It was Alice's idea to return to Wickhurst.

The frequency of gossips had not decreased, but their blow had significantly become inconsequential. Being a secret member of Grey's had given her a different feeling of comfort. Being surrounded by men who encouraged her distinctiveness, Alice found new friends.

She met other ladies who understood her. They were wives, sisters, mothers—and even grandmothers—of other Grey's members.

Harold once commented that she was having a different glow. When once she would rather go out and hunt or ride with the gentlemen, she started to join Eva and their new friends to tea, even forming their own book club.

She finally had something to fill her days other than her horses, Harold and the gossips. The first few weeks back in Wickhurst was quite busy, most especially when Rachel arrived for a vacation.

When not with their new friends, Alice and Eva would come by Rachel's villa, but none of them talked about Eva's upcoming departure to Lettice, an estate quite far from Wickhurst, although the thought always lingered at the back of Alice's mind. She would be losing her best friend for quite a while again. Yet it was a reality she had to face. Eva seemed excited to settle back in the province for some peace and quiet.

So instead of talking about Eva's departure to Lettice, they spent their time learning the art of sewing and discussing trivial events. Or in some instances, Alice and Eva would drop subtle remarks about Theobald to Rachel, giving the lady advice on how to handle a rake, not with her innate gentleness but with the hidden monster they knew was hiding somewhere within her.

Or when they were tired of talking about Theobald, they would read letters from Pepper who was spending a long vacation at her uncle's estate.

"Oh my..." Rachel gasped, dramatically placing her hand over her chest as she read Pepper's letter.

"What?" asked Alice and Eva in unison. "Do go on, Rachel, for goodness sake!" Eva demanded.

"Downworth..." said Rachel, eyes watering. "He... he..."

"He what?" Alice's heart began to hammer in alarm.

"He traveled all the way to Pepper to propose!" Rachel burst out.

Alice and Eva sighed in relief.

"Well, he ought to have done it a long time ago," Alice commented with a shrug. "He had been dragging it for quite a long time, in my opinion."

Eva nodded in agreement.

"The bastard must have taken lessons from Harry," Alice added, rolling her eyes. "By the by, what else did she say?"

"They spend their afternoons together—"

"No, no, Rachel. Did she accept his proposal?"

Rachel blinked in confusion and scanned Pepper's letter. "No, but she did mention that they kissed behind her uncle's barn."

Eva and Alice looked at each other. "They did more than that."

Rachel looked at them, her eyes utterly innocent. "Whatever do you mean?"

"Well, you know... that thing," Eva said, waving her hand.

Rachel blinked. "What thing?"

"Have you and Theobald ever kissed?" Alice asked Rachel.

Their friend gasped, her face turning red. "N-no. It is not proper to—"

"Oh, good God," Alice said with a sigh. "I am not certain if I should be thankful he has not touched you yet, or disappointed that he had not even made attempts."

"He tried a few times—"

"He did?" Alice and Eva cried out.

"But I always told him off," Rachel replied. "I should not have?"

Alice moistened her lips, not quite certain how to answer the question. "Do you get the urge to want to?"

Rachel nodded. "But it is not proper. We are not yet married—"

"Then make the bastard suffer," Alice interrupted.

"How sure are you he is suffering?"

"Well..."

"For all I know, he goes to another woman when he receives a rejection from me."

"True, yes. Then what do you intend to do about that?"

"I have been thinking... perhaps I should let him get a taste of what he wants from me then deprive him of it."

Alice smiled. "You have grown, Rachel. I am proud of you."

Rachel shyly bent her head and cleared her throat. "Then you approve of my plan?"

Alice shared a look with Eva and they both leaned toward Rachel conspiratorially. "We need to discuss this plan of yours a little bit more," Alice whispered.

Rachel nodded. "I will ring for a fresh pot of tea."

*****

The fresh copy of the Herald flew across the room and Harold looked up from his table in surprise.

Did his wife just throw something in frustration?

"What could it be now?" he wondered aloud, tone jesting. Alice's face was red as she stood and paced the room. It was very unlike her.

But why was he not surprised? Lately, she had been showing more of this side of her. The most current he could recall was when she burst into his study the other day with an excited glow on her face to announce that Pepper and Downworth were getting married. She even went as far as making plans to get a new gown for the said wedding.

"Calm down, darling," Harold said, standing to pick up the copy of the Herald on the floor before joining her in the middle of the study. "I thought you said you have mastered the art of dealing with these silly gossips?"

Alice glared at him. "Harry, they think I am still not with babe."

Harry shrugged. "Well, it is true."

Alice's eyes glinted with irritation. "I am telling you, Harry, I am."

"The doctor is yet to visit. We shall know by then."

"The doctor is late," she huffed out.

Harold checked his watch. "No, darling, he is not. We still have a few minutes to wait."

His wife whirled around and stalked to the settee. She slumped there with her arms crossed over her chest. And then she started to tap her foot on the floor.

