One year later…

Edward awoke to the sound of birds chirping in the trees by his chamber window, the sunlight peeking in through the branches and warming the bedsheets. He turned over to see Josephine laying there, still peacefully slumbering, her swollen belly still detectable even under the thick blanket over her as he watched her chest slowly rise and fall.

I can’t believe that this is real, Edward thought as he took a finger and gently brushed a wayward curl out of her face. Josephine stirred a little, and her eyes fluttered open, her face sleepily turning toward his as a soft smile crept across her face.

“Good morning,” Edward said as he gently kissed her forehead.

“Morning,” she replied, looking at him peculiarly. “Were you just watching me sleep?”

“For a moment,” Edward replied.

“Why?” Josephine replied with a quiet little chuckle.

“Even angels look gorgeous while they slumber,” Edward replied.

“Oh, stop!” Josephine tittered.

“It’s true,” Edward replied, setting upon his arm. “I was just thinking to myself how lucky I am to have you in my life.”

“You are, aren’t you?” Josephine teased.

“Not really,” Edward replied. “A year ago, I would have never thought I’d be married at all, let alone married to the love of my life and having a child of my own.”

“You mean a child of our own,” Josephine said with a grin.

“You knew exactly what I meant,” Edward groaned.

“Yes, but I am doing all the baking, so I feel like I should get some of the credit,” Josephine laughed as she struggled to get up. Edward grasped her hand in his and helped her up, and she sat at the edge of the bed, looking back at Edward. “Speaking of baking, I smell muffins!”

“If you keep eating only muffins, you’ll turn into one,” Edward joked.

“I cannot help what the baby wants, Edward,” Josephine replied, using the posts of the bed to get to her feet and go over to the dresser to get ready for the day. “Come along now; we’ll be late. My father is supposed to be here soon.”

The two of them got dressed, and Edward peeked down the hallway before motioning for Josephine to follow him, taking her arm in his as they headed to the dining hall. Edward often felt a bit devious, sometimes sharing the same bed with one another, but he couldn’t bear to sleep without her. Most of the ton married for status, and he hadn’t, however, so he figured maybe that was the difference in the mix everyone else was missing. Not everyone was lucky enough to share the whirlwind romance he and Josephine shared. And he considered himself to be one of the luckiest men in the ton, if not the word for it.

“Good morning!” Andrew boisterously greeted Edward and Josephine, smiling at them impishly. Around the table in their usual spots were Edward and Andrew’s mother and Josephine’s father and aunt, all beaming at the couple as they made it into the room.

“Oh my, Josephine, you do glow ever so bright, my dear,” Josephine’s father said as he stood up and went to her, kissing her gently on the cheek.

“Thank you, father,” Josephine said as she put her hand on her belly.

“Please come sit,” Andrew said as he motioned to the table.

“Yes, you need your nutrients,” Josephine’s father said as he and Edward helped her to her seat. “My grandchild must be big and strong!”

“I’m so glad you decided to come home and grace us with your presence,” Edward said as he pulled her seat out and helped her push it back in. “I was worried you wouldn’t be able to be here to welcome our pride and joy into the world.”

“Me, miss the birth of my first niece or nephew? I wouldn’t miss that for anything!” Andrew replied. “Missing my own wedding, however, that obviously happened.”

Everyone burst into laughter, and breakfast began as maids and waitstaff scurried around, serving tea, muffins, tea cakes, bacon and the like. The room became silent at first as everyone sleepily savoured their meal, but as their stomachs began to fill out a bit, they became a bit more conversational.

“So, Andrew, how is Paris treating you?” Edward asked, curious as to how his brother’s artistic endeavours were going. Though he did write home frequently since giving up his duties to the Dukedom in their entirety, it was mostly asking how everyone else was doing, not talking about his own life.

“I’m still finding my niche, making friends, learning,” Andrew replied. “It’s been an amazing experience thus far.”

“Have you sold any paintings?” Josephine asked.

“Quite a few, actually,” Andrew said with a nod. “I was surprised myself. But they say I have a knack for portraits especially.”

“Really?” Edward asked.  “I always thought your area of expertise was landscapes.”

“Yes, well, after being in Paris for nearly a year, I’ve learned quite a few more skills.”

“That’s lovely, Andrew,” Josephine said with a smile.

“In fact, once the baby is born, I would love to paint a portrait of the three of you as a gift!” Andrew said with a grin. “What better present to receive from the world’s most talented uncle?”

Andrew’s face fell a bit as everyone laughed, and Edward moved quickly to right it, proud of his twin for following his dreams.

“That would be excellent, Andrew,” Edward replied. “I truly hope our baby takes after you in all the best ways.”

“Really?” Andrew said, placing a hand to his chest.

“Yes, really,” Edward replied with a nod. “You’re the best brother a man could ask for, and you are a man of many talents.”

“As are you,” Andrew replied. “I have no doubt in my mind you will make a fine father.” The comment warmed Edward’s heart, and he smiled big and bright as one of the waitstaff refilled his cup of Earl Grey.

“Thank you,” Edward replied as he thought of the two of them growing up with one another flowed through his mind, their father the more stoic of the family but ever the supportive parent. “I hope so; those are immense shoes to fill.

