The Rake and The Rose (A Rake's Mistake) (24 page)

"I am hungry." Charlotte whispered. All of a sudden the room burst to life with Sophie bustling down to the kitchen, James going to get water. Mary and Laura wanting to get a bath run so Alexander could bathe her. She watched in awe as quickly her needs were assessed. "Has everyone gone mad?" she asked blatantly.

Francesca chuckled as she patted her head sitting by her side as Alexander went to check the water himself. "No dear, we just very nearly lost you."

"I remember you and Sophie taking care of me." Charlotte sighed, "I was really sick wasn't I?"

"Yes dear, you were very sick." She smiled softly at Charlotte and glanced at Sophie who brought up a small bowl of soup. "Here we are!" she exclaimed happily and sat it down on her lap with a little napkin on the tray. "Eat up, you'll need your strength."

"But don't feel you need to eat it all! If you're full that's perfectly fine!" Sophie said waving her hands.

Mary was behind her, "Indeed we don't mind!"

Charlotte laughed wholeheartedly. "I'm alright everyone, really. Thank you so much though."

Within the next few hours she was sponged clean, toweled completely dry, rubbed with a lovely lotion and finally cuddled back into her bed. "Alex, it's alright,” she said winding her arms about his neck as he laid his body across her lap. She stroked his hair and his eyes closed in bliss.

"You were so sick, Sweetling. Doctor Lambert feared the worst." he choked out.

"Well, I'm right here." She saw tears in his gaze when it locked with hers, and was startled.

“Alex?” she tried to sit up but he stopped her.

"My mother said that before she died," he murmured.

"Oh, Alex…" she leaned forward and laid her head on his. "It's alright." She kissed his forehead and he sighed "Thank you." she said softly.

"For?" his eyebrow rose sarcastically as if to say, "What on earth did I do?"

"Being so utterly wonderful."

"Well, thank you." he whispered.

"For?" He lifted his head and leaned his forehead against her cheek and sighed when she pressed her brow to his.

"Loving me." He grinned wide and kissed her soundly.

He got up when there was a knock at the door; he came back to the bed and knelt by her. "The doctor wants to see you, dear."

Alexander sighed and stood up as Doctor Lambert walked in "How are you here so fast Doctor Lambert?" Charlotte asked softly. She felt as if a ton of bricks had fallen on her but kept quiet, as Alexander looked more than a little worried.

"I stayed here Miss Charlotte." Lambert smiled at her warmly "Well, everyone needs to leave. I need to speak with the patient!" he smiled at her and Alexander and everyone reluctantly left.

C
hapter
17

"Well, you and the little one are very lucky." Doctor Lambert stated solemnly and very quietly.

"I beg your pardon?"

"I mean my dear you're pregnant. You were starting to get sick long after the poison was gone. You also complained of your chest being achy. And then, of course, you told Sophie randomly it was you’re…ahem Time. But you never bled."

"Umm…But, wait how did the child survive?"

“In all honesty, I am amazed it did. But we won’t be able to tell until there is movement...or...you have your courses.”

Charlotte’s face was blank with dread and he hurried to comfort her
"Don't worry dear. So, when did you two um…" he seemed embarrassed.

"We haven't since…after the ball at Essex's." she blushed deeply.

"So you're probably around two and a half months. Usually I would not approve of such a thing, but given the circumstances and also the fact that I have been Alexander’s family Doctor for years...Be careful who you talk to!"  He had his kit and gently had her lie back and tickled her tummy feeling for what he wanted and sure enough he felt apparently what he was looking for and smiled widely "Yes, feels to be around a couple months or so."

"You can tell?"

"Yes! I am a doctor after all!" Doctor Lambert grinned, "Do you want to tell him?"

She nodded her head. "Yes, of course!" she whispered in awe as her hand dropped to her belly. "I'm going to have a baby…"

"Yes my dear you are."

"Thank you." She said softly her eyes welling with tears. "Thank you so much…"

"You are very welcome Charlotte. Or wait, I should say Lady Cromwell." He winked "We'll wait on doing that publicly." he patted her leg and smiled as he left tipping his hat to Alexander who rushed in.

