Sixteen months after the wedding, winter had well and truly settled over the estate. Snow had settled over the paths and roofs, and Moses had been admiring the wintry scene from his study when a moving figure in a dark cloak caught his eye. He shook his head. Esther was trudging through the snow, returning from the refuge. The refuge was partially operational, the animals tucked inside the insulated barns. Esther carried a bundle of dark wool in her arms, and for a moment, he wondered if it could be another rescue of which he had not been made aware. Then he frowned. If Esther was carrying an animal, did one of the maids have their daughter?

The fact that it could be an animal or our child is quite telling.

He chuckled softly. The number of times he had confused their daughter’s basket for a basket of new kittens, or with a goat kid inside it, had become quite the joke within the estate. The maids had caught him talking to a writhing basket of kittens, so sleep-deprived that he had not noticed the difference. His valet once handed him a basket, and he had wondered why their daughter was bleating. Their daughter was not even a year old.

He stepped away from the window and went to grab his cloak.

“Has she gone outside in the snow?” Nora asked from the doorway.

“Of course she has,” he said with a smile.

“How many animals are there now?” she asked.

“As of last night? Five dogs, three goats, four cats, two ponies, and the calf,” he said.

“I believe the calf is a cow now,” Nora corrected. 

His eyebrows rose, and then he nodded slowly. “Ah, I suppose so,” he said with a bittersweet smile. “How time flies …”

“Then there is also Cooper and …” Nora grinned at him. “Napoleon.”

“The parrot still lives,” he snorted. “He has learned my name, which is impressive.”

“It is,” Nora nodded. “But I believe he uses it as a curse word.”

“He uses any word as a curse word,” Moses said, shaking his head ruefully. Nora nodded, her expression softening.

“You would not have it any other way, would you?” Nora asked quietly, approaching her brother and adjusting the lapel of his cloak.

“Of course not,” he said thoughtfully. “Although, I would like to know if she had Alice in her arms, or a new animal.”

“You do not know if she has your child?” Nora asked.

“Alice is safe,” he said. “Nobody would ever allow Alice to be harmed. Esther might be dedicated to her rescue, but she is also a dedicated mother. You know that as well as I do.”

“I know,” Nora sighed. “But you both worry me when you say something like that.”

“Come on,” Moses said, shaking his head. “Let us solve this mystery together.”

The pair descended the staircase. The estate was warm, with decorations underway for the Christmas season. The smell of pine and warm candles filled the air as they entered the parlor to find Esther taking off her cloak and a maid brushing the snow from her boots.

Moses went to pick up the bundle she had carried in.

“Now, my darling,” he said lovingly. “What strange creature have you brought in now?”

“BAH!” Alice cried out, her small, chubby hand bapping his cheek. Nora and Esther burst into fits of laughter.

“Our daughter is a strange creature, is she?” Esther said through her smile.

“Well, she is our child,” Moses joked, leaning in to Alice and kissing her forehead. “Is that not right, little one?”

Alice babbled and wriggled hard in her tight swaddle of wool. Moses smiled and loosened the fabric gently. Even inside the wool, Alice was dressed in a thick dress, little mittens, and warm woolen socks. He smiled lovingly at his daughter, who had the perfect mix of his and Esther’s features.

The moment was broken by a maid entering the room, a bundle of letters under her arm.

“Thank you,” Moses said, putting Alice into Nora’s arms before taking the letters from the maid. “Any from London?”

“Yes, sir,” the maid nodded. “It would appear there is one from Lord Marchmont.”

“Gale!” Nora gasped, running toward Moses.

“How are they doing?” Esther asked, her eyes wide.

“Let me open the letter!” Moses laughed, breaking the seal and opening it. He scanned over the words, and his eyes softened. “Call the household together. Lord and Lady Marchmont have made an exciting announcement.”

Nora gasped and sped out of the room, Alice babbling and giggling in her arms. Esther followed her, calling out to the servants.

When the workers were all gathered, Moses cleared his throat.

“My dearest friends, and their many friends — both animal and human. It is with great pleasure that I announce that Lady Marchmont has delivered a second healthy child,” Moses read out. The room around him burst into applause and happy chatter. “The child is a baby girl, Margaret Rose. It would appear she has already gained the nickname Maggie. Lady Marchmont is doing well, and our eldest boy, Matthew, has already taken well to looking after his little sister. We are all fatigued and deliriously happy. We look forward to introducing you all to our little girl. Yours, Lady Marchmont.”

Nora squealed and gave Alice a tighter squeeze.

“Oh, we simply must send them new dresses for the little one! Maybe a baby rattle?” Nora asked, before she went on to list more and more ideas for what they could send their friends. Esther chuckled and shook her head.

“We shall have to ask when we can visit. I imagine they will be quite fatigued,” Esther said, watching Nora holding Alice as she said that.

