Dark Passions

69.

Snow drifted across the windowpane - big, fat flakes that swirled lazily in the slight breeze. Meredith gazed out across the mantles of white that blanketed the courtyard, and the fields beyond the manor. It was Christmas Eve, and she should be resting, but she was drawn to the window, watching Derek and Michael playing in the snow outside. They had been ostensibly out looking for a tree to cut down to bring in for the holidays, but it seemed they were having too much fun chasing each other, and throwing snowballs. The little dog, Shadow, barked happily along with them, wriggling his fat little body in the drifts, and leaping along behind them. Meredith grinned to see the sight of the three of them together, little puffs of steam accentuating their shouts. Her own breath frosted the glass, as she watched them, seeing their dark heads, so similar, bent together, as Derek picked his son up, and headed back towards the manor, Shadow trailing along behind them. She could see a couple of the younger footmen walking along behind them then, dragging a huge fir tree. So they had found a tree, after all, she mused.

Derek adored his son, spending far more time with him than most men would, playing games with him, and helping him to take his first toddling steps when Meredith had been unable to get around when her pregnancy had been advanced. The last few months had been difficult, and she had kept to her bed for much of it. But it had been worth it, in the end, with the birth of the twins. Lady Edwina had predicted it correctly - early in December, Meredith gave birth to twin girls, tiny but healthy. Unlike Michael's birth, this time Derek insisted on being with her the entire time, to the dismay of the midwife. But he refused to leave, rubbing Meredith's back, and sponging the sweat from her forehead, murmuring soothing words to her when the pains gripped her tiny body. His solid strength and reassuring presence had helped her immensely, and she was glad he had been there. Even though he vowed she would never go through that again, having seen how difficult it was for her.

She turned towards the cradle near the fireplace, her hand at the small of her back. Still not feeling entirely back to her usual health, she still tired easily, but the babies were fussing, and she needed to feed them. Just then, Rose poked her head into the bedchamber. "Oh, m'lady, you need to be resting. What would His Grace say if he saw you up like this?" she scolded cheerfully.

"The girls are fussing," Meredith said with a smile, touching their little cheeks. Hannah Meredith and Ella Genevieve, tucked in together, regarded her with wide blue eyes. Hannah's hair was fair, and Ella's was darker, like Michael's. Meredith couldn't help but feel amazed every time she looked at them.

"Here, now, you get into bed, and I'll bring them for you. You should be using the wet-nurse, m'lady. You will tire yourself out at this rate." Rose helped Meredith into the big bed, tucking her in, before going to pick up the babies. She just settled them in with Meredith, when the door opened again, and Derek and Michael came in. Their cheeks rosy from the cold, and the fresh scent of brisk air clinging to them. Shadow followed at their heels, heading for his blanket in front of the fire, where he curled up, his nose resting on his paws.

The twins: