[1.5] The Duchess of Kent and Strathearn | B. Bridgerton

Chapter 26

A Cry of Help for Missing You

A few minutes later, Martin announced it was time. As much as neither of them wanted to, Benedict pulled away from his wife's embrace. He got down on one knee and placed his hands on the sides of her belly before pressing a long and sweet kiss on it. Inevitable tears rolled down her cheeks at his gesture, and continued to wipe her tears with the handkerchief he gave her.

"Bye, bye, Papa," Charlotte mimicked a baby voice, making the future parents chuckle softly.

Benedict stood up again and placed his hand behind her neck before crashing his lips on hers once more. Charlotte kissed him back and placed her hands on his shoulders, pulling him close to her to prevent him from walking away. But of one thing the Duke of Kent was sure was that, the more he stayed with his wife, the harder it was to walk away from her.

So, he ended the kiss, took a hold of her hands and made her let go of his shoulders. A small sob escaped the Duchess' lips, but she didn't want him to remember her like a sobbing mess, so she forced a smile, which reached her eyes, even though they expressed the sadness of the moment.

Before going in the coach, he looked back at her. A sad smile graced her face as she waved in his direction. Not long after, Thomas, Fatima, Lilia, Cora and Martin all stood behind her, bowing their heads and making a curtsy for their Duke. It reassured Benedict that she was not going to be alone after his departure.

"Your Royal Highness! A letter has arrived from London!" She heard Nolan Bason yelling from inside the house, but the Duchess didn't move an inch to pay attention to him. "Your Royal Highness? Ma'am!"

"Kill that man, Martin," Lilia huffed angrily.

"He cannot kill him," Thomas scolded her.

"I know someone who can," Cora commented while looking over her shoulder, glaring daggers to Kinsley's right hand man.

"Ma'am?" Fatima asked, concerned for the Duchess' state.

"Fetch me my bonnet," she instructed, without looking away from her husband's coach, which was moving further away from Kinsley House. "I've got a duty to do."

ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ

Kensington Palace, London
Four days later

The first thing the Duchess of Kent and Strathearn did when she got back to London was lock herself in her chambers until the next day. When the Queen was noted of the Duchess' locking herself up, she panicked, thought she was starting to feel ill, like George, so she ordered for the physician to visit her first thing in the morning.

Her bump had grown a little, not too drastic, but it is now slightly showing. Charlotte was informed of her mother's request and dressed up for the physician's checkup, and she expressed to the detail how she has been feeling for the past few weeks.

Tired.
Restless.
Lazy.
Heavy...even though the baby in her bump does not feel exactly like a baby...yet.
Nauseous since day one.
And... Slightly moody.

'All symptoms were normal for a woman with child, especially if it is her first', the physician would say... Little does he know, the Duchess of Kent and Strathearn has not admitted everything she's been feeling as of late.

Deep down Charlotte had to admit, the more she thought of her husband, the worst she feels. She has tried to think that this separation they were going through was for their own good... But the uncertainty of the status of their marriage would immediately sadden her. What if he comes back and he no longer wants to be married to her? What if he decides he wants nothing to do with her? Worst of all... What if he doesn't want to be a part of their baby's life because of her? All those thoughts haunted her until she cried herself to sleep. No macaroons or any sort of pastry seemed to help, even though she was advised not to eat any.