Elle and Emmaline had formed a true friendship over the past five years. Emmaline was more then a mother-in-law she was a friend and a second mother.

Elle lifted the cup of tea and took a sip. She hid her excited smile behind the lip of the cup. She was thankful that nausea didn't plage her early in the mornings as she spent most of them with Emmaline.

She had grown to love Talbot's parents. But learning to be a Dutchess had proved time consuming, tedious and frustrating. The responsibly of the castle alone took multiple hours per day. It was not just the running of the household. There were all manners of staff, in the kitchens, stabled, the gardens, the grounds.

And then there was Alexanders responsibilities. Elle had refused to sit in on any of his 'talks' with his father. At first he had insisted but at her continued refusal he had agreed to a point a steward in case of an emergency.

As they learned their duties she and Alexander had postponed starting a family of their own. Although her father, Augustus, Duke Liam and Dutchess Emmaline had made no secret that they would not be apposed to becoming grandparents.

Elle wanted so much to tell Emmaline the news. But she had agreed with Talbot to wait. They had an informal dinner party planned to announce the news to their family and friends.

Although it had been difficult at times they had managed to maintain friendship with Harv, Zara, Miles, Mel, Paul, Jr, Nathan, and a few of the others.

Unfortunately Nathan and his sister wouldn't be attending the dinner but the others, thankfully were.

It had been a week since she had seen Miles and Zara. The two had married three years ago with Zara finely agreeing to move to the country. They had opened their home to two orphaned children. The girls, ages 2, Lacy, and 3, Anya had lost their parents to a unmanned carriage. A year later a boy of seven, Galen, joined their family.

Mel and Paul had split up for over a year. Now back together they both refuse to make it official. Elizabeth thought that most of the refusal came from Mel. They managed some of Talbot's investments. He had purchased a small 3 ship fleet of ships, adding them to his own two ships.

Jr married his sweetheart, Eveline, and they had a daughter the following year. They named her Raya. He opened his mercantile but sold it last year. They moved closer to the Dukes castle. They were only half an hour's carriage ride from the castle. They lived within a ten minute walk from Zara and Miles.

Nathan, with the help of his foster family and an anonymous benefactor, opened his tavern at the age of 16. At 18 he had married the daughter of the Baker, Renee, just down the lane from the tavern. They just celebrated their first year together. Unfortunately, they lived to far away to visit often.

Alexander had convinced Elle's father to sell his business and move to a small cottage on the castle grounds. He now helped in the running of the kitchen and it's staff. That had been Duchess Emmaline idea.

"He ran his business for thirty years, running the kitchen and staff will be nothing compared to that." She had insisted just a week after he arrived. Augustus had agreed quickly. He had confided to Elle later that he needed to do something instead of sitting and growing stagnant.

"You look very pleased." The duchess smiled. She picked up her cup and took a small sip.

"I am. I do want the day go well. I'm a bit nervous." Elle admitted.

Emmaline placed the cup back on the saucer. She smiled reassuringly. "Elizabeth," she said using the name of Elle's birth, "you have arranged everything perfectly. You have checked and double checked every detail daily over the past few weeks. This isn't a formal state dinner. These are your friends. They will be so delighted to see you they will not care about minor details. You must learn to relax and enjoy the fruits of your labor."

Elle nodded. She didn't argue. She hoped that Emmaline was right and everything would work as she planned, but she couldn't help the nervousness.

Elle went for a morning ride accompanied by her guard. Samuel rode just a few pases behind her and Drakeson, her three year old silver/gray stallion. Around nine Elle made her way back to the main house. Willa waited at the stairway to the third floor.

"My lady, your bath is ready. A messenger arrived a half hour ago. She held out the sealed parchment.

Elle took it, broke the deep blue wax seal and read as they moved up the stairs.

She jerked to a stop, squealed in delight. She rushed to the kitchens and informed them there would in fact be two extra guest. She was so happy. She was thankful for Emmaline's lessons, always plan for changes. If the plan is not needed it could be forgotten. But it's best to be prepared.

