Dinner continued in silence. everyone having little appetite, lady Anne was the worst, she sat down, holding her spoon in her hand and just staring at nothing, she was tired, she didn't know what to do, her child can't be bad, he was destined for greatness, she just knew her son couldn't be bad!, she felt him kick harder than usual, and touched her stomach, did he perhaps sense that something bad was said about him?, she thought in despair, it's okay little one!, it's okay..., mommy is here, and she believes in you...
Philip watched his wife as she picked at her food with one hand and rubbed her stomach with the other, staring intently at the food... he knew she was trying to be brave and not cry, so he decided that since no one was eating that it was time he retired to his bed chambers...
"Should I find that old hag and kill her?, Andrew asked him in a low deadly voice, "I could slit her throat, or behead her and hand you her head on a platter, he continued, but Philip shook his head, he was really contemplating it though, she came with bad news and she shouldn't leave with her tongue intact, he thought bitterly, but he knew that Anne would hate it, she wouldn't like it at all, and he had no heart to hurt her more than she was already feeling now..
"Nay, he said to him, and clapped his shoulder, I appreciate the gesture tho, thank you, but eat your to your fill and go and be with your woman, he said and stood up and carried his woman, lady Anne would have made a fuss, and told him to set her down, but she didn't fight him, instead she wrapped her arms around his neck, and held on putting her face in between his neck and shoulders, she let the hot tears out at that moment, Philip felt it, and swallowed he hated it when she cried, and more when it was for a situation where he was completely useless, and couldn't do a thing for her...
"The lady and I will retire to our chambers, but eat and drink to your fill, and we will see on the morrow, he said before his voice broke, but it was thick with emotions and he turned back leaving a hall filled with people who had only sympathy for them, they knew how long they had hoped for a child, they were blessed with one only to tell them not to let him live! no one could ever pretend to understand how they felt...
Philip laid her back on the bed and was about to leave her to call her maid to attend to her, help her undress, but she held his tunic, and looked at him with teary eyes, her lips trembled...
"My lord..., she managed before she broke into tears, why me!, who did I ever offend, she said with such pain, in her voice that it made his heart ache, I can't abandon my baby. she said, no one is born evil, no one is, I can't accept that, she cried bitterly and buried her face in her hands, Philip rushed to her consoling her,
"Nay, don't think that, We are not going to abandon him, he said to her, and stroked her hair, we won't leave him, I will be by his side teaching him, and I don't believe that rubbish she spat, she was probably a woman who held a grudge against me, and tried to hurt me by saying those things about my son, be continued.., "You should have let me kill her, he said lastly...
"You shouldn't soil your blade with such blood, she admonished him, and guided his hands to her stomach, "He is just like you my lord, he is so hyper, always moving, and he will be out in three months time, she said, and saw the proud look on his face
"My Francis, he said softly, my son, he said like he couldn't believe it, and when kept on kicking like he could hear him, Philip smiled,
"He likes the name, I can tell, he said still having that proud look on his face...
"We will support him, no matter what, he is our heir, lady Anne said as she held her stomach as well...
Her husband helped her out of her clothes, as he didn't want to leave her side, she smiled at that, society would go crazy if they should see a duke doing this..., being a maid to his wife, but society will also frown if they saw a duchess cooking for her husband, as she did, their love was a novelty, to the very stiff society. she thought as her husband kissed her shoulder and every thought fled her head and mind, he continued kissing her to her ripened breast, made more volumptous by her pregnancy, she felt her big stomach was not society standard of a beauty, but he suckled at her breast and she moaned his name, and clutched at his head as his tongue tasted her greedily, he continued suckling at her breast, then she was wet for him, he laid her on her back, and entered her slowly, she almost wept from pleasure, she sighed and he grunted as he entered her and her heat enveloped him, he was still with his tunic, he only removed his breeches, and he continued, thrusting into her slowly, in a rhythm that she always loved, that made her crazy with passion, she clawed at his back, as he went wild, plunging desperately into her heat, she was moving with him matching his steady and wild thrust, till he shouted his release, and she came too, feeling spent...
He kissed her and rolled over, then he undressed fully and slipped under the covers with Anne, he gathered her into his arms, and kissed her goodnight, but she didn't sleep, she decided to go and find answers tomorrow, she would go and ask the woman she heard people whispering about, she needed confirmation, or perhaps denial, that her son won't be a ruthless tyrant, she thought and closed her eyes to sleep, she knew it won't be a restful one, but she was going to try all the same....
Andrew walked back to his home, everyone at the hall ate in silence, out of fear that he would kill anyone who dared to talk bad about the dukes family and they were right. he would have done battle with just anyone that said anything after that old hag left,
When he got to the door, he heard a loud cry, his mind went to his wife and he ran inside the house, truly his wife was on the floor, clutching her belly and crying, she was pregnant with their child and he knew the baby was due any day from now, but he was surprised that it was today, after an ominous prophesy about the soon to be lord of the manor, he didn't know what to do, he rushed to her side holding her, as she screamed
"Is any one out there!, he called with a loud voice, and his squire came out, yes my lord, he said, then his eyes went huge as he saw the woman screaming...
"Go and get me the old mid wife, now, tell her my wife is in labour, and tell no one else, today isn't a good day to disturb the Duke, he said to the squire who nodded running out...