The Spare (18+ Only) - Noblesse Oblige #1

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Twelve

The blood drained from Isis' face as the doctor made his diagnosis. He must be mistaken, right? Right?

"Are you sure, doctor?" she asked, bewildered.

"Yes I am, Princess. All signs point to it, and the test confirmed it."

As soon as Isis had woken up in Mrs. Prisa's bedroom, a doctor had been called in. They had been given complete privacy as he asked her questions and checked her vitals. After a while his questions became more specific before he asked her to take a test.

"I just..." she started to say before letting the sentence trail off unfinished.

She didn't even know what to say. The older man pulled the only chair in the room in front of where she sat on the bed and sat facing her. He leaned his elbows on his knees and caught her gaze.

"It's a wonderful thing, having a baby. It was unexpected, so your reaction is completely normal. I can recommend you to an excellent doctor who will closely work with you and monitor your pregnancy so that all goes well if you decide to carry it to term, Princess."

"And if I don't want to?" she asked hesitantly, her face still colorless.

"You're only three weeks along at most, so if you decide that you don't want to – and I hope this is a decision that you do not rush – you do still have the option of termination."

Isis frowned. No, he was wrong.

No matter how unprepared for motherhood she was; how unsure of the future, she knew terminating her pregnancy was and will never be an option for her. She could never live with herself if she chose to do that, and no doubt Avriel's angry ghost would haunt her forever.

She swallowed and looked down at her palms lying in her lap, taking a moment to fortify herself on the inside.

"I'm keeping it, of course", she said firmly. "I would like to keep this between us only for a while longer. My husband should be the first to learn the news, and directly from my lips." The doctor nodded, his faded blue-gray eyes sympathetic.

"Of course. Doctor-patient confidentiality is something I hold sacred."

"I should hope so", Isis replied. He turned and dug out a business card from his medicine bag, wrote something on it, and then handed it to her with a reassuring smile.

"This is the name and address of the doctor I mentioned. You should see her as soon as possible. She is as discreet as I am, and does her job very well. She will take excellent care of you for the next eight months."

"Thank you. Please give the bill directly to my attendant, Miss Aysel Castallano. She will bring the payment to your office either this evening or tomorrow morning."

"Of course, Your Highness, thank you." He bowed deeply to her and, with the added help of Rai, collected all of his equipment and left the room.

Several minutes passed as Isis just sat there, a chaotic myriad of thoughts speed-racing through her mind. There was a soft knock on the door. Isis didn't respond, but whoever had knocked opened the door anyway.

"Isis", Aysel said, shutting the door behind her with a click. "Everyone's still worried." She approached Isis and sat down close beside her.

"He didn't say anything." It was a question voiced as a statement, but Aysel understood.

"No, he didn't. He gave me the bill, however. I read it."

"You know."

"I do."