Two and a half years later – Blackmere Estate

Tristan looked down at the small sleeping face nestled against the soft folds of cotton muslin. “Hello, sweet Marguerite,” he whispered.

“I think two is enough,” Helena moaned from the bed.

She was reclining against a wall of pillows, wrapped in a deep forest-green robe, the covers drawn up around her. Her face was still flushed from the exertion of the past few hours, though there was already a softness to her expression as she watched her husband and their newborn daughter.

“My dearest, what can I do for you?” Tristan asked. He crossed to her bedside and carefully lowered himself beside her.

“Bring Thomas in. He will wish to meet his sister.” Helena’s gaze returned to the baby in his arms, and a smile spread across her face. “Oh, she is beautiful.” She reached out and touched one tiny cheek with the tip of her finger. “I never thought that of babies until I saw my own.”

“Nor I,” Tristan admitted with a soft laugh. “But we do have two beautiful children.”

He looked at his wife admirably. Her thick chestnut hair had been gathered into a long braid that lay over her shoulder, and despite her obvious exhaustion, she appeared more beautiful to him than she ever had. An hour earlier, she had been cursing him with a vehemence he had never before heard from her. In that moment she looked at him with such sweetness that he could almost believe she had never uttered an unkind word in her life.

Tristan marveled at her.

In so short a time, their lives had changed beyond anything he could have imagined. First Thomas, and then this tiny daughter, both of them entirely dependent upon the woman before him. He could hardly comprehend that Helena had endured so much to bring their children into the world, and the love he felt for her seemed, if anything, to have grown with every passing hour.

He carefully placed the baby into Helena’s arms. “There,” he murmured. “I believe she belongs with her mother.”

Helena smiled as she drew Marguerite closer. “Go and fetch Thomas before he decides he has been forgotten.”

Tristan laughed softly and rose from the bedside. When he stepped outside the chamber, he found Beatrice waiting in the corridor. She was seated upon a chair with Thomas on her lap, bouncing him gently as he giggled.

She looked up immediately. “Is she ready for him?”

“She is.” Tristan reached down and lifted his son onto his hip. “Now, Thomas…”

 The little boy looked up at his father with his mother’s large gray eyes and an immediate smile.

“You are an older brother now,” Tristan told him. “And I am about to introduce you to your sister, Meg.” He paused, looking at the child with mock solemnity. “It is your duty to protect her and love her.”

Thomas reached out and caught one of Tristan’s fingers in his small hand, giving it an enthusiastic tug before breaking into another fit of giggles.

“I think he means to accept,” Tristan declared.

Beatrice laughed. “I shall be up shortly. Georgiana has just arrived and is in the parlor with Nathaniel.”

“I shall ask Helena whether she is up to seeing Georgie.” Tristan adjusted Thomas more securely against his side before opening the door once more.

Inside, Helena was still reclining against the pillows, Marguerite asleep in her arms.

“Helena?” Tristan said gently.

She looked up.

“Georgiana has arrived.”

Her tired expression immediately brightened. “Then bring her in.”

Tristan smiled. “I thought you might say that.” He crossed the room and lifted Thomas down onto the bed beside Helena, keeping one hand firmly at his back. “Now, young man,” he said, “be gentle.”

Thomas stared at the small bundle in his mother’s arms.

Helena smiled as she looked between her children. “Come and meet your sister, Thomas.”

For once, the little boy had nothing to say.

After several minutes there was a soft knock at the door, and the door opened slightly. Beatrice looked at Tristan and gestured to Georgiana behind her, Tristan gave a nod.

“Come in, Helena is happy to see you both,” Tristan smiled.

“I could hardly remain downstairs another moment,” Georgiana said, her face bright with anticipation, crossing toward the bed. “I wished to see her.”

“Then come and meet your niece,” Helena replied.

Georgiana approached carefully, her expression softening as she looked upon the baby. “Oh, Helena. She is beautiful.”

“She is,” Helena agreed, smiling. “Though I believe I shall reserve my opinion on motherhood until I have had a little more sleep.”

Georgiana laughed and bent to kiss her sister-in-law’s cheek. “You look exhausted.”

“I am exhausted,” Helena laughed. “Though I confess, the thought of Charlotte being godmother gives me considerable amusement. Do you remember how she once declared that she was not at all maternal?”

