Trails of Intertwined Stars: Chapter 74 {Part 1}

~Chapter 76: Vincent and Emmeline~

Jiu let out a long sigh, settling back under the covers. Leora was probably fine, after all, she'd fallen asleep quickly. Besides, he was exhausted to the point where he didn't even want to deal with Duncan and his horrible tricks. What difference did it make if the door was locked or unlocked? She was fast asleep and that's what mattered most. Jiu let out a yawn, snuggling down into the covers as his eyelids grew heavy. It felt like he was floating he was so tired. The darkness of the room engulfed him as he closed his eyes. His breath grew steady. But then, he heard a noise. A noise of coal being thrust into the fireplace at the other end of his room. Jiu woke, startled, sitting bolt upright. It was...daylight? He could have sworn it was one in the morning a second ago? A maid was crouched by the fireplace, chucking fresh lumps of coal into the fireplace, which he thought had been unused last night; perhaps getting his room ready for the day.
Jiu groaned softly, rubbing his eye," I'm sorry, I didn't realise I slept in."
The maid didn't react, whatsoever. It was almost like she hadn't heard him. Once she'd finished putting in the coal, she turned and left. Even when their eyes met, she did not react. Jiu furrowed his eyebrows, confused.
"Odd," He muttered as she shut the door behind him," I don't think I've ever seen a servant wearing that outfit, either?"

He gently slipped out of bed, and exited his room. Surprisingly, the corridor wasn't empty for once. There were quite a few maids, running back and forth, holding towels and blankets; swift and decisive in action. They were all wearing the uniform he couldn't recognise. Had something happened overnight? A group of maids were whispering amongst each other, so, he decided to do a little snooping just to get the gist of what was going on.
"I hear the Lady gave birth!"
"Ooh! Lord Mohan will be so pleased!"
Jiu's eyes widened. Was Lady Brandon pregnant? Had she come over that night and given birth to Henry's child? Was that why Henry frequently went back and forth from the manor and London?
"Excuse me," Jiu looked at the maids," Did you say someone's given birth?"
The maids didn't notice him, and excitedly giggled, rushing off. Jiu bit his lip. Why were all the servants ignoring him today!? He marched to Leora's ill room to take his mind off things and check on her. He tried the handle. Locked. Though, he could hear someone talking there. He assumed it was Leora, after all, the voice was soft and kind. They seemed to be talking to some sort of man. Jiu crouched down, squinting through the keyhole, trying to desperately discern the figures.

A maid walked over with a tray of tea and food, Jiu immediately stepped back when she came over. The maid fitted the key into the keyhole, knocked and entered. Jiu decided to follow, after all, Leora wouldn't be offended if he came in unannounced. He was surprised to see Leora looked...different? She looked slightly older, with longer hair that had been tied into a braided bun; still bed ridden, but she looked much healthier, and was smiling. Sat beside her, was a man Jiu recognised, but he wasn't quite sure where from. He was definitely a Mohan, that much was certain, as he had a Henry-ish look to him. He smiled, happily, holding blankets in the crook of his arm; gently rocking them.
"Leora?" Jiu looked desperately at the woman, but she did not notice him.
"Ahh," The man cooed," You're so smiley and cute today, Leora."
Jiu expected Leora to be off-putted by the comment, but the woman continued to smile in bed at the man.
The maid set the tray down, sorting out the blankets," Here Lord Vincent, Lady Emmeline; need anything else?"
So the woman must not have been Leora. Those names: Vincent and Emmeline Mohan, he could have sworn he'd heard them before.
"Love?" Vincent glanced up at Emmeline, he was much friendlier and had a kinder face than Henry, that much was certain.

"I'm alright, though, maybe we'll need the wet nurse for Leora later," Emmeline hummed.
Jiu's eyes widened as he realised where he was. He was in the past. Those blankets in Vincent's hands was Leora as a baby. She was the newborn the maids had been speaking of. Vincent Mohan, he remembered now, he'd seen the man in the family portrait in the library, just as he'd seen Emmeline Mohan. He'd dreamt himself to the past, almost like when Duncan had allowed him to see the memory of his mother passing. Had Duncan done this one? But this one felt so much cleaner and more real compared to the previous one. Though, that made sense why nobody could see or hear him, he was like a spectator, so to speak. The maid nodded and left, closing the door behind her.
"You should eat, you know, you've just given birth," Vincent hummed, leaning back in his chair.
"I'm not in the mood," Emmeline sighed," Here, let me hold her again?"
Vincent gently passed the squirming newborn over to his wife; she cooed softly at the baby.

"Do you..." Emmeline finally spoke again,"...feel guilty as well?"
"Guilty?" Vincent muttered.
Emmeline frowned," Your parents don't like her."
Vincent let out a laugh.
"They don't like anyone, dear."
"She's the youngest and only daughter."
"Henry can look after her."
"She's forced to marry your nephew."
"He's a kind lad."
"We conceived her knowing there's tuberculosis in this house."
"We'll keep her healthy and far from my sister's room."
"She-"
"Emmie," Vincent cut his wife off, giving her a small glare, before it faded into a gentle smile," She'll be okay."
Emmeline glanced down at the baby, tears filling her eyes. Jiu clenched his fists tightly to his side watching. Would Emmeline be unhappy if she saw Leora's state now? Leora squirmed in her mother's grip, her eyes shut, as she stretched out to her hands; letting Emmeline gently trace shapes on her skin. Vincent watched, his expression solemn and grim.
"We've birthed her in a place that won't let her survive, you know," Emmeline whispered, tears dripping down her face.

"Then we'll just have to keep her safe and happy here, won't we?" Vincent stroked his wife's hair out of her face.
"You know your mother wants us dead, don't you?" Emmeline muttered.
Vincent's hand recoiled for a moment, as if he'd been scolded by her hair, but it eventually found its way back.
"I know," Vincent murmured," I... unintentionally made that sacrifice when I fell in love with you. But that doesn't mean I'll take it back. I'll never let you go, Emmie. My mother can go to hell and back, nothing will stop me loving you. I don't care about purity."
Emmeline stared at Leora," They want Duncan to..."
"Take my place?" Vincent whispered," I thought as much. Pure English unlike our children. I'm sorry you have to live like this, Emmie."
"Don't be sorry to me," Emmeline shook her head, tears dripping down her face," I don't care. I care about our children. About Henry and Leora. Why should they have to live like this?"
Vincent's gaze softened, his hand making its way to gently stroke the baby's cheek.
"Then we'll just have to lie to them, won't we? Make sure they're never scared, always warm, loved daily, give them a future; even if my mother refuses it."

Emmeline hunched over, sobbing. The idea of lying to her children, to make them unaware of the cruelty of the world, broke her heart. She just wanted them to be accepted. And the reason they weren't? She felt it was her fault, for not being completely English. Would they live long? Would they ever escape? It haunted her terribly as she stared down at their new daughter. Vincent wrapped his arm around her, holding her close as he continued to soothe the baby to sleep.
"Yes," Vincent murmured," The year 1869 is definitely a good year..."