“I do not believe that fatigue ever truly goes away,” Moses joked.

“I suppose not,” Esther surmised as the maids and servants began to leave the room. She leaned in close to Moses. “I have also heard other news from London.”

“Oh?” he asked, leaning closer to her. 

“Yes. Aunt Diana has enlightened me regarding what her friends have been gossiping about. Specifically about one Lady Tabitha Morely,” she explained.

“I see,” he said, his shoulders tensing.

“Yes, it seems that her family is quite embarrassed with the scandal she has caused. She was sent to live with an elderly aunt in Scotland to wait out the Ton’s memory …” she said, watching his expression. “At least, that was the plan. Instead, it seems she has been forced into marriage with a dour widowed minister who is thirty years her senior. Lord Haverdash, I believe.”

“Ah,” Moses replied. He knew how upsetting a fate that would be for a woman like Lady Morely.

“Yes, he already has six children, and no tolerance for vanity or any other silliness,” Esther stated. “Diana told me this with utmost glee. She has quite enjoyed hearing of the lady’s downfall.”

“It would seem so,” Moses agreed. “Truthfully, I am not concerned or distressed by this news.”

“No?” Esther asked.

“No,” he shook his head. “I am just relieved she is no longer in our lives. Especially after hearing that Mr. Fenton has fled to the continent to escape his creditors.”

“Indeed,” Esther said, frowning. “I am still unsure how he could have raised the necessary bail to leave prison, but I imagine he may have preferred to stay there.”

“He may have.” Moses wrapped an arm around her. “But, wherever he is, he will not be returning any time soon.”

“Indeed he will not.” Leaning into him, she kissed his cheek, then, broadening his smile, he held her a little closer.

***

That evening, Moses strolled out to the barn, a new bag of feeding hay under his arm. He knew the animals would need more in the cold. As he walked in, Esther was already there. He smiled warmly as he watched her bottle-feeding an orphaned lamb he had not been aware of, her other arm being used to rock their daughter to sleep, humming a soft lullaby. After a moment, Esther looked up at him. Snow was melting in her hair, hay was stuck to the hem of her dress, and the smell of milk (both human and animal) clung to her. She was perfect.

I am the luckiest man on Earth to have such a beautiful wife.

He put the hay down and took Alice from her arms, cuddling her. He used a free hand to steady the lamb.

“We are so lucky,” he murmured.

“That we are,” she replied.

The scene was gentle and soft, full of the love they had cultivated between them. He leaned in and kissed the top of Esther’s head, and her cheeks flushed. She opened her mouth to speak when—

“Moses! Esther!” Nora burst into the barn. “These three were found in the pantry again!”

“Arthur! Clover! Napoleon! Naughty!” Esther cried out as two dogs barreled over to her and started licking her face, Napoleon flying overhead. Alice’s eyes fluttered open, and she started to cry. 

Moses shook his head. “Nora, Alice was almost asleep,” he scolded softly.

“Come here, little one,” Nora said, as if she had not heard him. She scooped Alice into her arms and cuddled the baby. Alice babbled and gurgled before slowly falling asleep in Nora’s arms. Moses stroked his chin thoughtfully.

I do not know how she does this.

Moses looked around at the chaos of the barn. The dogs were barking, Napoleon was insulting them all from the air, and the barn animals were quietly trying to settle despite the chaos. He smiled. This was his strange, wonderful family. Nora had never smiled more, Esther had settled into her dream, and his home was finally full. He could not help thinking about the letter he had sent that had started it all. Esther had framed it and hung it in his study when they had first moved into this home. What he had intended to be mockery had actually turned into a true confession. He did not realize that his face had melted into a warm and loving smile.

“What are you thinking about?” Esther asked with a giggle.

“I was thinking about how revenge makes a poor foundation for a relationship,” he said, leaning into her warmth on the barn floor. “But it does make an excellent story.”

She snorted and laughed. The lamb looked between them and snuggled into them. Outside, more snow started to fall.

“I had tried to deeply unsettle you,” he said softly. “Instead, you unsettled everything I believed I knew about myself.”

“I will have to unsettle you even more,” she replied.

“Unsettle me mo—?” Before he could finish, she had taken his hand and put it onto her stomach. He frowned in confusion and looked up at her. Her smile was a knowing one, and he startled slightly; then his eyes widened.

“Wait … do you mean—?” he whispered. She nodded, putting her hand on top of his. He put another hand on top of hers and his eyes filled with happy tears. “You are with child?”

“I am,” she whispered in confirmation.

“Oh, Esther,” he whispered, kissing her temple. “You have made me the happiest man in the world.”

Esther smiled and cuddled into him. They sat there, watching the snowfall. He looked at her, and a mutual understanding grasped them both. This was the way their lives were always meant to be.

This was exactly how I needed to live my life. I merely needed her to show me the way home …

THE END