Embark | h.s

Twenty Two

Soft, low vibrations traveled through the air of the room and filled Celia's ears, drawing her out of a light slumber. Tucked under a layer of quilts in the spacious bed, she remained still and silent as she listened to the humming. She opened her eyes, only slightly at first to adjust to the bright light of the early morning, but then fully to find the source of the hum. On the foot of the bed with Nerissa on his knee sat Harry, his lips pressed together as he hummed the lullaby that Celia was taught by her mother. He was humming to Walter, who lay in a cradle positioned at the base of the bed, Nerissa watching her father intently as she tried to follow his tune herself.

When the lullaby was over, Nerissa tugged on Harry's shirt. "Why you no sing words like Mamma?"

Dimples hollowed out on Harry's cheeks as a smile formed on his lips. "Because I am not as good of a singer as your Mamma."

Celia smiled, enjoying the sight before her. Harry wrapped his arms around Nerissa and pulled her into his chest, releasing a giggle from her lips that was pure and sweet and full of innocence. Nerissa smushed her hands on either of Harry's cheeks, and stretched and pulled his skin into funny faces, continuing to laugh the entire time.

"Shh, darling, we don't want to wake Mamma," Harry said, pressing his index finger to her small lips. He glanced over to Celia to find that her blue eyes were opened and trained on him, and his smile fell. "My dear, I'm sorry, did we wake you?"

Celia propped herself up onto her elbows, unable to sit all the way up, as she was still sore from birth. "No, no, please, carry on. You two looked like you were having a ball."

"Mamma, sing! Please!" Nerissa said excitedly, leaping out of Harry's arms and onto the bed. She crawled up to Celia and nestled herself in the crook of her arm, then reaching out her arms in Harry's direction, opening and closing her hands in an attempt to beg him to join them. "Come, Papa! Learn to sing."

Celia smiled at Harry, but before he could climb into bed with his wife and daughter, his actions were interrupted by the squeaky cry of Walter. Harry glanced at his son and then to Celia, almost asking for approval to pick him up. Celia nodded, finding it absurd that he would even question the action. Harry bent over and lifted the baby into his arms, cradling him close to his warm chest and bringing him over to the bed to join the rest of his family.

Harry looked worried as he held the wailing newborn in his arms, placing a loving kiss atop his head in an attempt to soothe him. Celia bit back a smile and reached out to relieve him of his stress. Harry handed Walter over willingly and pulled Nerissa into his lap, situating himself in a more comfortable position as Celia rocked Walter gently.

"Weep you no more, sad fountains;
What need you flow so fast?
Look how the snowy mountains
Heav'n's sun doth gently waste.
But my sun's heav'nly eyes
View not your weeping
That now lies sleeping,
Softly, softly, now softly lies sleeping."

Walter's eyes fluttered shut and his fit ceased at the sound of his mother's soothing voice. Celia looked up at Harry and Nerissa, who were both heavy eyed and tranquil. She felt so lucky to have been given the gift of love and family, even if it had been in an unorthodox way. She had a pirate for a husband and she was in love with him. Despite the rocky path, she was thankful for the destination that it led her to.

✿

The two week old Walter was a troublesome infant, crying during many hours of the night to beg his mother for food or a changing of his cloth diaper, but he was adored nonetheless. He finally was fast asleep at half past two in the morning after being changed, and there was nothing but silence ringing in the ears of Celia and Harry, preventing them from sleeping.

"I worry for you, dear," Harry finally said, his voice a low whisper.

Celia turned onto her side to face him. "Why's that?"

"Returning to court after what happened."

"It's been nearly two years," Celia said, "Surely the excitement of it all has diminished."

"You know court better than I," he replied, "Do you think that to be true?"

Celia thought for a moment before sighing. "The death and tale of Jane Foley has not left the minds and lips of courtiers, and it's been over five years. For once, Harry, you may be right."

"For once?" Harry questioned with a chuckle, which Celia joined in on.

She then grew quiet, submitting to the hidden thoughts that had been gnawing away at her conscience. She did not want to admit it, but she was terrified. "In truth, I worry about it as well, but not because of the courtiers. It's Elizabeth that troubles me. What will she say to me, and I to her?"

"You don't have to go," Harry reminded her.

She shook her head. "No, I should go. She is dying, I must face her. Besides, I would like to see Luke again."

Harry's eyes lit up in the darkness of the room at the sound of Luke's name. "That lad will be a sight for sore eyes. Say, what did they name their child? When I last saw Beatrice at court, she was with child."

"Oh," she said, her voice falling. "She did not make it to term."

A brief silence overtook the two, until it was finally broken by Harry. "I'm sorry to hear that."

"She spoke of it only once, to inform me of what happened, but nothing more. I felt guilty asking her to come for Walter's birth."

"You know Beatrice would not want you to feel that way," Harry said. Celia only nodded. "We should sleep. No doubt he will wake us up early, and if you are set on going to Greenwich, then we need to pack." Harry kissed the top of Celia's head. "Goodnight, dear."

Harry sunk down into the sheets and drifted into sleep, but Celia was not so lucky. She pulled the quilt to her chin and closed her eyes, desperately wanting to escape the thoughts that ran ragged through her mind, causing her stress and worry, but she would barely get a moments rest that night. Instead, she would wonder what her return to court would entail.