Chapter 154
<Chapter 7 Extra Story>
"Our dependable eldest son. No matter how lovely the sibling being born is, you'll always be a meaningful child to us."
Mrs. Starr kissed the boy's cheek repeatedly. Harry stretched his short arms as far as they would allow, embracing his mother. Reverend Starr, who was beside them, patted his wife's back while simultaneously stroking his proud eldest son's head. It was a touch filled with love.
Laura silently watched the lovely scene created by the Starr family. It looked like three firmly connected links in a chain.
Her heart warmed, but at the same time, she couldn't ignore the melancholy voice whispering in a corner of her heart.
'It's different from us, who are just a couple. They have more responsibility and a stronger bond. The child's existence seems to unite the family. If we don't have a child, we'll never be a family like that.'
The thought alone made her heart ache. She didn't mind for herself, but if she couldn't give her husband such a family, she wouldn't deserve his love.
Just then, Ian, who had been sitting silently, tilted his head and whispered in his wife's ear.
"Laura, can I kiss you?"
Laura looked at him, her mouth agape.
"Are you crazy?"
"They're all hugging and don't see us."
"No, you can't."
"Just once on the cheek."
"No. Absolutely not."
Ian became dejected at Laura's cold response. He soon began to poke Laura's knee with his finger.
"Then, shall we leave early? Or shall we go out to the backyard for a bit..."
Laura pinched his thigh as hard as she could. He didn't bother her anymore until the tea time was over. It must have hurt a lot.
After things settled down, the husband and wife each spent time with the person they were closer to. The Reverend and Ian took Harry for a walk, and Laura followed Mrs. Starr to look at the nursery.
After having her second child, Mrs. Starr had redecorated the nursery. She had wallpapered it with warm colors, hung watercolors of rural landscapes and oil paintings of Jesus tending sheep, placed a pretty baby bed and rocking chair, and made plenty of cushions and stuffed animals, which she kept in a box.
Mrs. Starr fiddled with the mountain of stuffed animals piled in one corner and confided.
"I'm more excited than I was with Harry. I didn't know anything the first time. I was just scared before giving birth, and I was out of my mind after giving birth. I think I can do better with the second one. I know how to raise a child now."
"You'll do great. You're healthy, and you have a wonderful husband. It'll be born around this summer, right?"
"Dr. Mackenzie says so. I hope it comes out sooner. Being full-term in the middle of summer would be a pain."
Laura stroked Mrs. Starr's round belly.
"Baby. You have to come out quickly so your mom doesn't have a hard time."
Mrs. Starr laughed.
"Yes, baby. Mrs. Dalton is so considerate, so you can't make your mom suffer, okay?"
As if the baby had heard them, the skin of the belly rippled, and Laura felt movement in her hand.
"Oh my, the baby kicked!"
Laura was very surprised. It was the first time she had felt the baby move so directly.
"The baby likes Mrs. Dalton. Baby, do you like Mrs. Dalton too? Mommy does too."
The two women laughed heartily.
Laura found it hard to take her hand off the belly. Feeling an unborn child (even if it wasn't hers) was a wonderful experience.
Laura caressed Mrs. Starr's belly a little more before taking her hand away. But when she looked up, Mrs. Starr was looking at her strangely.
"Mrs. Dalton. Are you perhaps worried about something?"
Laura was startled, as if her inner thoughts had been exposed.
"What...?"
"Your expression was so dark while you were touching my belly..."
Laura turned her head away.
"There's nothing like that at all. I'm sorry if I worried you."
She walked towards the window to change the subject. She was about to talk about the weather, but Mrs. Starr, who had followed her, waddling and supporting her back, grabbed Laura's hand tightly before Laura could say anything.
"Please tell me, Mrs. Dalton."
"I really don't..."
"Mrs. Dalton. I know that I'm far too humble a person to be your confidante. You were born between a noble mother and a great artist father. I'm just a merchant's daughter and a country Reverend's wife. But I really respect you, Mrs. Dalton. Even if we can't be friends, I want to do something to help."
"What are you saying? You're already my precious friend. If I were to have such arrogant thoughts about someone who is helping her husband take responsibility for the faith of a Parish, heaven would not forgive me."
"Then please tell me. What worries do you have?"
Laura gazed into Mrs. Starr's innocent sky-blue eyes. A naive and affectionate person. A warm affection spread through her heart. The woman before her, Olivia Starr, was a very meaningful person to Laura.