She adjusted the seating, service, arranged for champers to be prepared, then she went in search of her husband.

She found him and the Duke in the east wing library.

"Elle." He greeted her with a hug. It was the wrinkling of his nose that alerted her to her appearance and smell.

"Oh." She said and pulled back. "I'm so sorry. I went for a ride this morning and completely forgot. Nathan, Renee and Cora sent a message. They'll be here in the morning. I was trying to get everything arranged. I still-"

He grasped her shoulders gently and looked her in the eyes. "Slow down, love. Breathe."

Elle took a deep breath. The Duke looked on with a smile. He had grown to love his daughter-in-law. She was a delight. Even after five years she still retained a furious innocents that he admired.

She had taken over much of the running of the household allowing the Duke more time with his own wife. She clearly loved his son. She had a good heart. She loved Alexander's cousins, but adored the children. Unfortunately, the Duke found that she underestimated her abilities.

"Nathan and Cora are coming?" Talbot asked. Elle nodded. "You had plans in case we had extra guest?" Again she nodded releasing a shuddering breath. "You have let the staff know they arrive in the morning?" He smiled as she nodded. "Good. Now, I believe it is time for you to rid yourself of the stables and relax in a bath." He search her face. There was a hint of embarrassment but it faded as he dropped a kiss on her lips. "I love you Elle, regardless of whether you smell of the finest rose or pure breed horse flesh." He told her as he drew back. She nodded. He dropped his hands. "Now, go. The staff know what they are doing. It is time for you to take a moment to relax." He gave her a slight push to the door.

Elle took a breath as she moved to leave. She stopped with her hand on the door. Facing him she smiled. "I love you, too, Captain." She grinned. "Good by, Leo." She directed at the Duke.

Janice Kinkade helped Elle with her bath. Within minutes of exiting the warm water Elle stomach protested, violently. Janice thrust a basin under Elle's face just in time.

The woman was a god send. She had been hired by Talbot as Elle's ewerer 4 years ago. Elle had requested her to be appointed as her lady in waiting a year later. No one saw a problem with this as they already had become friends.

She didn't speak of her past but Elle noticed the sadness that sometimes shaded the woman's eyes.

Now she was looking at Elle full of concern. Elle had just finished emptying her stomach.

"Are you sure you are okay? I can get you some toast." Janice said as she helped Elle into a thin pale purple dressing gown.

"I'm fine Janice." Elle smiled. "Really."

"My mother was like this when she was pregnant with my sister." Janice said. Knowing. Encouraging.

"Oh." Elle said. Understanding. "When did you figure it out?"

"Last week. I didn't tell anyone. I thought you would when you were ready."

Elle nodded. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you. We wanted to wait. We're telling everybody tomorrow at dinner."

"You don't owe me an explanation, my lady. We all have our secrets."

There was a tone to her voice that caused Elle to study her. After a moment Janice shifted uncomfortably.

"How far along?" She asked affectively changing the subject.

"The physician thinks two months." Elle noticed the woman look down at her stomach. Confused. "I know I look twice that." Elle laughed. It wasn't obvious in her clothes but now she only wore a thin shift to cover her nudity.

Later that night, just as the sun started to descend behind the castle, Zara, Miles and there children exited a carriage parked in the front drive.

As soon as they stood on solid ground Elle attacked Zara in an almost bone crushing hug. Zara's daughters, now ages 4 and 5, launched themselves at the two women. Their tiny arms demanding in on the hug.

When the hug ended Elle turned to the girls.

"Lacy, Anya. I so glad to see you." Elle said as she crouched down to look at the girls. The girls chatted excitedly. Soon Elle turned to Galen who was now 8. He stood a few feet away.

"Galen." She smiled. The boy was slow to warm up to any one. They had played this same scene five times in the past year. "I'm glad your here."

He smiled and nodded shyly, then promptly looked at the ground. That was new. The smile.

"You're all staying in the same suite as before. Lacy, Anya." She called the girls attention. "Augustus request your presence in the kitchen before bed." She turned to look at Galen. "Galen, Timothy request your presence in the stables after breakfast." Smiling at her next words she added, "We have a new Colt that he thinks would interest you."

