Chapter 28

Chapter 28

"Is that it? Mama! Come quickly!" Eleanor shouted over her shoulder as she skipped toward the stables as quickly as she could.

"If only I could summon that energy again," Claire said mostly to herself as she slowly trailed after her daughter. It seemed that with every passing year, Eleanor only seemed to become more energetic and more restless.

She could spend the whole day running around the grounds chasing chickens or climbing trees. It was a wonder that she ever managed to sleep at all. Dorian had teased her once that perhaps Eleanor would start sleepwalking just to keep expending energy. She had chastised him for that one, and he had deserved it.

Today marked a very important day for Eleanor. She and Dorian had created an elaborate paper chain to mark the passing days, a countdown to this very moment. She had been so diligent in ensuring to only tear off one chain a day. It was meant to be an exercise in patience.

"I could carry you, if you like?" Dorian offered.

Claire's grip on his arm only tightened. "No, the walking is good for my constitution. Though, you shall have to keep a diligent eye on the path ahead of us for if there are any rocks or stray roots. I am unable to presently see my feet properly. The last thing I wish to do today of all days is to trip and embarrass myself."

"You cannot help that your center of gravity has been so drastically altered." Dorian grinned.

Claire did not think his comment was amusing. She glared at him from her side eye. "No, I have you to blame for that."

"At least you will not be in that condition much longer. Of course, it pains me to see you so uncomfortable, but I will not deny that I am deeply enjoying your radiant glow." Dorian paused, stepping in front of Claire and bringing her to a stop. He placed his hand on her rounded belly with a forlorn smile.

She knew what he was thinking, for he had said it to her so many times before. He lamented the fact that he had not been present the first time around. As much as he loved experiencing her pregnancy the second time, it would not replace the years that they had lost.

"I saw that Dolores has written to you again," Dorian said in a leading fashion. "Is this letter to remain unopened as well? Should I tell the servants to dispose of it?"

Claire sighed. "I am not sure yet. I admit I appreciate the effort she has decided to put into mending things now that she has gained some perspective. But the wound is still fresh in my mind. There were so many years of pain and misunderstanding that it is hard to simply put it all behind me."

"She said something to the same effect when she wrote to me last as well."

"I will speak to her again. I know that I shall, but I am simply not ready to do so yet. There will come a time where we will have to mend bridges and allow her the opportunity to become a proper aunt to our children," Claire said, though she did not fully believe her own words.

"I suppose we cannot deny that she loves very deeply. Knowing and understanding her intentions can help me empathize with her." Dorian's voice trailed off, as if he did not wish to voice the next parts out loud. Claire understood because she felt much the same. Knowing the reason did not excuse the bad behavior.

She placed her hand on top of his own. "Dwelling in the past only hurts your feelings, my love. At least your mother will return from visiting Dolores in the countryside soon and will give us a better update to her condition."

"Yes, that is true. She was very intent on being here for the delivery of our child."

"Speaking of, your daughter is very thrilled about her surprise. If you wish to see the look on her face when she sees it then I suggest you hurry up."

Dorian nodded his agreement and took her arm. She did her best to walk as quickly as the heat would allow her as they rounded the corner to the stables. They had been wholly transformed over the last few months. She liked to think it was Dorian's form of nesting.

While she had taken to decorating the nursery and fitting it with everything that she could think of for their child, Dorian had redone the stables. It had been a strictly functional space before, and now it was new. It looked grand enough to house many racing horses.

A fresh coat of paint on the interior and exterior had been applied as well as elaborate molding on the ceilings. There were enough stalls to comfortably house fifteen horses. Not that Dorian had acquired quite that many yet. But she had a sneaking suspicion that if Eleanor continued to show such an interest in them, he would simply keep purchasing them. Claire had tried to tell him time and time again that he did not need to surrender to Eleanor's every whim in order to gain her affection, but he was still learning that balance for himself.

Claire had paused for a moment to admire the decorative lamps by the entrance before Eleanor's shriek of excitement had Dorian finally leaving her side to jog deeper into the stables. She must have found her gift. Claire did her best to hurry inside despite her desire to linger and admire the rest of the renovations.

Eventually, perhaps after she had delivered the baby, she would have to have Dorian escort her back up into the hay loft that she had insisted he keep. She had told him that he could change anything else he desired, but he needed to keep that. It was of great sentimental value to her.

There, at the end of the long row of stalls, stood Dorian with his hands on Eleanor's middle, holding her up as she perched on the hinged gate. She was leaned so far forward that if he were not there, she might have simply flipped over the barrier and into the space with the horse.

It did not seem that Eleanor would ever meet an animal that she did not instantly adore. There was not even the slightest hint of fear as a horse's massive gray head pushed into her space, its long nose flattening against Eleanor for her to happily hug it.

