Nearly a month in Wickhurst and it was Harold who suggested that they returned to Kenward for some peace and quiet.

There were a few reasons, but mainly because he saw how Alice was affected by the gossips surrounding her no matter how she tried not to show it.

A day prior to his decision to go back to Kenward, he learned from Eva that Alice had to suffer an afternoon in a café with some women deliberately talking about her.

"They did not say her name, but it was apparent that she was the subject," Eva had told him.

"And did you leave?"

"No, of course, not," said Eva.

"Of course. Did she give the women what they deserved?"

"Well, no."

Harold was surprised. "You mean to say that my wife kept quiet?"

"Yes."

"And why is that?"

"She was praying they would mention her name, you see. She had to be certain she was the subject."

"Ah, I can imagine her agony."

"This is no laughing matter, Harold. Alice was clearly distressed."

Eva was correct, of course. He had wondered what happened that very afternoon she arrived home from her afternoon stroll with Eva.

"I worry that she will be left alone most of the time now that I am showing. Martin and I are planning to deliver the babe in Lettice."

His decision was made that very same night. With barely no friends in Wickhurst and very little to trust, he decided that the best way to deal with the gossips was to let them die.

His wife was only glad to leave Wickhurst and explore Kenward more.

She tended to her horses in the morning and he would later join her to go for a ride along the plantation. They would sometimes spend hours breaking their fast there, basking underneath a large hole that scattered sunlight and warmth over the corn plantation.

"I could spare a lot for you if you wish to grow a variety of flowers," he offered one afternoon.

"What would I do with flowers?" she asked.

"They are beautiful."

Alice merely nodded. "I see."

"You do not like them?" he asked in disbelief.

"I do not know. I am not just particularly fond of them."

"Whever not?"

"Do I need to have a reason? I simply do not especially like them." She turned to him and added, "But I would love if you can spare a lot for an orchard. I wish to grow grapes."

"Grapes?"

She nodded. "Wines are getting too expensive, darling. We might as well make our own."

The usual conversation he had with his wife were ones he could not typically have with others. He enjoyed the small surprises that would come out of her lips when he thought he already knew how she would react to certain subjects.

It seemed to Harold that the more he spent time with Alice, the more he grew to cherish her. And that wonderful feeling slowly brewed the fear inside him again.

Would he be able to survive if he would lose her?

His live would be chaos, he was aware, but would he ever come to a point akin to all right?

Would things be all right if the curse was true?

Alice, being perceptive as always, suspected that he was fighting an internal conflict. She decided to bring up the subject one night when he was designing a pendant he intended to give her.

"Whatever is on your mind, darling, please be certain it does not reflect on that piece of jewelry."

"Hmm?" Harold asked as he inspected a piece of stone.

"Because you are thinking ugly thoughts."

Harold placed the stone and the magnifying glass on the table and asked, "Whatever do you mean?"

"You are thinking about the thing you do not wish that we discuss because you believe it should remain a dead subject."

"Do you mean the curse?" When she did not reply, Harold sighed. "You could have simply asked."

"I did ask."

"I did not hear a question," he retorted, smiling as he stood to his feet. Approaching her to the settee where she had been quietly reading a new book earlier, Harold fell beside her and gathered her in his arms. "Fret not, I intend to have many children with you, darling. But it does not mean that I do not fear from time to time."

Alice scoffed. "You fear the silliest things."

Harold shook his head. "I do not fear a future without you for I know it is a possibility, but I do fear that it will be soon. I will not be ready if that were to happen too soon." Alice sighed and sank deeper into the crook of his arm. "I have been wondering..."

"What?"

"Have you ever imagined how you will fair if you were to lose me first?"

"As I have said to Martin before, women are advanced in thinking and imagination, Harry. We think too far ahead into the future."

"You do? Pray tell, then."

Alice took a deep breath. "Let us see," she said with a sigh. "I imagine myself raising our children alone, of course."

"Without a whip."

"Very well, without a whip." She shifted to her side. "And I imagine spending your money."

Harold laughed. "I ought to make certain that you have enough."

"I will definitely miss you every day and I see myself crying every night, but I will remember you and treasure you for you will live in our children." She leaned away from him so she could face him and look into his emerald green eyes. "I wish they will have your eyes so when I look at them, I will see you." Alice leaned over to plant a chaste kiss on his lips. "But you must stay a tad bit longer so you could teach them the ways of an Everard for I do not believe I will ever be." She lay on the settee with her head on his lap.

Harold looked down and their eyes stared at each other. "I wish they will have your hair. And your wit. And your courage."

Alice clasped her fingers through his, turning their wrists to stare at their rings. "They will have a good life."

"They will be Everard. They will have us. Of course, they will have a wonderful life."

He looked at her with amusement when she suddenly groaned. "What is it?" he asked.

"I just imagined them being like you and I and I can already tell that they will be the death of me."

Harold chuckled. "But they will also be our life."

"I think I wish to only have one."

"They will be wonderful. You will not suffer as much."

