it was biscuits, salted meat, and a few other foods. Delaney had also found a small but warm quilt she thought could keep the old witch warm during the cold winter nights to come.

At last, feeling it was late enough and she was ready, Delaney blew out the candles in her room and took her lantern in hand. She hooked the handles of the basket over her arm and pulled open her bedroom door. Without looking, she stepped out into the dimly lit hall and pulled the door closed behind her. She turned to head towards the stairs and slammed right into another person's chest.

With a startled gasp, Delaney stumbled backward but a pair of strong hands reached out and caught her. She looked up in surprise at a pair of green eyes staring back at her with a smirk.