The Welsh cob was a good horse for a child, Dorian had insisted. He had taken great care in meeting every possible horse over the past few months before selecting this one: a lovely mare with a pale gray coloring and white spots along her back. She had black markings down near her hooves and a white diamond on her forehead. Positively beautiful.

"What shall I call her?" Eleanor asked, petting her new horse happily.

"Well, you will have to think of a good name for her," Dorian answered.

"She is truly all mine?"

"Yes, she is just for you."

"She is beautiful!" Eleanor gushed.

"Would you like to take her for a ride, perhaps?" Dorian offered. He had expressed being a touch apprehensive this morning about the slim chance of horse and rider not easily taking to one another, but it was clear those worries had been in vain.

"Can I?" Eleanor positively beamed.

"Of course you can," Dorian said before placing her back onto her feet. "Take a step back now."

Quickly, a stable boy rushed over to assist them in walking Eleanor's new horse from her stall and over to where the mounting block was. He put on her saddle and adjusted everything under Eleanor's careful scrutiny. It looked as if she were afraid to even look away for a single second lest she miss something important.

The riding lessons Dorian had been giving her lately had been the key to forming a comfortable relationship between the two of them. It was still difficult for Eleanor to fully understand that Dorian was in fact her father. She insisted that Richard was also her father, which was true but in a different capacity. It seemed her young mind had decided that they were both equally her father, and that worked well enough for everyone.

Claire watched as Eleanor attempted to scramble up onto the horse by herself. She swatted away Dorian's hands as he tried to assist her, insisting that she could do it independently. She struggled for a handful of moments before surrendering.

Dorian hefted her up onto the horse easily and Claire almost remarked on how improved their daughter's posture had become. She had refused to learn to ride sidesaddle as she could not ride nearly as quickly. She had insisted on learning the regular way. No doubt plenty of others in high society would be absolutely scandalized by the fact that she wore pants while she did it.

There would be more than enough time for Eleanor to wear skirts and dresses. The bargain was that so long as she behaved like a young lady outside of the house, they did not mind so much what she did inside of their home. Society had been shocked enough when Dorian had announced their engagement in the first place.

Eleanor held the reins tightly as Dorian grabbed the bridle and started to guide them out of the stable and onto the yard.

"Can I?" Eleanor asked, a hint of nerves in her voice as she looked at Dorian for confirmation.

"You know what to do. I shall be right here if you need any assistance."

Dorian's reassurance was all the confidence boost that Eleanor seemed to need. She spurred her new mare forward, easing into things as she started to get a feel for her new horse. It was not long before she was trotting around the yard.

They had not yet worked up to hurdles the last that Dorian had told her, but it certainly would not be long. The pair moved as if they had simply been meant to find one another. Claire could stand here and watch the joy on her daughter's face for hours. That certainly was not to diminish the satisfaction she got from watching the pure, unfiltered pride on Dorian's own face.

This was the vision of her life that she had always wanted: family and comfort with Dorian at her side. It was a dream she had given up so long ago that, even all these months later, it still felt surreal to her that it was actually happening. She could never have guessed it was possible for her heart to be so completely full. There was nothing else she could desire.

It took her longer to catch up to where Dorian stood, but the moment she was within reach, he placed an arm around her. His fingers pressed small patterns into the small of her back almost absently at this point. The action was something she greatly appreciated as it meant some of the pressure in her back was relieved for just a moment.

"She is a natural. Just like I told you." Dorian did not take his eyes off of Eleanor for a single moment as she moved around the yard, her smile as bright as the sun itself. Her long braided hair whipped out behind her as she made lap after lap.

"I did not doubt you," Claire answered.

Dorian finally tore his eyes away from their daughter, the intensity in his gaze rooting Claire to the spot. "Thank you. I do not think that I can tell you that enough."

"For what, my love?"

"For exactly that. For loving me, for our daughter, for being the person that you are. I—" Emotion stopped Dorian's words as he struggled to get out a properly articulated sentence. Instead, he reoriented himself to face her, his other hand coming to rest on the swell of her stomach. Their new child moved inside of her, rolling as if the child, too, needed to touch him as much as possible.

"That is not something you need to thank me for, Dorian."

"I do so regardless. You have made me such a happy man," he continued before leaning down to kiss her sweetly. Then he lowered himself further to kiss their still-growing child. "I could not ask for anything more."

"Well, then I suppose is truly for the best that we have the rest of our lives to continue to be this happy, is it not?" Claire said with a soft giggle.

"I intend to cherish each and every moment." Dorian lifted her chin and kissed her forehead before turning back to watch Eleanor. "As I do not know if I have told you yet today, I love you."

Claire hugged herself into Dorian's side, and breathed him in deeply. "I know, my love, I know."

THE END ?