Ice Angel (22 page)

L
ATENT,
oppressive heat hung in the air as the first
raindrops
of the gathering storm began to fall. Thunder rumbled in the distance and the dark clouds overhead had already covered the sun, leaving the evening light outside Chenning gloomy and threatening.

But the elegant, dark-haired woman who waited anxiously outside the bedroom scarcely noticed the rain on the window. She paced to and fro, glancing occasionally at the closed door. Murmured voices rose from downstairs on the humid air, but she listened only for sounds from within the room.

Suddenly, the door opened and, after quietly closing it behind him, Hal looked at his mother. ‘It is over,’ he said with a deep sigh, raking his fingers though his hair.

Lady Bramwell started forward in concern; she could see that his eyes were wet with tears. ‘Isabella, is she—?’

Pushing a hand across his eyes, he said in a wavering voice, ‘Isabella is well, as is the baby – we have a beautiful daughter.’

‘Oh, how wonderful!’ Marguerite embraced him, smiling now she appreciated his tears were of joy and relief. ‘Congratulations! May I see Isabella soon? And my new granddaughter, of course.’

‘She is tired, but she would like to see you; Dr Dalton has finished attending to her and the baby.’

‘I shall go in, just as soon as I have told everyone – they have been waiting anxiously.’

‘Tell them the good news and ask Dominic to come up,’ replied Hal. ‘We want him to see his sister.’

As Lady Bramwell hurried away downstairs, Hal went back into the room. A tired but content Isabella sat in bed holding their daughter, who was wrapped in a shawl and sleeping soundly. He kissed his wife before reaching out for her hand and gazing in wonderment at the life they had created.

Tears still stood in his eyes and observing them, Isabella said softly, ‘My love, I am quite well, I assure you. Tiredness is to be expected, you know, and at least my confinement was quicker this time.’

Dr Dalton, who was packing away his medical bag on the other side of the room, shook his head and chuckled. ‘I have never seen a husband so anxious during his wife’s confinement; for the first time in all my years of
experience
, he refused to leave the room during the baby’s arrival. If I did not know you well, Hal, I would be offended and think you did not trust me to look after your Isabella.’

‘It is not that I did not trust you,’ explained Hal, ‘but Isabella is everything to me and I needed to assure myself that—’

Dr Dalton waved a hand and interjected, ‘I quite understand. Perhaps you will start a new fashion for fathers to be present at the arrival of their offspring. What did you think of the experience?’

‘It was incredibly emotional – in spite of feeling like my heart was being ripped out to see Isabella in pain.’

‘But it was worthwhile because we have a beautiful baby,’ she replied, looking down at the sleeping child. ‘The names we have chosen suit her well, Hal, don’t you think?’

‘Elise after your mother and Helena, meaning bright and shining. Elise Helena – it sounds as perfect as she is.’

‘I shall return in the morning, Isabella,’ said the doctor. ‘Make sure you have as much rest as that lovely scrap of humanity will allow.’

Dr Dalton received no reply to this and, observing that they were now oblivious to his presence, slipped out of the room.

‘You never looked more beautiful than you do at this moment, my love,’ said Hal, running his gaze over her face.

‘I look completely exhausted,’ replied Isabella, laughing.

‘Not to my eyes.’

Teasingly, she murmured, ‘But then you are very biased.’

‘I don’t deny it,’ said Hal, with a grin.

The safe arrival of their daughter was the culmination of a wonderful year, thought Isabella. They had spent the summer after their marriage at Chenning. She and Hal had not wanted to leave Dominic immediately after the wedding, so they had delayed their time alone until they were certain he was settled in his new surroundings. Dominic, however, had adapted quickly, discovering two more heroes in Lukas and Hugo who spent the summer initiating him into the delights of their latest inventions. Harriet and Sir Seymour had visited often and Hal, Isabella and Dominic had journeyed to Gloucestershire to spend a fortnight at Sir Seymour’s estate.

Lady Bramwell had moved to the Dower House half a mile away, in spite of Isabella’s protests that it was not necessary – the house was big enough to accommodate an army, she had argued. Her mother-in-law had merely laughed and declared, ‘I was newly wed myself once and very much in love, as you are; you need time to enjoy each other’s company without fear of being disturbed. Lukas and Hugo can stay with me at the Dower House until they return to school.’ Marguerite’s eyes had twinkled as she added, ‘And you may send Dominic to me any time you wish to be alone.’

Julia and Freddy had also visited often. Julia’s vivacious nature complimented Freddy’s intensity and ensured their marriage was as loving as their reconciliation in Sussex had promised. Now, they too had additional joy since Julia had
discovered
she was expecting a baby at the end of the year.

Theo had left Oxford and, as well as cutting a dash around London, occasionally descended on Chenning to talk animatedly about his new wine importing venture. The wine he had discovered in the cellar at Haystacks had proved the starting point for his interest and, with his usual vigour, he was persuading his friends to purchase far more wine than they needed by convincing them it would be an excellent investment.

Haystacks itself had been fully renovated. The house was connected with so many delightful memories from that night the previous June that neither Isabella nor Hal could part with it and had decided to use it as a summer home near the coast. They had spent two blissful weeks alone there in October, their happiness finding expression in tender moments by day and passionate nights. Isabella’s lips curved into a smile at the memory; their baby had been conceived during that autumn idyll at Haystacks.

Hal watched her smile and, finding her as irresistible as ever, leaned over to touch his mouth to hers again just as Dominic entered, excitement visible on his face.

He climbed on to the bed. ‘I want to see my new sister. What’s her name?’

‘Elise Helena,’ replied his mother. ‘Do you like it, Dominic?’

‘E-lise Hel-e-na,’ he replied, sounding out the syllables approvingly. ‘I like it very much, Mama.’

Isabella moved the shawl so that Dominic could see the baby’s face. The movement disturbed her, making her wriggle and screw up her features before yawning.

‘She’s very tiny,’ murmured Dominic, eyes wide with
amazement
. ‘Will she be able to play with me soon?’

‘Not for a little while yet, love, but she will soon be chasing after you and Aesop.’

‘Good,’ observed Dominic. Then, with a satisfied grin, he added, ‘I love Theo, Freddy, Julia, Hugo and Lukas, but they are all bigger than me – now I have a sister, I’m not the littlest any more!’

Hal and Isabella laughed at this, and then Hal said, ‘You’re a very special boy, Dominic, and your new baby sister is an angel.’ He looked up at his wife and added with a loving smile, ‘Just like her mother.’