Chapter 67

Through a

misty mind, Alessandra could hear voices. They sounded like they

were in the distance, talking. She could hear them mentioning her

name , so knew they must have

been talking about her.

"She is very weak, but with

enough sleep, she may recover well enough," one voice said.

Alessandra, in her daze, tried

to comprehend what they were talking about.

"He is a healthy lad," said the

second voice, sounding happy but concerned at the same time. "But

what a sad day to have arrived in this world, with his

grandfather…"

Just as Alessandra felt

herself begin to drift off to sleep once more, she heard the door

open forcefully, and a third voice talk loudly. The voice reached

her and she started to try to call out to it, but her mouth would

not speak.

"My wife is in labour?" the

male voice asked loudly to anyone who would listen, before a

softer, quieter one replied.

"Sir, she has already done her

work," Margaret replied.

When Edward looked more

closely at Margaret, he realised that the bundle she was holding

was not Isabella at all, as he had immediately assumed. Peering

into the face of the little person being enveloped, he felt his

emotions overflow once more. He looked up at Margaret, who answered

a question that had not been voiced.

"It is a boy, Sir," she

said. "He appears to be very healthy, but the mistress…"

Edward's eyes tore away

from the angelic face of his newly born son, and turned suddenly to

the bed in the room. Seeing his wife looking so lifeless, he

immediately thought the worst. Sensing his distress, the midwife

spoke up.

"She is exhausted, but

she will recover," she said. "She needs to sleep now, but this

little one does need to feed. With your permission, I do think we

should try and let it."

Edward tried to concentrate on

what was being said to him, and eventually nodded in full

understanding.

"Yes, of course. Shall I take

him?" he asked. Margaret handed the baby into his arms, wondering

again at how much of a loving, hands-on father he was, compared to

many other men.

Edward looked at the

small face once more as he carried him over to the bed. Sitting on

the bed, Edward gently undid his wife's nightgown to allow just

enough access for the baby to feed. Carefully, he held both of them

in his arms to facilitate it. Looking at his wife's face, he could

see how much the birth had taken out of her. He held back tears,

determined to remain strong, at least until his son had

fed.

As the baby began to

suckle, Alessandra felt the familiar sensation and woke to look

down. It surprised her that Edward was beside her, and a new baby

was at her breast. It took her several minutes to remember that she

had given birth.

"Edward," he heard her breathe

out as her hand came up and touched his face. "I am sorry. I seem

to have rushed…"

Edward smiled at her through

tears.

"Oh my love,

we have a son , and look at

him. He is beautiful."

Alessandra indulged in

the new knowledge, and the new feeling of love inside of her,

before remembering how the day had begun.

"Edward, someone was

hurt," she said and looked into the eyes of the man she loved. As

she became fully awake, she noticed how sad he looked, and how red

his eyes were. "Oh, no! Your father?" she asked. Edward nodded

before breaking down completely.

"Margaret, can you take him

please? He has fallen asleep," she called out so the baby could be

put down in his bed. "And could you please both leave us alone and

ask that no-one disturb us?"

After they were alone in the

room, despite the strong exhaustion she felt, Alessandra put her

arms around her husband and let him cuddle into her like a small

child, weeping heavily and loudly.

"Oh my love, I am so sorry,"

she said and then sat silent, letting him speak - or not speak - as

he wished.

Edward found himself wrapped in

his wife's love. He indulged in it. Having watched her go through

the same thing when her mother had died the year before, he knew

she had a sound understanding of what he was feeling, but it was

more the strength he gained from her through her holding him that

soothed him. After a long time, he pulled away from her. He had a

conflicted look on his face.

"My mother…" he started to say

but immediately felt disloyal about leaving his wife.

"Your mother needs you, Edward.

Go to her … please," Alessandra encouraged.

She saw a look of relief

pass over his face before he kissed her deeply once, started to

walk away, and then returned to kiss her even more deeply. When he

finally left the room, Alessandra felt overwhelmingly saddened by

the news of her father-in-law's passing. In contrast, she also

remembered the small person lying in a tiny bed not too far from

where she was. She smiled with the decision of what his name was

meant to be.

"Charles."