A Doctor’s Unintended Lady – Extended Epilogue

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Emelia rolled her neck from side to side to stretch it out. Her feet ached, and so did her back, but she got ready anyway. She’d promised Hannah that she wouldn’t be late again. It had become a habit on the mornings after an event. 

The events played a major role in the success of their teaching hospital. Each month, they held another one, with a specifically chosen guest list. Emelia had found her stride in event planning as the months went on, and with each new event, they raised more money. The event of the night before was one of the best ones they’d had yet. 

Montgomery walked past the room on his way to breakfast and stopped in his tracks. 

“I love that dress,” he said with a smile as he entered. “I was hoping you might wear that one today.” 

She examined herself in the mirror. She hadn’t been happy on the first day that she’d worn that light blue dress. However, every time she wore it, Montgomery complimented her on it. So, it had become one of her favourites. It had already been mended a few times, but she couldn’t get herself to be rid of it. 

Montgomery came up from behind and wrapped his arms around her. She leaned, knowing that she would not fall as long as he was still standing there. Years of hard work had resulted in a grey streak across the side of his head. Emelia loved the way it looked. It made him look distinguished. 

“You’re going to be late,” he said softly. “You asked me to make sure that you made it out of the house on time.” 

“No,” she said, her eyes widening. “I must finish getting ready.” 

“Don’t take too long to come home to me,” he requested. 

“Home?” she asked with a laugh. “Have you forgotten about dinner in Stathford tonight?” 

“I forgot,” he confessed. “But I promise you I won’t be late. Why don’t I fetch you and Hannah from the tea room later, and we can travel there together? I don’t want you exerting yourself.”

“I can arrange a carriage,” she said. “It will not kill me.” 

“I’ll feel better if I come and get you. Besides, I like travelling with you and Hannah. It’s fun,” he said.  

She didn’t want to leave him, but her tea dates with Hannah had become some of the most important days she had. She’d never known that one day, when they no longer lived together, just how often she would worry about her sister. 

There was little reason to worry. Hannah was being treated well, but she couldn’t help it. Not seeing her sister every day anymore had been stranger than she could ever have imagined. Emelia chose out some earrings and raced out the door to meet the carriage outside. 

The tea room wasn’t far from where she lived, but already she was desperate for a taste of some of their cakes. London was a buzz of activity that day. The sun was out, and families had taken to the streets to spend the day outside. 

She had come to love London. It was noisier than Stathford, and the first few weeks were overwhelming. However, there was such a vibrance about the world in the city. When it felt too much, she escaped back to Stathford to visit her family for a weekend. 

Emelia had made friends in London of all sorts. Some women fiercely trailblazed their way through their lives like her. She knew when she was there that she would never feel alone again. 

Montgomery was well-respected for his work. Not only did their hospital function well and cure their patients, but new doctors were created there every day. It was widely considered one of the best schools for physicians in the country, and one of the most successful hospitals because of that. She couldn’t be prouder of him, and his passion for his work had only increased with each passing year. 

Hannah was waiting for her at the tea shop. When she entered, Emelia glanced at the clock and saw that, for once, she was on time. The sisters smiled at each other and greeted each other with such warmth that it turned heads. 

“It’s my favourite day of the week,” Hannah said. 

“Mine too,” Emelia answered. 

Tea was ordered along with a large selection of cakes. Emelia hardly bothered with the tea, taking a large helping of cake, eager for a bite. 

“Heavens! When last did you eat?” Hannah asked with a laugh. “Are you starving?” 

“No, but these days it feels as though I am,” Emelia said with a smile. “I keep eating, and it seems to make no difference.” 

“Well, you look lovely for it,” Hannah said. “There’s a brightness to your cheeks and …”

Emelia wondered how long it would take her sister to piece it together. It didn’t take long. Suddenly, Hannah’s face turned into a shocked gasp. 

“You aren’t,” Hannah said, leaning in to speak softly. 

“I am,” Emelia said with a bright smile. “It was confirmed last week.” 

For a moment, it looked as if Hannah was going to leap from her seat across the table at her. News of Emelia’s pregnancy had been received well. So well, in fact, that most of the tea room offered her congratulations. 

“Do our parents know?” Hannah asked. 

Emelia shook her head. “No, I haven’t told them yet. We’re all having dinner tonight, so I’ll tell them then.” 

“What does Montgomery say?” Hannah asked. 

Emelia smiled. “He doesn’t know yet, either,” she said. 

Hannah gasped. “You haven’t told him?” 

The day was full. She and Hannah would do some shopping, likely for baby items. Then Montgomery would fetch them and take them to Wells Manor, where Hannah and Brody lived as husband and wife. 

“You’re doing so well,” Emelia said. 

“What about you, though?” Emelia asked. “How are you doing?” 