"Your father disagrees. He told me a lot about your childhood, Harold."

"My father is now happy, darling. There is a difference."

He saw the doubt cloud her face and his shoulders shook with laughter. "Very well, why do we not start with one?"

"Now?"

Harold shrugged as he pulled his cravat off. "Why not?"

*****

Although the couple was currently in Kenward, they would still often travel to Wickhurst to visit friends and attend balls and the opera. They may not be in constant limelight, but their presence would always evoke whispers.

One in particular caused Harold to burst out in anger. The Herald decided to publish yet another gossip surrounding Alice.

The article was named, No Babe in Sight and it went on to further say:

Lady Kenward, or Lady Ice, as what would most refer to her, is still without babe.

Now, dear reader, your writer is not one to formulate ideas in your head as I am merely here to deliver the ones I often hear about. In the recent ball I attended, Lord and Lady Kenward graced us with their presence, looking powerful and should I say 'happy'?

But who am I to say? Everyone in that ball feigned happiness like it was the most natural thing!

So you see, while the couple danced HAPPILY with love in their eyes, those surrounding them began to whisper and wonder. Why is there no signs of a babe?

Her dear friend, Lady Lettice, will soon deliver her own child. Is Lady Kenward not at all envious? Or is she? Interested, I mean?

It was quite hard to ignore the rumors that she married into the Everards for their money. Now, I know she is not the only one who aspired for the Everard fortune for there had never been a shortage of aspirants. She simply was lucky enough with whatever tricks she had on her sleeves that the other ladies were not aware of.

Could it be that the new Lady Kenward refuses to put her life on the line to give her husband his well-deserved heir?

What will the future hold for the Everards?

Alice, of course, found it ridiculous, unlike her husband who seemed even more determined to prove to everyone that their marriage was far from farce.

She did not refuse when he took her to more operas and balls. She actually quite enjoyed the reactions they received whenever they were caught doing things they were not supposed to.

Kissing in the garden behind a tree was expected from young lovers, but not with married couples who had their own estates and chambers to utilize. Alice was also quite certain that they were the couple one of the servants reported to have heard inside a closet.

Apart from their bold displays of affection in dark corners of balls and operas, Harold would also allow Alice to join him and his friends playing cards in the gaming rooms and it was soon clear that most gentlemen and lords had only good things to say about Lady Kenward, opposing their wives, daughters, mothers and aunts.

Not only could they converse and play cards with her with ease, they were also able to go on hunting trips with her in the woods. Some would even brag about how her shooting skill was superior to her husband's whose presence during the hunts was not to shoot but tail his wife.

It was also no longer a secret that the best breeder of thoroughbreds was the mistress of Kenward and that she was the best female rider they ever had the privilege to know.

The respect she gained from the male population was further strengthened when she befriended none other than Mr. Grey Burlow, the very man who owned Grey's. She showed him her horses and invited him to hunt with her and her husband and their friends. The man was enamored by Lady Kenward and was soon seen playing cards with her during the few balls they happened to attend together. She had long asked forgiveness for the Great Fiasco her husband and his friends brought to Grey's.

Grey Burlow was fast to say that the Great Fiasco was naught but a lesson and he hoped the gentlemen had learned hard.

"Oh, they are willing to pay for the damages, Mr. Burlow," Alice had told him. "That is, of course, if you allow them to regain their membership. It would be an honor to spend some nights at Grey's to play cards. It is not every night that I can find a good place to play whenever I wish it, yes?"

With that and a small smile, Grey's delivered letters the very next day.

Alice was having her hair done when her husband rushed into their chamber carrying two letters. "How in the bloody hell did you do it!" he asked with wonder.

Alice and Janet shared a look. "What did I do?"

"You made a miracle, darling, that is what you did," her husband said, rushing to her side to give her a loud kiss. He laughed as he handed her the first letter.

Alice opened it with a frown. "Hmm," she said with a shrug. "Congratulations are in order, Harry. You are back in Grey's."

"Martin and Eustace as well."

"And I assume many others?"

Her husband nodded.

"But not Sebastian? I specifically told Grey Burlow how I hate the bastard."

"I care not. And I care not that I am back at Grey's." He handed her the other letter. "This is the miracle I am talking about."

Alice opened the letter and read. Her eyes widened and her mouth fell open. She gasped in surprise and wonder as her husband laughed.

"This cannot be!"

"It is true," her husband laughed. "Darling, you are the first secret female member of Grey's. You just made history!"

Janet's gasp of horror was muffled by the couple's squeal of excitement.

Harold placed his arm around her shoulders and they stared at each other through the mirror. "You are one of us now, darling."

Alice grinned. "I am one lucky bastard, eh?"

Harold laughed while he turned to kiss his wife. "Oh, good lord, I love you. I am the lucky bastard"

Alice grinned. "How shall I dress for tonight?"

Harold turned to Janet who was looking scandalized. "Prepare your ladyship's breeches, Janet. Tonight, we are going to Grey's."