Page 26 of Alessandra (Chisholm Manor #1)

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.