Hannah smiled. “Very well,” she said. “Brody has learned to calm down. He spends so much time with me now, and still, his work gets done. I’ve taken on some of the work, of course.” 

“That’s good,” Emelia said. “It really is a blessing to work with someone you love.” 

Hannah nodded wildly as Emelia helped herself to yet more cake. The sisters caught up with each other like they did every week. Some weeks it was just the two of them, other weeks the mothers were invited, too. Sometimes Emelia would invite a group of her friends from London. 

Soon enough, the day came to an end, and they met with Montgomery, who arrived precisely on time. There was much conversation on their ride as they made their way to Stathford. What Emelia loved about Stathford was that nothing ever changed. 

The city was constantly under construction, and things were often changing. While that was part of what made it exciting, she sometimes missed the consistency of Stathford. As they spoke, Hannah glanced at Montgomery too often.

She was going to let slip that they had a secret, so Emelia kicked her lightly to make her stop. 

By the time they arrived at Wells Manor, Brody Shaw was waiting for them at the front door. His hands were casually tucked into his pockets, and a bright smile crossed his face. He’d become a far more relaxed person than he’d been before. 

They were welcomed home with open arms and cheerful greetings. Dinner was a feast in the garden that evening. A table was set with candles and a lush meal of roasted chicken and warm vegetables. 

Much laughter and joy was shared between them all. As Emelia looked around the garden in which she grew up, she imagined her own child running and laughing there, and her eyes filled with tears. 

With dessert, she was handed a glass of sherry. 

“Oh, no, thank you,” she said softly. 

Hannah’s eyes brightened while everyone else at the table fell quiet. 

“You don’t want any?” Montgomery asked. “Are you sure?” 

“I won’t have any, thank you,” she said, smiling at him. 

A devilish smile crossed his face. 

“Yesterday you didn’t have any wine,” he said. “And the day before that, you skipped your usual afternoon brandy.” 

Everyone at the table was staring at her, but Montgomery’s stare was the most piercing of all. 

“I didn’t realize you were paying such close attention,” she said. 

“Normally I wouldn’t,” he said. “Except that two weeks ago you complained that the scent of my cologne, that I’ve always worn for as long as I can remember, was making you feel nauseous.” 

Emelia’s mother gasped. 

“What is going on?” her father asked. “Why are you so shocked?” 

Montgomery took her hand and smiled. “Is there something you need to tell us?” he asked. “Do keep in mind that I’m a doctor and trained to put these pieces together.” 

Emelia laughed. “I should have known that I can’t keep this from you.” 

“What is it?” her father pressed. 

Emelia turned to face her family while Hannah just about bounced with excitement. “I am with child.” 

There was a gasp and cheer around the table as her mother leapt to her feet. Before she could prepare herself, her mother wrapped her arms around her in a tight embrace. 

It was Montgomery who followed. 

“You have made me the happiest man alive,” he said softly as he took her into his arms. 

A few glasses of sherry and a glass of lemonade were raised in toast to their exciting news. Emelia felt relieved that everybody knew. 

“What about your duties at the hospital?” her mother asked. “You love your work, but surely you cannot think you can do it all now that you are expecting a child?” 

Emelia nodded. “I have given it much thought. There are many ways that I can support my husband without putting myself or my child at risk. I can supervise the meals for students or manage the housekeeping team.” 

“It would have been too much to ask you to leave it behind,” her mother said. 

“I could never,” Emelia said. “The hospital feels like our first child.” 

It was true. 

“I am excited for my brother to be a father,” Brody said with a smile. “I think he will make an excellent father.” 

Mrs Shaw and Emelia’s mother were already discussing everything to do with the pregnancy and the birth. Emelia knew she would have endless support. 

“I should have known I could never keep something like this from you,” Emelia said, pulling Montgomery into a private conversation. 

“I was waiting to see when you might say something. It’s been driving me nuts,” he said. 

“Is this why you’ve been hovering around me so much lately?” she asked. “And insisting that I rest all the time?” 

“You should rest,” he insisted. “And I’ll make sure that you do.” 

“What a blessing it is to have a doctor in the house,” she responded. 

Montgomery raised her hand and kissed it softly. As a family, all around the table, they felt truly inseparable. They’d sat at the table like that often as children, and they would meet like that until they were old and frail. 

Their children would play together the way they had played in their youth. That thought alone made her chest swell with pride. By the time the sun set in Stathford, there was a sense of comfort among them all. 

Everything had fallen into place in all their lives. All that was left now was excitement for the future and the road to what their lives were still going to become. Hannah and Brody shared nothing but love between them and seeing them both happy felt like a gift every day. 

That night, when Emelia crawled with her tired body into her childhood bed, her husband, Dr Montgomery Shaw, crawled in beside her, and everything felt right in the world again. 

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Grab my new series, "Noble Gentlemen of the Ton", and get 5 FREE novels as a gift! Have a look here!

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