Within the next hour all of the guest had arrived, except Nathan and Cora. Dinner was sent to their suites so they could have time to get settled with out having to dress up. Jena was sent to take the girls to the kitchen for biscuits and tea. She brought them back up an hour later.

The next morning everyone, except Galen, Nathan, Renee and Cora, spent in the garden. Even the Duke and Dutchess joined them. They walked the patches separately and in groups.

Nathan, Renee and Cora arrived just before lunch. Nathan apologized for the delay as well as not confirming sooner.

"I'm sorry, Elle, Ca- Talbot. The axle broke a town over and it took two hours to have fixed." He said moments after exiting the carriage with the Inn House Tavern symbol painted on the side in deep blue and white.

Elle and Talbot assured them it was forgiven and they were welcome no matter what the cause of the delay. Lunch was held an hour later so they could clean up and join them.

After the new arrivals left to freshen up Elle shared a look with Talbot as they saw Harv whispering with Janice. Her husband looked away. Elle narrowed her eyes. She knew guilt when she saw it. She glanced back at Harv and Janice.

Janice now stood in the doorway. Harv's hand wrapped around her wrist, obviously the only thing keeping the woman from fleeing the room.

Elle was too far away to hear what Harv said but Janice's eyes snapped up from his hand to his face. For a moment her eyes softened then she pulled away. She fled. Harv took a few steps after her but stopped. He looked down at the floor. Picked up Janice's dropped handkerchief. He pulled it through his finger twice then a third time. His shoulders moved as he took a few deep breathes.

Elle watched as he put it in his pocket.

"Leave it alone, Elle." Talbot warned softly in her ear.

"They know each other?" She asked. She continued to look at the doorway even though Harv had abandoned it.

"Yes." Her husband told her.

Hours later everyone was sitting at the dinner table. Servers removed the desert plates and the Duke said that they could all move to the study and the sitting room.

Talbot stood. "Father, I was wondering if I could have a moment of everyone's time."

The Duke nodded. He sat down and motioned to Talbot.

Talbot looked at Elle who then stood.

"We are delighted that all of you could come and spend this time with us. The reason we asked you is three fold. 1). We've been so busy that we've not done this in weeks. We've missed our friends. 2). It has been a very long time since we have all been in the same room. And 3). I will let my beautiful wife explain." He gave Elle a devoted look and smiled.

Elle took a deep breath. "As you all know, I was sick a month ago. I visited the castle physician." Elle swallowed as she noticed people sharing concerned looks. "I'm fine now." She rushed to reassure them. "Well, mostly fine, anyway." Everyone started to speak at once. All demanding the "truth" what was her "illness".

"Enough, please. Just let her finish." Talbot said in his best Captain voice. It even had Emmaline closing her mouth.

Duke Leo gave him sideways admiring look.

"To answer all of your questions. I will be fine, better than fine, actually, in about 7 or 8 months."

Chairs scraped the floor. Voices erupted. Emmaline squealed most unladylike. The women somehow all made it around the table and engulfed Elle in a hug.

Talbot chuckled as he was pushed aside.

The children were looking at each other, obviously confused.

"Were going to have a baby." Talbot told them. Galen nodded his head as if he understood the whole time. Smiling.

Miles ruffled Lacy's hair when she squealed in delight.

Nine months later they all gathered again to celebrate the the birth of Channing Edward James and Channing Jasper James. Zara and Miles were named as his primary Godparents and Nathan and Renee were named as secondary Godparents.

Over the years the friends grew closer, some despite the distance between them physically. Their children grew. Bonds were solidified.

When Edward and Jasper turned five Nathan announced that he had sold his business.

Elle couldn't display how her life had turned out, she was so happy and content she still wondered sometimes if it were a dream. Alexander did all things in his power to show her it was all real.

The End

I'm sad it's really over. I'm at a public wifi spot and battery is on its last breath with no way to charge. I have to upload before it dies.

As always...
I love you all.
All comments, votes and messages are welcome and appreciated.