“Richard, darling,” Anne said as she rapped on the door of her husband’s chambers. “Are you ready? We must leave shortly to make it to the church.”

There was silence behind the door, lasting long enough for Anne to knock again. She was about to call to Richard again when the door creaked open. She glanced down, realizing that it hadn’t been latched all the way, so her knocking pushed it all the way open. She stepped inside the room, hearing soft, muffled laughter coming from near the bed, on top of which she now noticed that Edward, Anne’s and Richard’s two-month-old son lay. Frowning, she approached the bed, jumping back in surprise as an orange blur moved into her line of vision, landing on the bed between her and the infant.

“Mischief,” she said with a laugh as she reached out to stroke the feline. He allowed her fingers to graze him only briefly before turning up his tail at her and promptly curling up protectively at Edward’s side. The baby was swaddled comfortably in a clean blanket, and he was awake but seemingly content to look at the ceiling with eyes that were only just learning how to focus. But where was Richard?

Another louder chuckle came from the other side of the bed. Anne laughed again when she realized where Richard was. Sure enough, as she peered over the edge of the bed, she saw him crouching on the floor with Mischief’s ball of yarn, preparing to attempt to entice the feline to play with it. Anne reached to adjust the blanket to rest further up on her young son’s chest. But Mischief reached out and slapped her hand away, his paw hovering in anticipation of another attempt to touch her child.

“What’s this?” she asked, reaching to pet the cat again. Once more, he pushed her hand away, then gently rested his head across the infant’s stomach. Anne scoffed, though there was no real offense or indignation in the sound. At this, Richard peeked over the bed, his laugh not muffled by his proximity to the bed and floor that time.

“My apologies, darling,” he said, shaking his head as he pulled himself off the floor. “But it seems that, since little Edward entered our lives, Mischief has forgotten your existence entirely.”

Anne gave her husband a playful nudge with her fingertips, shaking her head and laughing at the joke that had become common with them since Edward’s birth. It was true enough. Ever since the arrival of the baby, Mischief had begun to become more and more attached to him.

“And you thought you could make him notice you more?” he asked.

Richard shrugged, not looking at all embarrassed of having been caught trying to play on the floor with the feline just minutes before needing to leave for his son’s christening.

“I thought I could try,” he said. “What’s the worst that could happen?”

Anne glared playfully at her husband, reaching out her hand toward the cat. As she expected, Mischief promptly swatted at it, and she gave Richard a pointed look.

“See?” she asked.

Richard laughed again, reaching out to pet the animal. None to her surprise, Mischief let Richard scratch him behind the ears, and she rolled her eyes jovially at her husband.

“Come, darling,” she said. “We’ll be late if we don’t hurry.”

Richard chuckled once more, reaching over to the chair beside his dresser and fetching the dark blue jacket that matched the breeches he was clad in.

“I’m ready, my love,” he said, smoothing out the creases in his breeches and putting on his jacket. “And Edward is already wearing his christening gown.”

Anne smiled fondly at her husband. He was just as free-spirited as her, which was one reason she adored him so. But he was also responsible, which was another thing she loved.

“Very good,” she said, walking over to give him a quick kiss as she swooped in and picked up the child despite Mischief’s slaps and mewls of protest. “Then we should be just on time.”

Richard grinned, putting a gentle arm behind her back and leading her out of the room.

“Are you surprised?” he asked.

Anne laughed again.

“I found you playing on the floor with a cat’s toy, didn’t I?” she retorted.

The couple shared a laugh as they headed out to the carriage as a family. And as they boarded the coach, Anne realized that she wouldn’t have rather found Richard any other way.

Richard had taken care of all the arrangements to see that a grand affair was organized to celebrate their son’s christening. By the time they arrived at the church, Anne saw that all their family and close friends had gathered, filling the sanctuary of the church where they were married with warmth and love once more.

The viscount was the first to approach, followed closely by both Anne’s and Richard’s mothers.

“Hello, my dear Anne,” he said softly, gazing lovingly down at the wrapped bundle in her arms. “May I hold him?”

Anne giggled.

“It seems that everyone prefers Lord Edward to me,” she said with the wink she had picked up from Richard.

Everyone laughed merrily, but they were quickly enthralled by Edward as he reflexively raised his tiny fist and began making soft sounds with his mouth. Richard put an arm around Anne’s waist as their loved ones took turns holding their baby boy, smiling down at her.

“Now I see how you feel,” he said, glancing toward the dowager duchess, who was cooing softly to the infant.

