The Bet

Bonus Chapter 2: The Shell Cottage

'The answer to alone time was Liverpool all along,' said Marcus.

The children were busy playing with Karthik and Tamil Kenworthy, the son, and daughter of George and Sanah. Marcus had his wife all to himself after so long it felt like years.

'What should we do?' he mused.

'We haven't gone riding or shooting for so long.'

'Yes, let's go for a ride and have a picnic by the beach once I finish my business with the Duke of Liverpool.'

Marcus had a busy day. He rode home expecting loud shouts from his sons and not from his mother-in-law. The absence of the children yelling confirmed they were all still at Lord Kenworthy's house.

'Sanah is to be blamed. Have you ever heard of a Baroness working in an orphanage? Now she feeds you poison as well. How are you going to explain this to Lord Vandam?'

'Explain to me what?' asked Marcus.

Frances was sitting in their bed with Mrs. Hill hovering by her side looking anxious and Anne looking excited.

Before Frances could talk, Mrs. Hill said, 'Lord Vandam, I am deeply sorry I failed to raise my girls properly. Please forgive her, I will talk some sense into her.'

Marcus rolled his eyes and walked to Frances making Anne giggle. Frances was holding a bundle of clothes which turned out to be a baby. The baby was fast asleep.

Marcus held out his hand. Frances gently placed the baby in his outstretched hand, but the baby woke with a start. As soon as he hugged the baby to his chest, it gurgled and promptly went back to sleep.

'She has the same eye color as you,' Marcus remarked.

Mrs. Hill let out a huff before storming out.

'How did you know it's a "she"?' Anne asked.

Marcus pointed to the wild curls that escaped the tight swaddle.

'Both her parents died in a carriage accident. She is just 15 days old. I promised Sanah I will nurse her till the duration of my stay,' said Frances.

'You can have her as long as you want.'

'Thanks, Marcus.'

'What's her name?'

Frances shook her head as she said, 'They are still calling her "baby".'

'Felicia,' murmured Marcus in the baby's ears and placed her gently on the crib.

'We will go for a ride and be back before Felica wakes up,' said Marcus tugging Frances along.

'Wait, I will change into my riding hobbit.'

'No need, you are riding me.'

'Ok love birds, keep a lid on it,' joked Anne. Seeing the anxious look on Frances, she added 'I will watch over Felicia.'

Marcus helped Frances up the horse and climbed after her. He set his horse into a trot holding Frances close.

Frances kissed Marcus' cheeks and mumbled, 'Thanks, Marcus. I couldn't leave Felicia, Sanah couldn't find anyone to nurse the baby.'

'I understand and I am really proud of you. Not many would nurse someone else's child.'

Frances kissed Marcus. She didn't believe she could love Marcus more, but with every passing day, she fell deeper.

'We are in the open,' Marcus said in a parental tone.

'There is a hunting lodge not far from here.'

Marcus chuckled as he set his horse in a gallop, they needed to get back before Felicia woke up.

Marcus and Frances came back looking flushed and happy as though they had the time of their lives. Thankfully Felicia was sleeping soundly.

Felicia was not a fuzzy baby, she didn't cry much. She slept through the night. Frances already loved the little thing.

'Mama,' shouted Antony and hugged Frances. Soon his brothers followed.

'I missed you all,' said Frances, hugging them back.

Even Oliver had stayed in Kenworthy Castle refusing to stay in Shell cottage. Unable to bear the angry glare her mother kept shooting her, Frances had decided to stay a few days with George.

The boys saw Marcus climbing down the carriage holding Felicia and ran to him.

'Who is this, papa?' asked Antony, the leader of their little cult.

'Her name is Felicia,' Marcus said, crouching down to his son's height and displaying her.

'Is she our new sister?' asked Eliot.

Marcus looked up and glanced at Frances before answering 'Yes.'

Frances smiled widely as a single drop of tear rolled down her cheeks. She stood staring at Marcus as he cooed over Felicia.

'Stop looking at me like that,' Marcus whispered to Frances.

'Like what?'

'Like you want to eat me.'

Frances blushed as she said, 'Yes, I want to.'

'That could be easily arranged. Wait, I will hand her over to the nursemaid.'

Felicia screamed like a banshee when Marcus handed her over. Only stopped when Marcus held her.

'My daughter loves me already. You will have to wait, wife.'