“Well, she adores Thomas.” Georgiana laughed. “And she has been terribly excited to meet your new little one. I think she shall make an excellent godmother!”

Beatrice filled Helena’s water glass, watching her younger sister who was still in the early months of pregnancy, and her sister-in-law with an affectionate smile. Thomas had become fascinated by Marguerite, though he seemed uncertain what precisely he was meant to do now that he had finally been introduced to her.

Tristan stood for another moment beside the bed, reluctant to leave them, before Helena looked up at him. “Go. You have been hovering for the better part of an hour.”

“I have not been hovering,” Tristan responded in defense.

“You have.” Helena raised an eyebrow in amusement.

Beatrice laughed. “She is right, Tristan.”

He looked between the three ladies and surrendered. “Very well. I shall leave you to it.”

He bent to kiss Helena’s forehead, then touched one finger gently to Marguerite’s tiny hand before turning toward the door. “I shall return shortly.”

“We know where to find you,” Helena said with a smile.

Tristan left the chamber and made his way downstairs, where he found Nathaniel and Gerald Frome waiting in the morning room. Both gentlemen rose as he entered.

Nathaniel immediately crossed the room and clasped his friend’s hand. “My congratulations.”

“And mine,” Gerald added warmly.

“Thank you.” Tristan’s smile remained as he looked between them. “Though I think all praise ought to go to Helena. She has done all the difficult work.”

Nathaniel laughed. “You are learning quickly.”

“I have learned enough to know better than to claim otherwise,” Tristan responded.

They resumed their seats, and for a few moments the conversation turned to the baby, her name, and how well Helena had fared. Nathaniel eventually regarded his friend with an amused expression. “Tell me something, Tristan. Were you nervous when you first discovered you were to become a father?”

Tristan considered the question before answering. “I was terrified.”

Gerald laughed softly.

“Not of the child,” Tristan added. “Of everything else. Whether I should know what to do, whether I would make some terrible mistake, whether I should prove entirely unequal to the task.”

“And now?” Nathaniel asked.

“Now I have discovered that one learns as one goes.” Tristan smiled. “Though I confess I am still not certain I know what I am doing.”

Nathaniel laughed.

“You will be an exceptional father,” Tristan continued. “Of that I have no doubt. Especially now that you are to become one yourself.”

Nathaniel smiled. “Thank you, I shall call upon you for advice.”

Tristan leaned back in his chair, regarding his friend thoughtfully. “There is one thing I should like you to ask her.”

Nathaniel raised an eyebrow. “That sounds ominous.”

“Ask Georgiana, when she has recovered from this one, whether she might be persuaded to have another.” Tristan grinned.

Nathaniel stared at him. “Another?”

“Yes. Helena and I have two now. I should like you both to have two as well,” Tristan stated.

Gerald laughed. “You are planning their friendships already?”

“Of course.” Tristan looked entirely serious. “I want Thomas and Marguerite to have Nathaniel’s children to play with. They ought to grow up together.”

Nathaniel shook his head, laughing. “You have become remarkably ambitious.”

“I am merely thinking ahead,” Tristan remarked with dry amusement.

“I shall inform Georgiana that the Earl of Blackmere has begun issuing instructions regarding the size of our family.” Nathaniel laughed.

“Tell her it was a request,” Tristan urged.

“A very determined request, I imagine.” Nathaniel smiled.

Tristan smiled in return. “Naturally.”

Gerald leaned back in his chair. “It is a pity Oliver is so much older than the rest of them.”

“He will still be close enough to them,” Tristan replied.

“I believe so,” Gerald agreed. “And I suspect he shall take considerable pride in looking after each of them as they grow older.”

Tristan smiled at the thought. “He already considers himself something of an authority on the matter.”

“As well he should,” Nathaniel said. “He is the eldest.”

“And he knows it,” Tristan replied.

The three gentlemen laughed.

For a moment, Tristan sat back and listened to their voices, allowing himself to appreciate the simple happiness of the company around him. Gerald was no longer merely a friend and frequent guest at Blackmere, but Beatrice’s husband and a much-loved member of the family. Nathaniel was soon to have a child of his own, Oliver was growing into an affectionate young boy, and upstairs Helena held their newborn daughter in her arms.

Helena had been right. Peace and happiness had indeed found them.

THE END