THE JOURNEY FROM SOUTHAMPTON TO PORTSMOUTH was in all ways, anything but tiresome for Lady Diana Beaumont. She felt anxious, and perhaps uncertain, but not tired. There was another feeling, in the pit of her stomach that she had never felt before. Perhaps it had never been felt before by anyone and lacked a proper name. Try as she might, she could not find a name existing to even match. The feeling was a mixture of hollow anxiety, uncertainty and a hint of dread, that she almost felt nauseous. As she watched the sudden changes to the usual scenery that she was accustomed to, the unnamed feeling seemed to take hold of her more and more.

Portsmouth was a dreary place, with shouts echoing in the air and uncultured streets, Diana's heart seemed to pound against her chest. She could count the number of times she saw an angry exchange outside their carriage and she would never stop, that was how unsettling she felt the place to be. As the carriage in which she sat in, with her uncle's family and Alicia, moved on, a slight hope lingered on. A hope that perhaps things will get better as they go on, surely not every corner of the county was sporting such views.

But the carriage had other plans, as it stopped miles before Diana's hope could take flight. With a quick anxious glance outside, she realized that they had stopped just behind a crowd that had formed around something, or was it someone, in the middle of the street. She glanced at her uncle, who, much to Diana's dismay, was straightening his coat and fixing his top hat as he prepared to step outside the carriage.

His wife was now gently waking up her two little boys, who had slept soundly against her for the duration of the journey.

"Have we arrived?" Lady Alicia Kirkpatrick's inquiry came, breaking the silence, and by her tone of voice, Diana could tell that she was just as anxious as she was.

"Yes my dear," Aunt Frederica smiled, her voice gentle and low as she pointed towards the door the carriage had stopped right in front of, "This is our house."

Diana and Alicia glanced at the house, the turquoise door stood in the far middle of a thin limestone white building, which seemed to be just one out of a row of similar establishments along the street. From what Diana could make of it, the house was not much more than two stories, judging by the two windows situated in a column. At first sight, one thing was clear, it was nowhere near to what either of the girls were used to in Southampton. Their estates back home could never compare to this, but as uncomfortable as she felt, she closed her eyes and reminded herself of her true purpose here and of her father's words, "What may be home to some, may not be so to others."

Straightening herself and forcing a smile on her face, she followed after her uncle and was helped down the carriage by him and Alicia and her aunt followed after. Trying her best to drown out the shouts of the crowd gathered not far from her uncle's house, for god knows what reason, she focused herself and took hold of Theodore's hand to steady him as her little cousin was drowsy in sleep.

Alicia took charge of Michael and Mr Arthur Fleming took hold of the luggage after helping his wife inside the house.

"This is our house," Their aunt repeated, with her hand resting on her belly, once they were all inside, "I understand it is certainly far from what you both are accustomed to, but I hope in time it shall warm onto you."

The interior felt very strange, the furnishings were dull and there was absolutely no trace of color from the tapestry all the way to the carpets of the floors. Diana could tell how little the house was pampered. Back in Southampton, Bellevue Hall was almost unrecognizable every week as Lord and Lady Beaumont spent the larger part of their day deciding on new tapestries and furnishings for every new occasion that may come up.

But she wasn't as careless as to dismiss the fact that wealth was tight in Uncle Arthur's household, he had no time and nor could he afford such reckless extravagance when he had a family to feed and rent to pay.

"It doesn't matter what we think of it," Alicia spoke, shrugging off entirely the same feelings as Diana was experiencing, "It matters what we're here for."

"And I suppose we shall be more than at home with you and Uncle Arthur around," Diana smiled, and Aunt Frederica smiled back.

"And of course your little troublemakers," Alicia grinned, bending down to kiss Michael's cheek, who was still drowsy with sleep.

"The number of which, is soon to increase," Diana added, resting her hand softly on her aunt's belly.

Mr Arthur Fleming smiled as he gazed on to the scene in front of him, taking off his top hat and hanging it onto a hook behind the door, feeling all warm inside. He should certainly like having his nieces around, and no words he could ever say would be able to ascertain how grateful he was. Now his wife could have help and company in her time of need, two things he would never be able to provide to her.

