Epilogue

Late May 1820,

Hidcote Manor

'One more push, dearie,' the midwife said encouragingly. 'I can see the little one's head.'

Helen was exhausted. It was now mid-afternoon, and she had been in labour since early the previous evening. The midwife, who was attending her, did not seem the least bit concerned. She had kept on encouraging Helen, and telling her that everything was going as planned.  Helen mustered all her strength, and with a push and another sharp pain, she felt the baby slide out of her.

The midwife scooped up the newborn child, and Helen, much to her relief, heard it's hearty bawl. 'A little girl, mistress,' she said, as she brought the angry-looking bundle of new life to Helen.

As soon as Helen saw her daughter, the pain and exhaustion of the past hours vanished. 'She is beautiful,' Helen said in awe, as the midwife passed her the child.

The baby had stopped wailing and was calm in her mother's arms. She bared her breast and let the babies natural instinct for her mothers milk take over. When she had had George, in this very room just over eleven years ago, he had immediately been taken away from her and given to a wet nurse. Helen was not going to let that happen now. She was the child's mother, and she wanted to be the one to look after her.

'Well, mistress,' the midwife said, 'it looks as though my suspicions were right after all. You still have another child in you. Let the maid take the little one so that you can concentrate. She'll clean her up for you.'

Just as the midwife had finished talking, Helen felt another powerful contraction. Twenty minutes later, she delivered her second child. 'A boy,' the midwife said proudly. 'Well done, mistress.'

Ralph had been pacing up and down the corridor since the midwife had arrived late last night. George, her son, had joined him in his vigil soon after breakfast, and he was grateful for the company. Over the past six weeks, since the wedding, he had got to know George well. He was a bright, fun-loving, eleven-year-old boy, who was looking forward to welcoming the new addition to the family. Ralph had been worried that he would be jealous, but it just wasn't in the young man's nature.

The door of the bedchamber opened, and the midwife came out to him. 'You have a beautiful son and daughter, my lord,' she said as she beckoned him into the room. 'The mistress is well, but tired,' she then added. 'Come and see her for a few minutes, but mind you don't stay too long. The mistress needs her rest.'

'Can I come too, sir?' George asked politely as he looked at him imploringly.

'Of course, you can,' Ralph replied.

When he went into the bedchamber, he saw Helen sitting up in bed, looking pale, but incredibly beautiful. She was holding a tiny baby in her arms, while a maid, standing next to her, held another. When she saw him, she smiled.

'Do come in,' she said, smiling at Ralph and George.

Ralph came in and sat on the edge of her bed, and the maid gave him the child she was cradling. Ralph's heart was full of love as he looked down at the baby. 'You are holding our daughter,' she said softly.

Ralph brought his hand to touch his daughter's cheek. As her tiny little hand grasped his fingers, he instantly fell under her spell. 'She's perfect,' he said, just like her mother.

Helen then motioned for her older son to sit on the bed. 'Come and meet your new brother and sister,' she said to him.

Ralph could tell by the young man's expression that he was just as much in awe as he was.

'What about names?' Ralph said.

Over the past few weeks, they had discussed possible names but had not decided on any.

'I have an idea,' Ralph said, looking at Helen, 'you name our son, and I'll name our daughter.'

Helen nodded.

'Angelina,' he said after a brief pause. 'She's our little angel.'

'William,' Helen said, looking at her oldest son. 'Do you approve, George?'

George nodded. 'Yes, mama, I think they are lovely names.'

Ralph handed his daughter back to the maid. 'Thank you, Helen,' he said softly as he kissed her cheek, 'I couldn't imagine my life without you.'