Anne giggled again, resting her head on his chest.

“I still love you, sweetheart,” she said.

Richard grinned.

“Likewise, my love,” he said.

The ceremony commenced a few minutes later, led by the round, friendly vicar of Calder. He opened with a prayer, followed by a speech about the importance of baptism for those as innocent as young children and reading a passage out of the bible on the same subject. He said another prayer for safety, luck and prosperity for little Edward. Then, he looked at all the guests with a warm smile.

“Will the people chosen as godparents please step forward?” the vicar asked.

Hand in hand, Thomas and Susan, happily married for six months, stepped toward them with glowing smiles on their faces. They recited their duties and promises for little Edward in their roles as his godparents, assuring their loved ones and God that they would have his best interest at heart, always. Shortly after, the ceremony concluded, at which point the dowager duchess couldn’t approach fast enough to scoop up her grandson from the vicar.

Thomas cleared his throat, raising his hand in the air.

“Before we leave the church, could we have a moment of your attention?” he asked. “This place has seen so many of our loved ones’ special moments, and we’d like to share something special with you all now.”

Everyone murmured their consent, looking at the couple expectantly. Even the vicar, who had been writing down things for the church records regarding the baptism, gave Thomas and Susan an encouraging nod.

Thomas put an arm around his new wife, and with broad smiles they spoke in unison.

“We’re expecting our first child,” they said, looking at each other in shock at the synchronization of their announcement before laughing giddily.

The dowager duchess gasped loudly, rushing over to embrace her daughter.

“Oh, darling,” she said, holding Susan tightly. “Congratulations, my sweet daughter. I am so happy for the both of you.”

Richard chuckled softly, leaving Anne’s side and walking over to his mother and sister. He reached out and gently took Edward from her, giving both women a kiss on their cheeks.

“Hey there, Mother,” he said, winking at her. “In your mirth, you almost crushed your grandson.”

The dowager gave her son a playful push with the palm of her hand, but she was smiling brightly and there were joyful tears in her eyes.

“Oh, nonsense, dear,” she said, but she allowed her son to take his son back over to Anne. She took the baby, admiring how precious he looked in his christening gown.

Richard then turned back to face his sister and her husband again, offering Thomas a hearty handshake.

“Truly, congratulations to the both of you,” he said. “This is joyous news and I know we can hardly wait to have another addition to our family.”

Thomas naturally accepted the handshake, pulling Richard into a warm hug.

“Thank you, my good man,” he said. “Fatherhood just looked so good on you that I needed to try it for myself.”

Richard glanced back where Anne stood, gently rocking the infant, who was now drifting off to sleep in his mother’s arms after all the excitement of his baptism.

“It’s the best thing I’ve ever done, next to being a husband,” he said.

Anne grinned at her husband, as did Thomas.

“If fatherhood is anything like husband-hood, I have no doubt that I will be in heaven,” he said.

Richard nodded, not taking his eyes off Anne.

“You certainly will,” he said softly.

Charlotte rushed up to where Anne was standing, nearly knocking her over.

“Anne, you won’t believe it,” she said. She was clearly very excited and out of breath.

Anne laughed merrily, patting her sister gently on the back.

“Take a breath, Sister,” she said. “What won’t I believe?”

Charlotte’s green eyes were sparkling, and she looked ready to burst. Anne held her breath, wondering if she was about to announce a courtship of her own.

“I can’t believe you haven’t heard,” she said, still gasping. “Mother told me that Albert was recently married to a young baron’s daughter. Apparently, he’s found true love with her.”

Anne blinked, surprised. She hadn’t thought about him since Richard and she began their ruse. Now that she thought of it, however, she realized she couldn’t recall her parents saying anything about his feelings regarding losing his chance to marry her.

“Well, that explains quite a bit,” she said, musing aloud.

Charlotte nodded, clapping her hands together.

“And that’s not all,” she said. “Elizabeth told me that Lord Gray has married Lady Eleanor.”

At the mention of Lady Eleanor’s name, Richard looked up and blanched, moving closer to Anne and putting an arm around her waist.

“What about her?” he asked.

Anne giggled, patting his chest gently.

“Do not fret, my love,” she said. “She isn’t still pursuing you. Charlotte just told me that she married Lord Gray.”

Richard’s face instantly brightened as he grinned.

“Well, how about that?” he said with a chuckle. “I’m sure they’ll be quite happy together.”

Anne made a face, but her heart was too full of joy to be bitter.

“They should have plenty of time for their gossip now,” she said.

Everyone laughed.

The End