By the time everyone freshened up from their journey, the sun had set and it was time to dine. Uncle Arthur and his family were in procession of a single maid, who had resorted to doing the cooking for the family of four and nothing else besides. Upon a quick trip to the house's kitchen and a rather slight inspection of the maid at work, Lady Diana Beaumont could not think why she only resorted to cooking. The maid seemed to be healthy and quite considerable in height, making her more than accomplished to help out in other areas around the house.

"Aunt Frederica, with what do you feed that girl?" Lady Alicia Kirkpatrick slightly hushed during dinner, referring to the only maid, "She looks like she belongs anywhere else, doing everything else except for the sole purpose of cooking in such a dainty household."

Frederica Fleming chuckled, "Marta is really of such help in the kitchen, I feel like I'd be lost without her."

Alicia sighed and then smiled slyly, "If you say so Aunt, I suppose I shall force myself to get used to the arrangement."

"And that would certainly not be a task of a very difficult nature because I fear her cooking is almost as good as our cook's back home in Southampton," Diana let out, as she noticed a swift shadow against the small kitchen window in the distance. The compliment was genuinely spoken too, as one taste of the food had made her feel right at home. It was always so peculiar to her how some senses associate with home so.

Mr Arthur Fleming smiled at the conversation the ladies shared afterwards, smiling and nodding whenever he was asked a question because either his wife or his little sons would answer it for him, something he rarely ever minded and was used to. After dinner, Diana and Alicia bid their aunt and uncle and their little cousins good night and retired to their rooms upstairs. Being a two story house, there weren't many rooms. The house consisted of two rooms upstairs reserved for guests and two downstairs, excluding the dining parlor and the kitchen.

The guest rooms were neatly kept, yet as dully furnished as the entirety of the house. The walls were covered with a brown colored paint, which was a quiet an unlikely color for a room, as far as what the ladies were accustomed to. There wasn't much furniture except a wooden cupboard and an antique vanity without a chair for it in both of their rooms.

"I suppose we shall have to make do," Alicia sighed slowly as she came into Diana's room right after a thorough inspection of her own, "I feel as though were the circumstances different, I would've most regretted my presence here."

Diana sighed. "We can do this; it is just until a few months after the baby is born. One, at most perhaps," she reminded her cousin, "After that we return home, back to Southampton."

"Do you think we're much of conversation back home?" Alicia asked slowly, "I almost feel a thousand people talking."

"You know how Southampton is," Diana started, a fond smile taking over, "They'll talk and come up with their own assumptions about how we suddenly disappeared from society, unless of course the weather becomes finer all of a sudden and our mothers decide to pay calls, then, people won't find the need to assume anything."

Alicia laughed slowly, "I shall like to hear what the people come up with, they really are preposterous with their assumptions, I shall miss that."

"So shall I," Diana chuckled, "Now go get some rest, we need our strength if we're to get through this."

Alicia nodded as she got up and walked out the door, humming a good night to her cousin, who hummed one back.

"Wait," Alicia suddenly let out as she peeked back into the room, "Do you think we shall run into Lord Algernon and Lord Buxton? Portsmouth seems an awfully small place with much of walls around every corner."

"I hope not," Diana added, startled, "You didn't inform Lord Algernon, did you?"

"Oh no," Alicia dismissed, "I shall hate to give the impression that our presence here has anything to do with them. In fact I shall hope we get through this endeavor without even hearing a mention of their name."

Their first morning in Portsmouth could be, in all ways, considered strange. Morning didn't feel like morning at all, until the girls got dressed and came downstairs for breakfast. Only then, after seeing their little cousins' sunny smiles and the light bellowing in through the only large windows in the dining parlor, that the ladies were convinced that it was indeed morning. Diana had somehow managed to forget that she had not brought her ladies maid along, which resulted in an array of frustrated feelings as she realized, in her drowsy morning state, that she'd had to dress herself up.

Luckily, she was able to receive some help from Alicia and after about half an hour of helping each other dress, they were as ready as they ever were.

"Good morning," Michael and Theodore declared as they watched Diana and Alicia proceed downstairs, and the ladies smiled, wishing them both a good morning in turn.

Mrs Frederica Fleming entered the dining parlor and embraced both Diana and Alicia, parting as she kissed their cheeks.

"How are you today, Aunt Frederica?" Diana asked politely, making sure to observe her expecting Aunt for any signs of discomfort as the question left her mouth.