“I know so,” Andrew said. “Father would be proud of the man you’ve become.”

“I think he’d be proud of you too, you know,” Edward said, and the room got really quiet.

“I-I don’t know about that,” Andrew said as he looked down at his plate.

“I do,” their mother chimed in. “I think he would understand.”

“Really?” Andrew said, glancing up at her.

“I agree,” Edward replied. “He loved the both of us, and he always loved your work.” Andrew smiled with a nod as they all finished breakfast, and Edward felt at peace. He was truly thankful for his life, family, and child to come.

***

After breakfast, and everyone had dispersed, Josephine caught a spell of nausea and decided some fresh air was in order.

“Would you like to join me outside?” Josephine asked as she peeked her head into Edward’s study. He was sitting at his desk with several papers in hand, a pair of reading glasses upon his nose.

“I would, my love, but I am behind on these ledgers,” Edward groaned.

“All right,” Josephine sighed, pouting her lip slightly.

“I’m sorry,” Edward said as he took his glasses off and put them down for a moment, walking around the desk. He opened his arms, and Josephine leaned in, breathing in his cologne as she savoured his warm embrace. “I promise we will spend time together later.”

“I love you,” Josephine said to Edward, and he kissed her forehead.

“I love you too,” Edward replied as he begrudgingly shuffled back behind his desk. Josephine walked out of his office and down the stairs to the lobby, heading out the front door and hanging left to go to the garden—her favorite place in all of Richmond Manor.

Though it wasn’t the garden she frolicked in within her youth, it was a big, beautiful sanctuary nonetheless, a place that her mother truly would have loved.
Josephine walked in the sub for a while, the warmth of its rays gently caressing her shoulders. Josephine started to get tired, her feet sore, and she decided to sit on a stone bench by one of the rose bushes to rest.

She closed her eyes and took in a deep breath, the scent of the various flowers flooding her nose and smiled. In her mind, she saw her mother there, a grin upon her face as she grabbed Josephine’s hand, and they ran through the garden, giggling away. Her mother called out her name quietly at first and then got louder…

“Josephine?” another voice called out, startling her from her daydream. Josephine opened her eyes to see her mother-in-law standing there, watching her with a curious look upon her face.

“W-what?” Josephine asked, startled away from her daydream to see her mother-in-law standing there, watching her curiously.

“Are you all right?” she asked, sitting next to her on the bench.

“Oh! Yes, I am. I was just enjoying the sun and got a bit tired during my little journey ’round the bushes,” Josephine replied.

“Ah yes, the wonders of being with children,” Edward’s mother replied.

“It must have been even worse with twins,” Josephine grunted as she adjusted her position. “My feet are swollen, my back hurts, I’m always tired. With two in the oven, it must have been twice the fun.”

“You know, it was a bit difficult,” Edward’s mother said with a nod, a grin forming across her face. “Finding a way to sleep with a huge mound on my front wasn’t easy.”

“I bet not,” Josephine chuckled. “I have trouble as it is.”  The two of them sat there for a moment in silence, enjoying one another’s company. But then suddenly, Josephine thought of a question, one that she’d been longing to ask since Edward was revealed to not be Andrew.

“Did you ever get the boys confused?” Josephine asked. Edward’s mother looked at her and laughed, shaking her head. She stood up, went to Josephine’s belly, and gently put her hand there.

“Well, I suppose if you have twins of your own, you’ll find out…won’t you?” Edward’s mother said as the two of them giggled, enjoying the flowers with one another. Edward’s mother took some branches and white roses from the garden, and Josephine watched carefully as she fashioned them into a crown, setting it on top of Josephine’s head when she was done, smiling big and bright.

“Ah, yes, that looks so beautiful on you,” Edward’s mother said.

“Thank you,” Josephine beamed. “I feel beautiful in it like I belong in a painting!

“That you do, my sweet,” Edward chimed in, surprising the both of them as he walked up beside them. “You should wear one when Andrew paints you, I and our baby once it’s arrived.”

“Oh my! I didn’t even hear you approaching,” Edward’s mother said, putting a hand on her chest. “You nearly gave me a start.”

“My apologies,” Edward said with a chuckle. “I just saw the two of you from my window, the two beauties in my life, and I felt compelled to come down and see the two of you.”

“I thought you were busy with work?” Josephine asked.

“I was,” Edward said as he looked around the garden, breathing in the fresh air around them. “But with how gorgeous it is out, how could I stay stuffed up in my office all day?”

“I suppose you’re right,” Josephine said as Edward leaned down and kissed her on the cheek, and she felt a wave of goosebumps pill on her skin. “If there is one thing Andrew’s taught me…it’s that you only live once. I am sure that the ledgers can wait for a spell.”

Josephine’s heart swelled as Edward sat next to her, taking her hand in his with a warm smile. As they all sat out in the beautiful gardens of Richmond manor where Josephine called home, she realized something very important.

Since her mother had died, Josephine felt at ease for the first time. She was married, a baby on the way, ready to start a family of her own. Her father was doing much better, and even Aunt Mary had found a suitor in Lord John, who had gotten along famously. Even Andrew was at peace, working on his passions. Everyone she loved was doing well, and her life was much more perfect than she could have ever hoped for.

And she could not ask for more.

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