"So?"

"Um…well…" she got up from bed wobbling slightly and looked down at herself.

"What?" Alexander asked staring up and down at her as well. He feared that the
doctor had given her a bad diagnosis.

"Well…" she inhaled and looked at the floor length mirror and turned this way and that her head tilted
. I don't look any different…Do I?
"Do I look different Alex?" she asked softly.

"What? No! You look ravishing. Come love you need to lie down." She waved him off and stared down at her hardly showing belly. She did notice a teeny tiny bulge in her lower tummy.

A baby...
She looked at Alexander's concerned expression. Not just any baby,
his
baby… "Alex…"

"Hm?"  He was hovering around her. 

He’s already so worried, not yet. 
She decided to wait and smiled at him "Can I go lie down?"

"Of course you can sweetheart! Come, let's get you back to bed now." He guided her and got her tucked in safely. He hardly left her room all day and had James bring his papers to him. She felt happy as she ate her food and watched him lean over a table brought in for him and studiously go over expenses and other such things for the estate.

"So this is what you do all day?" she asked from her bed.

"Essentially darling, yes this is what I do." He grinned at her leaning on an elbow. "You look like a highwayman." she noticed he was unshaved and disheveled. "Hm. Do I?" he laughed and shook his head. "You are quite amusing Sweetling."

Charlotte spent the rest of the day relaxing and resting as the doctor ordered; with Alexander there to make sure she was doing just that. It was not as if she had a choice in the matter as she soon found out. And with several days of doing absolutely nothing, she was feeling much better. Alexander had been carrying her outside to sit in the gardens, and guarding her like a hawk. She was lounging and nibbling on some bread, while Anne was on the other side of her in her own chair sipping cordial.

"So?" Anne grinned at her.

"So, what?" Charlotte asked softly.

"You sent an urgent letter. What is your news?"

Charlotte looked around and leaned forward "Come with me." Anne followed her to a private room where they knew no one could hear them, and then - just in case- whispered her the good news.

"Good God!
No
, you jest!" Anne squealed happily and clapped a hand over her mouth, as the servants gave her strange looks when they walked by “Oh heaven…sorry!” she giggled.

"Shh!" Charlotte laughed and Anne composed herself.

"When?" Anne's face split into a goofy grin. 

“Around two months?"

"Oh dear heaven, does-"

"No he doesn't know yet! So please don't say anything!" Charlotte smiled and Anne acted as if she were locking her mouth.

"Oh my, the news is exciting! Do you know what you want?" 

"Does she know what she wants for what?" Alexander had walked out smiling and bent to kiss Charlotte's cheek. Both women had a look of utter mischief and Anne simply looked about to burst, but she came to the rescue.

"I asked if she knew what she wanted to drink, since she was nearly finished with her tea. We just came in here as I have never had a proper tour." Anne was quite inventive Charlotte decided suddenly.

"I can get you some cordial if you want." Alexander whispered to her, but she denied it, it made her feel icky to drink anything too sweet.

"No, some tea will be perfectly fine." He looked confused but went about his business. He left to get her what she needed and Anne was looking at her.

"Well now, if only I had a gentleman at my beck and call!"

"He has been so sweet, but I have to admit I might get fat if I don't do things on my own!"

"Well…either way you'll grow." Anne winked. "When will you tell him?"

"I want to feel a baby kicking first. Because of what happened, if it doesn't Sophie has a way to..." Charlotte stopped, no she wouldn't say anything of that sort,
look how happy Anne looks, I cannot crush that…
"I am not sure, but I want to tell him in a special way." she smiled and her eyes twinkled. 

"Oh that would be really sweet."

"Plus Sophie told me his birthday is in a couple weeks." Charlotte had prepared everything already. Doctor Lambert would be able to see her to "Check on her physical condition."  She smiled when Doctor Lambert had to explain that Charlotte was great, better than great but that he wanted to be safe. 

