September 3rd, 1890 — The Sanditon Terrace
Daniel Selwyn

Her course was a week late.

The first two days of its absence, Freya had played it off as stress. Dancing on eggshells around her husband was a stressor, obviously, and that was without the additional strain of knowing that she was now an adulterer. That she now believed herself capable of loving another more than she ever loved her husband. That intimacy could be beautiful. All beliefs she swore to never hold as a dutiful wife.

A week, though. Her course was as consistent as the moon's cycle. It arrived each month on the same day, nearly to the point where she could pinpoint the hour it was to begin. There were no other symptoms yet, except perhaps a bit of moodiness on her part, but that was to be expected, wasn't it? Mood swings and exhaustion were what so many of her friends described as signs in the early days of their pregnancies. Merlin, Freya hoped this was the same.

It wasn't lost upon her that the first pregnancy she believed herself to be capable of came after an affair with another man. A few of the more daring healers she visited had suggested the problem might lie with Daniel, but without ever addressing it there was no way to know. She certainly wasn't about to ask him, either. Daniel's insecurities ruled their lives with an iron fist, accusing him of being impotent would only further smother them both. The baby she hoped she carried — please — was more than likely fathered by August. A prospect which simultaneously melted her insides to goo and filled her with intense fear.

She silently entered Daniel'a study in their rented home carrying a small and unfilled picture frame. The summer was drawing to a close and soon, too soon, they'd be returning to the gloominess of London. "Hi," Freya greeted him a tad nervously. The baby might've been fathered by August, but Daniel would be its father. He deserved to know first. "I was hoping to have a cup of tea on the balcony. Would you care to join me?"

Baby Stamp: 5 weeks

  

---

Amazing Set by Stef!

Daniel had hoped that with the new month they would remove themselves to London, but instead he found himself in the study of their rented home at the beach, pouring over a new manuscript. As far as work tasks went this wasn’t the worst. Although why his subordinates thought they should attempt to acquire Miss Isolde Bennet’s newest manuscript was a bit of a quandary for him.

Freya’s presence was a welcome distraction. “Certainly.” He smiled, standing up and setting aside the stack of papers. “Have you ever read any of Miss Bennet’s works?” Daniel asked as they started for the balcony.

  

Freya smiled at his easy agreement. Pulling him from his work wasn't always a simple task, so for him to consent without struggle made her announcement that much more exciting. (There was, however, an increasing amount of guilt forming with every second, despite her every intention to ignore it.)

"I have," she said as they entered onto the balcony. Freya tucked the picture frame onto her lap as she sat, not ready yet to tell him. "She's brilliant. Why?"

  

A cool breeze brushed Daniel’s face and with it a lingering layer of salt. Even with months of experience he did not find dining out doors near the sea to be nearly as enjoyable as Freya and her mother did.

“Ah, one of my employees feels we should publish her latest book. I’m not sure of the merits yet.” Daniel explained. His wife’s recommendation did go a long way toward swaying some of his reservations. Perhaps enticing more lady readers was a good thing, something for them to spend their allowances on rather than housekeeping books and the such.

  

Freya didn't realize Ms. Bennet had a book in the works, but the prospect of selling it through Daniel was a lucrative one for the Selwyn's. "You should if the opportunity arises," she said calmly, daring to risk voicing her opinion. It wasn't often that she interfered in his business. "Her last novel was impossible to find a copy of for some weeks."

Ms. Bennet wasn't what she wished to discuss today, though. After signaling for the tea be brought in, she smiled brightly. "I've been doing some thinking about the empty room in London. Perhaps it is time to decorate it."

  

---

Amazing Set by Stef!

Interesting. He would have expected better stocking from Griffin and King, but perhaps her work was more in demand that he had anticipated. “I shall take that under advisement.” Daniel nodded, grateful he had thought to say Freya.

“Oh?” Daniel asked, looking up from where his tea was being served by a footman. The last time they had approached the subject it had become prickly and Daniel had anticipated it would never come up again.

  

Allowing the subject of Miss Bennet's book to drop, Freya waited for the footman to return to his spot by the wall before continuing on. "A family portrait in the spring would be nice, don't you agree?" She placed the empty frame on the side of the table to further emphasize her point. "Late spring, I'd guess." She was only a week late for her course, after all.

