Epilogue
December 1812
“When will they arrive?” Miaasked, pacing the drawing room.
“Soon, Mia. The roads are clear now, and the Devons’ coach shouldn’t encounter any more trouble before reaching us,” Jacob said.
Two days ago, a fierce snowstorm had dumped several inches of snow, threatening to cancel their Christmas activities. Today, the sun was shining and the temperature was crisp, but not frigid. It was a perfect day to gather pine boughs for decorating the manor and finding a yule log.
Mia heard the front door open and rushed out to see who’d arrived. Much to her delight, Kathryn and Sam stood in the foyer, taking off their coats. “I thought you’d never arrive,” she said.
“Hello, Mia,” Kathryn said.
“Miss Mia,” Sam said, greeting her with a bow.
Jacob was pacing the floor when Kathryn and Sam walked into the drawing room. He turned when they entered. “Good day to you both. Thank heavens you’re here, Kathryn. Audrey is feeling quite poorly, and I don’t know what to do to help her.”
“Oh, dear. Let me go to her,” Kathryn said.
“Thank you. That would be most helpful.”
“Should I come too?” Mia asked.
“Not yet. Let me see if I can help her first.”
Mia nodded, and Kathryn quickly left the room and walked up the stairs.
When she came to Audrey’s bedchamber, she could hear her casting up her accounts. “Oh goodness, that doesn’t sound good,” she said, entering the room without knocking.
Audrey stayed bent over a bowl until her stomach emptied, then slumped back against the pillows. “Kathryn, I’m so terribly sorry. I’m in such a state today; I fear I won’t be much help gathering the pines,” she said, wiping her mouth.
Kathryn dipped a cloth into the bowl on the table beside the bed and wrung out the excess water. “Here, put this on your forehead. It’ll help cool you down a bit. You’re quite flushed.”
“I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”
“How long have you been feeling poorly?”
Audrey shook her head. “I don’t rightly know. Perhaps a week, maybe two.”
“Ah…”
“What? Do you know what’s afflicted me so? Please tell me. What is the cure?”
Kathryn sat on the edge of the bed and squeezed Audrey’s hand. “My dearest friend, there is no immediate cure.”
“No cure? Will I die?”
“No, dearest. I do believe you’re with child.”
“What?”
“My mother told me what to expect from the marriage bed and about some of the signs that my womb had quickened.”
Audrey managed to smile before another round of retching took hold of her again. “I’m sorry you had to witness that.”
“Please do not apologize, my dear. I’ll ask Mrs. Greenleaf to prepare some mint tea for you. That should help your stomach settle. Would you like me to send your husband up so you may tell him the good news?”
“Yes, thank you,” Audrey said as Kathryn stood to leave the room.