Chapter 26

Over the

following week, Alessandra and Edward put the possibility of her

being with child out of their minds , while they continued with their individual and joint

learning and responsibilities.

One morning, after

breakfast had finished and Edward had gone off with his father,

Alessandra returned to their room to rest alone for a short time.

She was startled when Margaret walked in.

"Oh my, Miss! I am so sorry. I

did not expect you to be here," she said as she began to walk back

out the door.

"No, Margaret, please come back

in," Alessandra said to her, making the older woman turn and close

the door behind her so that they had privacy. "You have been

assisting me long enough now that I wonder if you would have

noticed…" she started to ask. As always, the older woman

successfully anticipated what Alessandra was thinking and feeling

too shy to say.

"I have noticed that

perhaps you have missed a bleeding," she admitted quietly, and saw

Alessandra nod and put her head down.

"Yes, that is what I

wanted to ask you about," Alessandra replied, relieved. "I was

trying to work out the days, but every day seems to be like the

last so I am not sure…"

Margaret moved closer to

the young woman before her, who she had grown to respect and

appreciate as her future mistress.

"Does it seem to you that I

have missed one?" Alessandra asked quietly.

"To me it

does, Miss," Margaret answered. "In fact, you almost should have had two bleedings in the time since your last one."

She watched Alessandra,

wondering if the thought would bring joy to her or not. A few

minutes later, she saw Alessandra's face transform into a

smile.

"Do you think

it is too soon to be sure?"

Alessandra asked. "I am fearful of giving hope if I am

wrong."

"Oh, Miss, whenever a

woman is with child, there is a possibility that it will not come

to full term, as sad as that is," Margaret replied. "Some women do

choose to keep the realisation to themselves for as long as they

can, so they do not let anyone down. Only you can know if you wish

to share the news or not, but if you are asking me if enough time

has passed for it to seem like you are with child, then yes, I

think you might be."

On hearing the reply,

Alessandra jumped up and put her arms around the older woman,

before pulling away again, afraid of having caused offence by the

action.

"Thank you, Margaret. You

cannot know how much I appreciate your openness in talking to me

about such personal things."

The older woman took the

words and tone as an indicator that the conversation was finished,

and Alessandra wanted privacy. She curtseyed and silently removed

herself from the room, leaving Alessandra alone.

Alessandra stood at the

window and looked out over the land, wondering what to do. Part of

her wanted to shout out to everyone, full of joy, about the

possibility. As always, she found herself thinking of Edward's

mother, and considering it might not be a cause for happiness for

her, to have her daughter-in-law carrying a child. It was expected,

of course, but how was she to share the news without causing any

vexation or hurt to her mother-in-law?

~~~~~

Late in the afternoon, she was

studiously focusing on not thinking about the issue when Edward

found her in her favourite spot in the sunshine of the enclosed

glass room.

"What are you deep in

thought about, my beautiful wife?" Alessandra heard Edward say. She

was startled at the realisation that she had not heard him enter

the room.

Edward

approached, sat beside her and took

her hand before kissing her and waiting for her reply.

"I think I am ready to go home

to visit my mother, Edward," she said quietly, hoping she would not

be offending him or his parents for asking. He only nodded and

kissed her hand.

"I will talk to Father,

and have everything arranged," he said, realising what she might be

saying. "Do you still think there is a chance that you might be

with child, my love?"

"I do," Alessandra

replied. "Would you be happy if it is true?"

Edward

smiled brilliantly at her as his

mind ventured far off into the future, imagining being a father to

a child.

"Yes! But whatever happens, I

shall be happy, Alessandra, as long as you are with me," he

said.

She

smiled at him, happy to just sit and

hold hands and lean on him.

~~~~~

Edward later sat in the

steward's room with his father, having purposely lured him there so

he could speak privately with him and tell him what he and

Alessandra suspected.

"I can arrange this for

you and Alessandra, Edward, but why is there no announcement, if

she thinks she is with child?" his father asked him.

Edward found himself trying to

be very careful in his words.

"Father, Alessandra knows

the difficulties for Mother in not having been able to have more

children after I was born. Even for me it feels wrong…" he started

to say before his father cut him off abruptly, startling

him.

"Edward, your mother's

time of having children passed long ago, and she expects, as I do,

that you and Alessandra will produce children to continue our

family line," Charles said. "I appreciate that you are sensitive to

how your mother may feel, but please believe me when I tell you

that when that news comes, she will be as joyous about it as I will

be."

Edward nodded in response, not

feeling like any words were required.

"How certain is she?" his

father asked.

"She wishes to see her

mother," Edward replied. "I am sure that will clarify anything she

is uncertain about."

His father nodded to him.

"Very well. I will arrange for the two of you to travel tomorrow

afternoon. Once you are there, you can send word to let me know

when you are ready to return."

Edward nodded and left

his father to go and find Alessandra and give her confirmation of

her ability to go home.

~~~~~

"We are going tomorrow?"

Alessandra asked, finding it difficult to hide her excitement to

the news. "To see my mother and father?"

Edward laughed at her.

"Yes! It is all arranged for tomorrow afternoon. We shall travel

halfway, and stay overnight in an inn before continuing the

following morning. You shall see your mother on the day after

tomorrow," he said, feeling great power from his parents' situation

in life that made it so easy to make such arrangements at such

short notice.

Alone in their room, Alessandra

threw her arms around him and kissed him passionately, instantly

stirring him. They quickly undressed and indulged in pleasuring

each other.

"Should we still be doing

this, Alessandra?" Edward asked. "If you are with

child?"

Alessandra looked at him

with such a suggestive look in her eyes that he laughed as she said

to him, "But we do not know for certain that I am, so we must keep

trying, must we not?"

Edward smiled, held her

tight, and kissed her more, very happy to do just that.