Alexander of course agreed that all steps should be taken to prevent her from being sick again. He was still trying to find out who had poisoned her. Giselle was in London, not being a nuisance to Charlotte,  and she took the time to stretch and relax.

"I am so happy Anne." her eyes gleamed.

"I bet you are, I am so happy for you Charlotte!"  Anne clasped her hands together with tears in her eyes.

"Charlotte?" Alexander handed her a small cup of tea after he walked in "I'm off for my business meeting."

He kissed her cheek and Francesca was there "Hello, Charlotte."

"Francesca! Please sit!" She motioned to another chair and the nanny happily sat down, her eyes brimming with emotion. The staff all knew and everyone sent secret smiles to her whenever she walked by, or took small pains to make sure she did not over-exert herself. Alexander simply explained it, as they were worried as well. He was so oblivious, that it made her smile.

Alexander left and Francesca waved her hands in excitement "I cannot wait to have another baby around here!"

"You'll be such a big help Francesca!" Anne laughed and Sophie and James were there suddenly.

"So do you feel kicking yet?" Sophie asked softly with a beaming look. James simply stood by quietly giving his calming presence she knew should she need anything he would be there.

"No not yet, Doctor Lambert said that happens around three months.

"Well Alexander's birthday is near!" Sophie exclaimed happily "So let's hope the little one get's excited in time." With that, she leaned in to Charlotte's still only softly bulging tummy and softly whispered "Little one? You hear me? You need to get all excited so your Papa gets excited too!"

Charlotte threw her head back laughing. It finally seemed that everything was turning out right.

Alexander meanwhile was listening to Kade tell of an interesting story of what he heard of in Caversham. But not before he had given him the entire report on Charlotte’s poisoning. He was having Giselle checked out, her contacts; everything about her was to be scrutinized under a microscope.

Which was fine with Kade, as he wanted something to do. Alexander had left no stone unturned. He had only James, Sophie and Francesca deal with Charlotte’s own food, which was prepared separately. She was not to eat anything that was not made by Sophie or Francesca, or something that Alexander brought. She was not to take any gifts delivered by anyone else.

But, that did not take away from his surprise over Kade’s news.

“Well come now, tell me what it is you found.” Alexander tapped the desk in impatience. Kade held his hands up.

“Cool down now, I went to Caversham, and apparently there had been a rash of burglaries, but nothing had been stolen…”

“When?”

“Around the time you found Charlotte.”

“Do you think she was injured during a robbery?” Alexander was skeptical.

“No, now calm down I need to finish!”

“Sorry.”

“Aye well, the final one actually ended in a small fire!” Kade had not been able to find out who was in it, as apparently the woman was very well looked after, hardly came out of the home because of the fear of people her parents had put upon her. Apparently, it was Lord Devisher's family home, that he had gotten after he closed the estate when their daughter died.
So who was the young woman?
Alexander thought.

Kade exhaled when Alexander pondered this aloud "What in God's name was Devisher doing in Caversham?"

"Dinnae." Kade's lilt came forth in a fit of agitation. "No one has ever heard of a ‘Charlotte’, but they do know a young woman lived in the home, and lived with Devisher and his wife.”

"Do you think they had another child?" Alexander questioned with his head tilted slightly.

"I am unsure." Kade wouldn’t pull his leg, and his friend sighed.

"They might have kept her secret for fear of her getting sick." Alex said softly.

"Apparently rumors were there were twins." Kade mentioned. 

"Twins? But their daughter was blond."

“Non-Identical twins are normal, Alex,” his friend corrected.

Alexander had a shock of recognition. When he was a boy, their families had been close. But he had remembered one day seeing a flame haired child running through the woods, as he played with Sara. He had remembered playing with the red headed girl. Sara, Devisher's daughter, was a lovely bouncing blond who had adored everything dear to her. She had a rabbit with a red bow and a bell. . .but Lottie had the one with blue ribbon! 

Much like the one Lottie had
. . . .an idea struck him. "James?"

"Yes sir?"

"Bring me the rabbit."