When the news of Laura and Ian's marriage spread a year ago, Whitefield was in shock.
For the Ian Dalton to marry a poor governess from a mere fallen noble family, and an illegitimate child at that. It was an absurd thing!
Some worried that Yorkshire's most respected family would suffer a terrible disgrace, while others were certain that the Dalton had fallen for some kind of trick.
The person who changed the unsettling atmosphere of the village was Mrs. Starr.
Just before the wedding, Miss Olivia Fairfax visited the Parsonage to meet Mrs. Starr. It was to correct the reputation of her future aunt-in-law.
Olivia grabbed Mrs. Starr and told her about Laura's past life for over three hours. The fact that she would never have been illegitimate if fate hadn't played a trick on her, the humiliation Laura had to endure with the stigma of being illegitimate, and the inside story of why she had to constantly reject her uncle's proposals even though she loved him.
Both Miss Fairfax, who was telling the story, and Mrs. Starr, who was listening, soaked more than four handkerchiefs with tears.
Until then, Mrs. Starr, like other villagers, had been concerned about Mr. Dalton's marriage. But Olivia's visit completely turned her heart to Laura's side. She decided to protect Laura's reputation and regain the respect she deserved.
The Parsonage was a place for the villagers to socialize. The women visited so often that the doorstep wore out, sharing news of the village, discussing farming methods and child education, and promoting charitable projects. And at the center of the gatherings was, of course, Mrs. Starr.
Whenever a guest visited, Mrs. Starr would subtly bring up Laura's story. The <Biography of Laura Pendleton>, a beautiful and virtuous woman who had suffered hardships all her life, which she and Olivia had put their heads together to adapt.
The <Biography of Laura Pendleton> made people's eyes water as much as Thomas Hardy's <Tess of the d'Urbervilles> and Charlotte Brontë's <Jane Eyre>, and it turned them to Laura's side.
Only then did they remember how beautiful and humble Laura Pendleton had been when they met her at the Parsonage, and they acknowledged that her marrying a wonderful husband was a happy ending that a good person deserved.
Laura heard the story later and felt great gratitude to Mrs. Starr. She had expected that the villagers' eyes would not be kind for the next few years after the wedding.
But after the honeymoon, when she visited the farmers or met the villagers on the street, they naturally bowed to Laura and looked at her with affectionate eyes.
Mrs. Starr was a grateful person who helped Laura settle comfortably in Whitefield.
Was that why? Laura's heart easily unlocked at Mrs. Starr's persuasion to hold her hand and share her worries by the nursery window.
She confided her worries that she hadn't told anyone. Why couldn't she have a child? Was it because she was weak and old? What would happen to the Dalton Family's future if that happened? Wouldn't it be like taking away the happiness her beloved husband deserved?
Tears welled up in Laura's eyes as she spoke. Mrs. Starr took a handkerchief out of her pocket and wiped her face.
"I understand how you feel. I had a child late because I was engaged for nine years. But you're under even more pressure than I was. The Dalton Family is one of the most historic in England. But your complexion and physique are much better than when you were a governess. Didn't you have to remake your clothes because you gained weight?"
"Yes. I can't wear the clothes I wore when I was a governess anymore."
"That's proof that your married life is happy. Women naturally have children when they gain weight and feel comfortable. You've been through a lot of hardships. If you get healthier, you'll naturally have a child."
"Do you think so?"
Mrs. Starr nodded.
"If you're still worried, get a checkup from Dr. Mackenzie. He studied in France and has been working here for over 30 years, and he's the best authority in Yorkshire when it comes to obstetrics and gynecology."
Mrs. Starr wrote down detailed directions to Dr. Mackenzie's house. It was a cottage located on a hillside at the eastern end of the village, away from the farmhouses.
"He'll definitely ease your worries, Mrs. Dalton."
Around three o'clock in the afternoon, the Dalton couple got into the carriage, escorted by the Starr family. The carriage slowly left the Parsonage.
Laura felt much better than before the visit. If she went to see the doctor for an examination, she would be able to get a reliable diagnosis of her condition.
'Even if the diagnosis isn't good, I don't have to worry about it alone. Maybe I can get treatment and have a child.'
Looking out the window, Laura smiled comfortably.
"You look happy. What are you thinking about?"
Her husband, who was sitting next to her, asked, gently putting his arm around Laura's shoulders.
"......"
Laura didn't want to share the pregnancy issue with him yet. She knew he would worry if he knew she was worried.