  

---

Amazing Set by Stef!

A family portrait for the room, Daniel nodded thoughtfully. He had no issue commissioning a painting of them. But something she said caught his attention, the deliberate usage of spring, late spring. And family. She hardly ever used family to describe them.

“Late spring?” Daniel echoed, the realization clicking into place and his eyes widening. The last time they had talked of children Freya had been upset, now Daniel didn’t wish to get her hopes up by pressing her on his suspicions but he couldn’t help but try to frame the question.

“Are you? Will there?” Apparently the ever eloquent Daniel Selwyn could not find the words to even ask his wife if he would finally have an heir. “Truly?” He finally looked at her in some small amount of amazement, although perhaps he was imagining the whole thing and his words would only serve to upset her. Daniel was a bloody fool if that were the case.

The following 1 user Likes Daniel Selwyn's post:1 user Likes Daniel Selwyn's post
   Freya Selwyn

The wonder in his eyes made her heart swell with joy but her guilt increase tenfold. For years, this conversation was all she wished for. She dreamt of the different ways she might tell him, the different flowers she might leave him as clues. Only for him to be cuckholded by her secret love. She couldn't be certain of it, of course, but what were the odds that the first time she slept with a man that wasn't her husband she would become pregnant?

Minimal. The odds were minimal.

Freya shoved her guilt deep within her soul and beamed at him. "The healers haven't confirmed it yet. But, I believe so, yes." The exhaustion was already running her ragged, though from what she heard Freya knew it would only get worse.

  

---

Amazing Set by Stef!

“Oh, my life, that is such wonderful news.” Daniel stood from his spot, feeling as if his whole world had tipped on its axis. One moment he was standing before her, the next he was on his knees, her hands clasped in his own as he brought them to his mouth for a kiss.

Daniel did not like children, he had always supposed that children would eventually come and when they did he’d tolerate them as his parents had tolerated their brood. But her had never expected the feelings that coursed through him now, never imagined how much his love for Freya might multiply by such a simple statement.

  

The excitement and joy he felt heightened Freya's own elatement of the news. Whomever the father was (Daniel, August, the milk man) mattered little when she contemplated that she would, finally, become a mother. An heir for Daniel, a bright life for her to devote her life to as her mother had done for her. Freya simply couldn't wait.

Grinning broadly, Freya threw her arms around her husband's neck and hugged him tightly. Such was a rare show of affection between them, but she could scarcely contain herself. "Oh, Daniel," she sighed happily.

  

---

Amazing Set by Stef!

The warmth of Freya's arms around his neck was a comfort and a treasure and with his face hidden in her hair a rare smile tilted his lips. Finally he pulled back to look her in the eyes. "Do you think it shall be a little prince or a little princess?" He asked her. He knew such matters weren't actually things she would know but his mother had always shown maternal instincts could pick up on such a thing. Of course it would have to be an heir, a strong bright son, but perhaps a daughter such a Freya was not such a bad thing either.

  

The pregnancy hadn't even been officially confirmed yet, but Freya had already begun to hope for a son. Daniel needed an heir (legitimate or not) and she so hoped not to stress over a daughter's future as Mama had so obviously done for her. However, wishes aside there was no safe way to tell. Not until the spring when the babe was born. "I hope we'll have a son," she admitted with a happy sigh. The baby would undeniably be blond if it was August's child, though she could only hope it would more greatly resemble her. "The healers might be able to guess, I don't believe they can concretely say one way or another. Not until birth."

  

---

Amazing Set by Stef!

Daniel smiled at Freya, a son would be wonderful. He kissed Freya's forehead. "We shall just have to be patient and see then, my soul." Problem was Daniel wasn't exactly known for his patience. But things like this couldn't be rushed, if they were it spelled bigger trouble.

A child. Soon he would be a father, a child in the nursery and the smile that had slipped from Freya's lips these past years would light up again across her lips. Their love would blossom like the roses in her garden as spring rounded a corner and the ice of winter melted away again with the new year.

The following 1 user Likes Daniel Selwyn's post:1 user Likes Daniel Selwyn's post
   Jupiter Smith