"I'm well, my dear, though a little disheartened," The response came, forcing a smile on her face.

"Is it about Uncle Arthur?" Alicia chimed in, "The maid informed me that he left for work early."

"Yes," Their aunt answered softly, "It seems my husband's employer does not believe in family breakfasts."

Diana looked at her aunt, observing her sympathetically. She must feel so hurt, to have her husband always away, as per the bidding of a selfish employer. As Alicia exchanged words of consolation with their Aunt and changed the subject, Diana could not help but wonder what she would've done in Aunt Frederica's place. She hadn't wondered for long when the answer came to her, she would've marched right up to that awful employer and would've boldly given him a piece of her mind; but then again, Diana knew she could never find herself in Aunt Frederica's place. Her aunt was wholehearted, patient, resilient, steadfast and humble, whereas Diana knew herself to be of a somewhat stubborn and bold nature, amongst all else.

"Diana, would you please mark my height on the height board in Mother's room?" Michael spoke during breakfast, his eyes hopefully looking up into his elder cousin's, "Mother can't do it anymore, and I've become very tall since our visit to Southampton."

"Me too!" Theodore exclaimed, "I'm even taller than father now."

"That is not possible Theodore, you are still four, you can't be taller than father," Michael insisted.

"I am," the little boy pouted at his brother.

Diana smiled, "Alright you two; I will mark both of your heights on the board. And Theodore," she turned towards the little cousin, "I am sure you'll be as tall as Uncle Arthur by the time you're his age."

"That is, if you eat your vegetables," Alicia chimed in.

Theodore clapped his hands happily as he nodded, the idea of becoming as tall as his father exciting him.

Suddenly a painful groan interrupted the party and they all turned to look at the source. It was Mrs Frederica Fleming, her eyes closed tightly and her brows raised in pain as she clutched her belly with her right hand, her left gripping the wooden table.

Diana and Alicia quickly got up and rushed over to her side, Alicia calling out for the maid as they did so.

"Aunt, what is it, what do you feel?" Diana whispered in a soothing voice as she asked.

"I think it's time," The woman trembled, breathing deeply in and out.

Diana gasped, she hadn't imagined the baby coming this quick. They had just arrived, yet things seemed to be escalating quickly. 

"But you aren't due so soon!" Alicia cried in worry as she exchanged glances with Diana. Diana's heart pounded wildly. No, her aunt was not due so soon. In fact, it was supposed to be a week or two before the baby was expected. 

"Marta, take the children to their room and send for the doctor and a midwife," Alicia instructed quickly to the maid, who nodded frantically in return and rushed off, taking both boys by their hands.

"My dears I think we should only send for the midwife," Aunt Frederica gulped as Diana and Alicia led her slowly to the nearest room and set her on the bed.

"No, Aunt," Diana responded, "You're burning up, we need to get you examined as well."

Time seemed to go by heavily as they made their Aunt comfortable in bed, adding and subtracting pillows to her comfort as they saw fit, and soon enough Marta had returned with the doctor.

The doctor, who seemed to be a man of a little over fifty, entered the room and was welcomed, and explained the condition of his patient by both Diana and Alicia, after of course a prompt introductory session. Without wasting any more time, the doctor immediately inspected Mrs Frederica Fleming's temperature.

"You must open all the windows and let air in, Mrs Fleming has concocted a fever and we must get her temperature down before she gives birth," He instructed, as he quickly began to fold his sleeves upwards and take off his coat.

"But she isn't due so soon!" Alicia cried for a second time, terror lacing her voice. It was frightening, to know in her heart that something was bound to go wrong. It was terrifying to not see the bright side of something while you desperately tried to search for it. 

"Premature births," The doctor let out, glancing at both Diana and Alicia, "It must've been prompted by something. Usually it happens with vigorous body exercise, which is why bed rest is always recommended in the last month." 

Diana gulped. Their journey. Southampton. Aunt Frederica shouldn't have come. Suddenly, it all felt like it was her fault, she felt like the elephant in a room, even though that was not what the phrase even meant. She felt like an elephant who had just stolen something precious from someone, and was just waiting in the shadows while the blame passed it by. 

Alicia distinguished the fire they had started in the room's fireplace with a flower vase full of water she found at the vanity, and Diana quickly undid all the tiny locks on the windows and sprung them open, pinning the drapes to the side.