He bit his lips to keep the laughter at bay. "You look beautiful."

Her gaze sent daggers his way. "Do not start, Harry."

"You losing control over your emotion is quite charming."

"Which is why the doctor has to be here soon! Something is wrong with me of late, or have you not noticed?" she let out a frustrated air. "Either I am pregnant or I am going insane."

Harold sighed and walked to the door.

Alice looked over her shoulder. "Where are you going?"

"I will go and fetch the doctor myself, darling!" he replied as he exited the study and proceeded to shout for his valet to prepare the carriage.

Once she was left alone, Alice chuckled. And then she giggled. Ah, bloody hell, she could wait for the doctor.

She stood up and went after Harold. "Harry, I can wait for the doctor!"

"What?!" came his distant reply.

"I can wait for the doctor!" she shouted down the corridor.

"What?!" he shouted back.

Alice sighed. "I said we should fetch the doctor together!"

"I cannot hear you..."

"Bloody hell, I shall be in the bedchamber then!"

Her husband appeared at the top of the stairs, breathless. "Did you just curse?"

"I always curse."

"But you could be with babe. I am not certain it is good for the—"

"Or I could simply be going insane."

"Where are you going?" he asked when she proceeded down the stairs.

"To the doctor, of course."

"I thought you said you will wait in the bedchamber."

"I thought you did not hear."

"My lord! My lady!" the butler said in a rush, climbing up the staircase to meet them. "He is here. The doctor... he is here..." the poor man breathlessly announced.

Alice immediately turned. "I will be in the bedchamber."

As she walked past Harold, he shared a defeated look with the butler and shrugged. "We shall be in the chambers." Adding in a whisper, he said, "Do warn the poor doctor that her ladyship is not in the mood."

"Unlike you, Harry, my ears are working quite well!" Alice shouted from the second landing.

Harold and the butler jumped. The former ran up the stairs to join his wife while the latter rushed down to fetch the doctor.

*****

It was not long before the entire Wickhurst learned of Lady Kenward's condition.

And it was not long before talks of wagers reached the ears of those who held Alice dear to their hearts and almost immediately, a war erupted between the gossipmongers and the friends of the couple. In fact, the loudest defenders were all members of Grey's and they were not hesitant to speak their mind and reprimand anyone they heard talking nonsense about the pregnancy.

As for Harold, he cared less. He could barely contain his excitement and fear. His father had decided to return to Wickhurst to usher the couple to Devonshire where they would be far from gossips.

Lady Edwina immediately joined them there to take care of her daughter and see the pregnancy through.

Harold had never left his wife's side, always ready to call for the doctor at her slightest complains of discomfort.

The fear would haunt him at night as time went by, but Alice would always remind him that she was stronger than any woman who had married into the Everards and she would prove it the very day she delivered their first child.

Harold was not one to pray constantly, but he found himself doing so very often.

Lady Edwina never mentioned the curse, or the fact that she still believed in it and instead gave him encouragement and support.

Friends came by to visit. Pepper and Brandon stayed a few days and delivered their own news that they would soon have their first child as well. Eva and Martin stayed longer with their new babe. Rachel visited with her mother. Theobald, on the other hand, stayed the longest, giving the couple a taste of what it would be like to have a child at home.

Alice had gone through the worse things while carrying the babe. Never had she thought that she would experience sudden onsets of mood swings for she had always prided herself of her perfect composure.

The Lady Ice everyone knew was long gone, tucked in one corner, having paved the way to a different persona which, Alice feared, would stay for quite some time even after the pregnancy.

"Have you thought of a name yet?" she asked Harold one night.

"Hundreds, darling. I cannot pick the best one."

She sighed. "You have one job, Harry."

Her husband gathered her into his arms and chuckled. "I am in constant fear, darling. Be a tad lenient, will you?"

"Very well—oh!"

"What? What is it?" her husband asked, shooting up from the bed.

"It moved," Alice said with a smile, taking his hand and planting it over her abdomen. "Wait for it..."

Harold waited and then his eyes widened when he felt the kick. Swallowing his tears, he bent over to kiss the tip of his wife's nose. "I can already tell, darling, that this child is indeed going to take after you. It can kick hard, eh?"

Alice let out a lazy snort. "Remind me to teach our children how to break fingers."

"And how to knee groins with precision, yes, of course," he replied, dropping back into the cushions. "They should learn how to fight. This bloody world will not be gentle."

"Can you imagine the scandals?"

He turned to his side to face her. "Of course, love," he sleepily replied, one hand on her abdomen, snuggling his face into the crook of her neck. "I will bloody enjoy it."

Alice closed her eyes, a tiny smile lingering at the corner of her lips. "So long as they don't commit murder, they will be free."

"So long as they respect and love you, they can do whatever bloody hell they want."

"Thank you. Do be certain you teach them how to treat their mother well."

He bent his head and kissed her shoulder. "Of course, darling. And thank you. I have in my arms the most precious being carrying the greatest gift of my life."