Since Cornelia Rhodes was a child, she has known the Bridgerton's. She has always had a fondness for the eldest of the children.
Anthony Bridgerton had never seen Cornelia as anything other than the girl without a mother. He never truly engaged in c...
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LORD AND LADY RHODES HAD NEVER KNOWN SUCH JOY as they did when their daughter was born. As every man of the time, Cornelius Rhodes wished for a son, just as his wife wished to give him one. Though they knew that having a son as their first child was a 50/50 chance, they would love their child no matter the gender.
"Push, Gwendoline." The doctor, who was a close friend of the family instructed the soon to be mother.
Lady Rhodes screamed out in agony as she pushed the large head out of her womb. "I cannot do this." She cried, shaking her head. Her hair and clothing stuck tightly to the sweat that covered her porcelain skin. She turned to her ladies maid with tears in her pleading eyes.
The older woman stroked her lady's hair, her hand clutching the lady's tighter. "They're almost here, my lady. Let's give it one more try, shall we?" She pleaded. The maid sympathized with the woman, as she was a mother herself.
Gwendoline nodded weakly, taking in large, shaky breaths. On the doctor's command, she pushed once more, an ear-splitting scream ripping through her lungs. Her body fell limp, sweat dripping into her eyes. A shrill scream of an infant alerting the men in the next room over.
"Agatha," Gwendoline now weakly clutched the maid's hand. "What is it?"
Agatha grinned, patting the lady's hand. "A beautiful baby girl."
The lady of the house smiled, her eyes twinkling in amazement. "A girl." She breathed out.
Lord Rhodes entered the room, his brother-in-law close behind, both of their eyes searching the room for the child, desperate to know its gender.
"Congratulations, Cornelius." The doctor placed the still crying girl in his arms. "You now have a daughter."
"What would you like to name her?" The midwife questioned, placing a warm blanket over the new mother.
"It's only right that I name my first born after myself, as my father had with me." The dark-haired man beamed. "She will be called Cornelia Jane."
It was then that Gwendoline's brother got a proper look at his niece. "By God!" He exclaimed with wide eyes. "This is the largest baby I have ever seen."
The doctor nodded in agreement. "It's a surprise that the lady is still alive."
"Doctor!" Agatha suddenly called. "She's not breathing!" She cried.
Horror struck Cornelius as he clutched his newborn. "Gwen..." He stared at his wife's lifeless body, her face pale and tears turning dry.
"Cornelius, let us leave them so that they can work."
Cornelius, quite reluctantly, left the room with his brother-in-law. And though Earnest was scared for the fate of his dear sister, he knew he must keep his brother-in-law calm, for the baby's sake.
Newborn babe Cornelia stared up at her father with large, brown eyes. The few hairs on her head matching in color. A large yawn escaped the infant, her mouth stretching wide. The scene was enough to make a grown man cry.
"Cornelia," and that was what her father did. "I promise to protect you and keep you loved." He confessed to his child. He sniffed in an attempt to keep the tears at bay. "I will try to be father and mother to you."
Earnest gently placed a comforting and supportive hand on Lord Rhodes' shoulder. "Amelia and I will offer all that we can."
Cornelius closed his eyes, nodding in a way as if to say, 'thank you'. He clutched his now sleeping child to his chest. For he feared that if he were to loosen his hold, even for a split moment, that he would drop her.
That day was not only the day that Cornelia Jane Rhodes was born. That same day, Lady Gwendoline Rhodes died.
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I do not own any rights to the characters or events in the following story, besides that of the Rhodes and Hendricks families, and what happens to them. All rights belong to Julia Quinn and Shonda Rhimes.
This is a fan fiction. Not all events, names, or dates will align with those of the books/show.
