The sun was setting, casting a warm golden glow over the manor. Inside, the atmosphere was one of celebration and anticipation. Amelia, Alister, and Ethan were gathered in the grand drawing room, still buzzing with excitement from the news of the twins.
Ethan, unable to contain his joy, was pacing back and forth, his hands gesticulating wildly. "Can you believe it? Twins! This is the best news we've had in ages!"
Amelia smiled, her heart swelling with happiness. "I know, Ethan. It's incredible. We're truly blessed."
Alister, sitting next to Amelia, held her hand tightly. "We need to start planning right away. There's so much to do. We'll need to prepare the nursery, hire more staff, and make sure everything is perfect for their arrival."
Ethan stopped pacing and turned to them, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "I can handle the staff. I'll make sure we have the best nannies, the best nurses, everything! And the nursery—we'll need two of everything. Cribs, toys, clothes…"
Amelia laughed, her joy contagious. "Yes, Ethan, we'll need two of everything. But let's not get too carried away. We have plenty of time to prepare."
Ethan nodded, though his enthusiasm was unabated. "You're right, Amelia. But I just can't help it. I'm so happy for you both."
Alister smiled at his brother. "We're happy too, Ethan. And grateful to have your support. These children will be lucky to have an uncle like you."
Ethan grinned, his chest puffing out with pride. "I'll be the best uncle ever. Just wait and see."
As they continued discussing their plans, a knock on the door interrupted them. Alister called out, "Come in."
The door opened to reveal Mrs. Whitmore, the housekeeper, her face lined with worry. "Your Grace, there's a matter that requires your attention in the kitchen."
Amelia and Alister exchanged a glance. "Is everything alright, Mrs. Whitmore?" Amelia asked, her brow furrowing with concern.
Mrs. Whitmore hesitated. "I'm not sure, Your Grace. It seems there's been a small accident, and I thought it best you were informed."
Alister stood, his expression serious. "We'll come right away. Thank you, Mrs. Whitmore."
Amelia started to rise, but Alister gently placed a hand on her shoulder. "You stay here and rest, my love. Ethan and I will handle this."
She nodded, feeling a pang of frustration at being left out but understanding the need to take care of herself and the babies. "Alright. Be careful."
Alister kissed her forehead. "We will."
As Alister and Ethan followed Mrs. Whitmore to the kitchen, the sounds of raised voices became audible. Entering the room, they saw several servants gathered around a broken vase, its contents spilled across the floor.
"What happened here?" Alister asked, his voice calm but authoritative.
One of the maids, looking flustered, stepped forward. "I'm so sorry, Your Grace. I accidentally knocked over the vase while cleaning. It was a gift from Lady Constance."
At the mention of Lady Constance, Alister's expression darkened. "That vase was valuable, but accidents happen. Clean this up and be more careful in the future."
The maid nodded, clearly relieved. "Yes, Your Grace. Thank you."
As the servants began to clean up the mess, Alister and Ethan stepped aside to discuss the situation privately.
"Lady Constance again," Ethan muttered, his jaw tightening. "That woman is like a bad penny—she keeps turning up."
Alister nodded, his eyes narrowing. "She's been a thorn in our side for too long. But for now, let's focus on the positive. We have so much to look forward to."
Ethan sighed, his expression softening. "You're right, Alister. We should focus on Amelia and the twins. They are what's important."
Returning to the drawing room, they found Amelia sitting by the window, lost in thought. She looked up as they entered, her face lighting up with a smile.
"Is everything alright?" she asked, her voice tinged with concern.
Alister nodded, sitting beside her and taking her hand. "Yes, everything is fine. Just a small accident. Nothing to worry about."
Amelia relaxed, leaning into him. "Good. I don't think I could handle any more stress right now."
Ethan walked over, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry, Amelia. We'll take care of everything. You just focus on taking care of yourself and those babies."
She smiled gratefully at him. "Thank you, Ethan. I appreciate that."
The evening continued with light-hearted conversation and laughter, the trio enjoying each other's company. As the night wore on, they moved to the dining room for a celebratory dinner, the table laden with Amelia's favorite dishes.
As they ate, Amelia found herself feeling a wave of nausea. She pushed her plate away, taking a deep breath. "Excuse me," she said, her voice shaky. "I think I need some fresh air."
Alister and Ethan both looked concerned, but before they could react, Amelia stood and hurried out of the room. Alister was quick to follow, his face etched with worry.
"Ethan, stay here and keep an eye on things. I'll go check on her," Alister said, his tone urgent.
Ethan nodded, though his concern was evident. "Of course. Let me know if you need anything."
Alister followed Amelia out to the garden, where he found her leaning against a tree, taking deep breaths.
"Amelia, are you alright?" he asked softly, approaching her.
She nodded, though she still looked pale. "I think it's just the pregnancy. Sometimes the smells and the rich food can be a bit much."
He placed a hand on her back, rubbing soothing circles. "Let's get you back inside and resting. You need to take care of yourself."
She smiled weakly at him. "I know. Thank you, Alister."
As they walked back to the house, Alister couldn't shake the feeling of unease. He knew they had many challenges ahead, but as long as they faced them together, he was confident they could overcome anything.
Re-entering the dining room, they found Ethan pacing, his face lighting up with relief when he saw them.
"Is everything alright?" he asked, his voice laced with concern.
Amelia smiled reassuringly. "Yes, just a bit of nausea. I'm fine now."
Ethan nodded, though he still looked worried. "Alright. Let's get you comfortable."
They spent the rest of the evening in the drawing room, talking and laughing, the worries of the day slowly fading away. As they prepared to retire for the night, Alister pulled Amelia aside, his expression serious.
"We need to be careful, Amelia. With the twins coming, we can't afford any more stress or surprises."
She nodded, understanding his concern. "I know, Alister. We'll take it one day at a time, together."
As they lay in bed that night, Amelia felt a sense of peace wash over her.