Page 26 of Lydia Acquires Adoration (Bennet Ladies Liberation #5)
Epilogue
“You got me another set of twins! Now I have more babies than everyone else!” Clara knew better than to squeal around new babies, but that did not stop her from bouncing on her toes as she looked down at the two little bundles. Looking at Lydia where she lay in bed, she asked, “What are we naming them?”
Lydia smiled at Clara, despite her exhaustion. Giving birth to twins was definitely no easier this time than it had been the first time around. Never having had a single birth, she wondered if that would be any easier. Lydia leaned into Sebastian, her head resting gently on his shoulder, before saying, “Well, I was thinking that since we have an A and B with Adelaide and Benedict, and we have a C in our family with you, that we could name them Diana and Elizabeth.”
Clara looked back at Lydia. “So I get to be C?”
Sebastian nodded and said, “Yes, I was hoping that you would like to be the C. It was your idea to do the alphabet after all.”
Whispering to Sebastian, Lydia said, “Though I can promise you right now, we are not having twenty-six children.”
Lydia could feel the vibrations of Sebastian’s soft chuckle in her back and smiled, glad that he saw humor in her statement. They had fallen with child shortly after Clara had moved to the nursery and had their first two children close to their first anniversary. Their second set of twins came almost eighteen months later. Lydia felt entirely outnumbered. Though that would probably fade as she recovered.
Elizabeth came into the room with a maid carrying a tea tray. Lydia tried not to roll her eyes at Elizabeth’s insistence on keeping her drinking fluids. Clara immediately went to Elizabeth and asked, “Aunt Elizabeth, have you seen my new twins?”
“Yes, my dear girl, I have seen them.” Elizabeth smiled at Clara and then Lydia as she spoke. As she had been there at their birth, she had indeed seen them, though Lydia supposed they looked much better all clean and swaddled.
“When will Artie, Gill, and baby Thea get to see my new twins?” Swirling around, Clara faced Lydia and Sebastian and asked, “Have Adie and Ben seen their new sisters?”
Happy to see Clara’s excitement over their two little bundles of joy, Lydia said, “You are the first to have seen them, my dear. We will bring Adie and Ben in to see their new sisters after their nap.”
Kneeling down next to Clara, Elizabeth said, “It is time for your Aunt Lydia and your new cousins to take a nap. I am sure the boys would love to have you tell them about their two new little cousins.”
After smiling at Elizabeth, Clara turned back to Sebastian and Lydia and said, “I am going to tell Artie and Gill about my new twins. Have a good nap, Auntie.” She gave Lydia a kiss on the cheek and then with a bouncing step she was on her way to the nursery, her governess trailing behind.
Elizabeth, meanwhile, poured a cup of tea for Lydia, preparing it as she liked and handed it to her younger sister, saying, “Now you drink this and get some sleep. You have expended a lot of effort to bring those two darlings into the world.”
Taking the tea, Lydia said, “Thank you for being here, Elizabeth, and being so attentive.”
Reaching out, she brushed a strand of damp hair back from her sister’s forehead, saying, “How could I not? You are my baby sister. Besides, you know how much Artie and Gill love spending time with their oldest cousin. Now I’m going to leave you to rest. Don’t forget to drink your tea.”
Lydia sighed as her sister left, slumping even further into Sebastian’s comforting side. She felt as if someone had torn her apart, but knew from experience that it would not last. Besides, it was not as if she was going to blame darling little Diana and Elizabeth. It was not their fault that twins ran in his family.
“Drink your tea, my love.” Sebastian whispered and kissing her brow before continuing, “You know you will just fall asleep if you do not drink it soon and it probably has willow bark in it to help you feel better.”
Lydia wanted to grumble about being so directed, but she knew Sebastian was right. So she took a sip of her tea, enjoying the way it made her sore throat feel. Gazing over at the two little ones in the bassinet next to her bed, Lydia made sure they were well. Both girls were sleeping. They were small, but Lydia figured that if they had been any larger, she would have burst. Taking another sip of her tea, Lydia sighed in contentment.
Once she was done with her tea, Sebastian placed her cup on his bed-side table and helped Lydia get comfortable laying down. Instead of leaving her to her rest, he climbed in bed with her. Chuckling, Lydia said, “What do you think you are doing, Sebastian? I am supposed to be napping.”
Pulling Lydia into his powerful frame, Sebastian said, “I didn’t get any rest last night either. I need a nap too.”
“Oh, you poor baby, you didn’t get any sleep. Why couldn’t my big, strong husband get any sleep?” Lydia yawned drowsily.
Kissing her brow, Sebastian murmured, “The woman who holds my heart above all else was tirelessly bringing our beautiful daughters into existence, and I couldn't find peace until I knew you were all out of harm's way.”
Smirking, Lydia grumbled, “The one you are so in love with better be me.”
Hugging her tight, Sebastian grumbled, “You know it is.”
“Yes, I know,” she replied.
Lydia was just about to nod off when Sebastian murmured, “Have I told you yet today how glad I am that you said you would marry me?”
“Not that I can remember,” Lydia yawned, adding, “Though I was rather otherwise occupied today.”
“Well, I do.” Sebastian kissed the spot behind her ear, continuing, “I cannot imagine my life without you and our children in it.”
Lydia murmured, “Get some rest, my love. You know Elizabeth will not be able to hold off the hoard of children for long, and our newest little loves will be hungry soon enough.” Sighing, Lydia fell swiftly towards sleep with a last mumbled, “Love you.”