“Jane! Jane! I’m so sorry to disturb you, but Mary is asking for you.”
Jane gasped, sitting bolt upright in bed before looking between Duncan and the door, as though Billy was going to enter and find them naked together in bed.
Duncan waved his hand toward the door, telling her to go ahead, but Jane was not waiting for his opinion. She was already out of the bed, running around the room as she threw on her night rail and splashed water on her face.
“I’ll be right there!” she called. “What is happening, Billy? Does she have any pain? Is she bleeding at all? Is her head bothering her? Is—”
“She’s just sick, Jane,” came Billy’s voice with a sigh from beyond the door. “Everything from dinner came back up again, and with my family coming tomorrow for the day…”
“Oh!” she exclaimed. “That’s right. It’s Christmas Eve. I had forgotten.”
She looked over to Duncan, who threw his hands up at his side, for he hadn’t been at all focused on the date. How long did this Christmas celebration last anyway?
“Yes,” Billy said, somewhat dejectedly. “And I will be at the church all day and all evening, with the exception of dinner, so I am relying on you, Jane, to ensure that all is well. Are you coming?”
“Yes!” she said, running to the door, with one quick look back at Duncan. Her lips quirked into a quick smile when he winked at her, and then she opened the door just far enough that she could fit through, and went running away with Billy.
Duncan threw himself back on the bed, one arm over his head as he stared up at the ceiling. Last night had been the most incredible, intoxicating, unexpected experience of his life. And yet guilt nagged at him for taking Jane from what she was here for — her sister.
He knew Jane wouldn’t welcome the distraction, but he couldn’t help his slight annoyance that she was expected to not only help Mary through the night, but to also prepare dinner tomorrow and entertain the entire Miller family once more. She was here to help Mary, not play housewife when her sister wasn’t able to.
He had to prove to her that she was more than someone else’s caretaker, but a woman that everyone else deserved to see. He would ensure that she became well known in the Highlands, he promised himself — once she was his wife.
His eyes flew open at the unbidden thought that had soared into his head. His wife? And yet… he looked at the rumpled bedclothes around him. He had known what kind of woman Jane was, and was aware that after all that had just occurred between them, Jane was probably expecting marriage.
But what shocked him most was that, knowing what he must do, he was also filled with a strange peacefulness. Now, he just had to wonder — would she say yes?
“Mary!”
Jane rushed into her sister’s room, slightly sick herself when she found that Mary’s cheeks were nearly as white as the pillowcase behind her, while a slight sheen of sweat glistened across her brow.
“Jane,” Mary groaned from her prone position. Her stare was not accusing, but it was… curious. “Where were you?”
“I was… sleeping,” she lied. While she was aware that if there was anyone in this world who shouldn’t judge her — and most likely wouldn’t — it was Mary, who had become pregnant long before marriage and had then run off with the man, leaving another behind.
Mary nodded. “Of course, Jane. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be so adverse toward you. I just… oh, goodness.”
Jane rushed over to her side, one hand coming to her sister’s abdomen at Mary’s grimace of pain. By Jane’s estimation — according to Mary’s recollection, at any rate — Mary should have a month or two until she was due to give birth, although she was becoming quite heavy with the child, and to Jane it seemed that her stomach had dropped rather low.
“Are you feeling any pain?” she asked, to which Mary bit her lip.
“Somewhat,” she said.
“Cramping pains?” Jane asked, and Mary tilted her head as she hesitated.
“I’m not entirely sure, to be honest, Jane,” she said. “I’ve felt so sick for so long that I hardly know how I feel anymore. I am nauseous, as always, but there is a… heaviness, I suppose you could say.”
“I see,” Jane said, her heart beating a little faster. She wasn’t sure whether Mary was going to be having her baby today or in a week or two, but it seemed that her body was beginning to prepare for the event — likely sooner than Mary or Jane would have hoped. She would tell her sister once she was sure — but for now, she would avoid worrying her. “I’ll prepare some broth for you, Mary. It will help you feel better. This should pass. I don’t think there is much to worry about.”
“Except that it is Christmas! It is one of the greatest celebrations of the whole year, Jane. What am I going to do? I’ll be expected to be at the church, and then here to host all of Billy’s family, not to mention all of the preparations that are required for dinner.”
“There is nothing to worry about,” Jane said firmly, placing her hands over Mary’s. “That is why I’m here — to keep you from overtaxing yourself. I will take care of you — and Billy’s family.”
And she would forget Duncan McDougall for the time being — at least until Mary had the baby. She couldn’t deny that their coming together had been one of the most amazing events to ever happen to her; and yet, it had also caused her to be distracted from what really mattered — Mary’s wellbeing. What if Mary had gone into labor or had complications that had led to something happening to the baby — or worse yet, to Mary — all because Jane had been absent, caught up in her own love affair?
On her way to the kitchen, she checked her bedroom to see if Duncan was still within, but he was gone, the only trace of him were the mussed-up sheets he had left behind.
Duncan hadn’t been able to sleep again, so despite his exhaustion, he was sitting in the festive drawing room with a cup of coffee in hand when Billy came down the stairs, looking rather tired himself.
“Morning,” Duncan said from the corner, and Billy responded with a nod.
“Happy Christmas.”
“I am told that today is a big day for you,” Duncan said as Billy began to fasten the buttons on his jacket.
“Nothing else compares but Easter,” Billy said, moving onto his cuffs. “Although there is something about Christmas…” He trailed off, as though he expected Duncan to know what he meant.
“And that is?” Duncan questioned, having never much celebrated Christmas before.
“I suppose there’s a magic to it,” Billy said with a self-conscious smile as he poured his own coffee, prepared by Abigail, the one maid they employed. “Will you come to the church service?”
“No,” Duncan said abruptly, knowing that Billy wouldn’t be pleased with his answer but unable to respond any differently. He had never been one to attend church before. It always reminded him of all of his sins and that he had far to go to become a man that God would ever entertain hosting following this life. He wasn’t about to start attending now.
“You should consider it,” Billy said lightly. “Listen, Duncan… I must spend all of today at the church, and I was wondering if you could look out for Mary? I know Jane is here, but Mary… she’s not well, and I’m not entirely sure what’s wrong. Would you do that?”