"Marta, where is the midwife?" Alicia asked as Marta came into the room. "My lady I've searched for Mrs Baker everywhere, she's our local midwife and she's nowhere to be found at the moment."

The doctor, Huffman, turned to look at the conversation taking place, "As a physician, I am more than equipped to carry out births, Lady Kirkpatrick. People in Portsmouth don't acquire services of a midwife nowadays. One of you ladies, or your maid, can assist me. Especially premature births, such delicate matters should not be handled by a midwife with only but basic experience."

A look of confusion surpassed Alicia's expression as her chest heaved up and down and she went at a loss for words. Births were delicate matters for the high society in Southampton. Back home, a midwife or the doctor's recommended female nurse, would accompany the doctor and she would be instructed in carrying out the delicate steps of the procedure. It wasn't a normal tradition for a doctor to carry out a birth all by himself without a female midwife's help; it was in all ways, thought of as improper for a lady of high stature. But then again, Alicia hadn't ever experienced a loved one going through a premature delivery.

"My friend, Doctor Drew is on his way here, I have sent for him for I shall need his assistance," The doctor spoke, his words directed towards the maid, as she nodded and pivoted right out the room, ready to receive the door.

Alicia rushed towards Diana as she gathered her composure, "What is happening?" She trembled. "Two doctors assisting a birth without a midwife?"

"It's alright," Diana whispered back, "The doctor looks as though he knows what he's doing, he has done this before and we have to only be patient and offer our help."

Nodding to each other, the ladies went back to the doctor's side and followed his instructions.

As their Aunt Frederica's fever calmed down, Marta entered the room, with a young gentleman following right after her. The gentleman was introduced to the ladies present as Mr Marcus Drew, a graduate from Oxford and the present Doctor Robert's right hand man.

"Doctor Drew, My cousin and I appear to be unfamiliar with how such delicate procedures are carried out in Portsmouth, but I urge you to keep our Aunt's well being first and foremost in front of everything else," Diana spoke to the young doctor, who appeared to be no less than of twenty and five, with his blonde hair, fair skin and light green eyes. She always did have a firm sense of guess when it came to people's ages, and Diana was scarcely ever mistaken.

The young doctor nodded. "Lady Beaumont, I assure you, I will leave here with no less than a healthy Mrs Fleming and an equally healthy baby in her arms. Though the birth is premature, we have no reason to believe of any everlasting damage. It is hope that will carry us forward now," Doctor Drew answered back, his green eyes reflecting the honest intentions behind his words and Diana could not help but be reassured.

Volunteering to stay by Aunt Frederica's side when the time came for her to deliver, Diana ordered Marta to send for her uncle, and reluctantly Marta nodded and was off.

After about half an hour of the birth process, Diana could finally lay her eyes on the picture she yearned to see, a smiling Aunt Frederica nestling a baby boy in her arms. She hadn't expected to see the day so early, but she was relieved and her heart beamed with joy. She squeezed Alicia's hand and smiled, and her cousin, who was equally as happy, smiled back. The baby boy was frail, weak, but he was there. His tiny presence had lit up everything, the room, their hearts. His skin was a dark shade of pink, and his eyes were shut as his small hands and feet moved and cries poured out of his lips. 

"Doctor Robert, is everything as it should be?" Diana approached the gentlemen as they stood near the fireplace, cleaning their hands with pieces of cloth.

"I am afraid, not quite," The elder doctor replied, "Mrs Fleming has lost much blood, which is now going to challenge her strength. Her state will be weak and not immune to fevers, the same with the infant."

"She needs a lot of rest, and the infant needs to be constantly monitored for fevers," Doctor Drew added, "Doctor Robert is to be away for a while and till then I will be more than happy to offer my services whenever Mrs Fleming may need them. You must call for me if there are any changes." 

"And what of the baby?" Diana inquired again, her voice trembling a little as fear gripped at her heart.

"A full week of nourishment and proper care will deem him fine, let us hope. Please keep checking for fevers. This was a very successful premature birth, my lady. I am happy and glad that all went well, with little consequences," Doctor Robert responded, a reassuring smile on his face. 

"Yes, thank you doctors," Diana replied gratefully, "We will keep in touch if anything changes."

As the doctors were bid farewell, Michael and Theodore were led into their mother's lying room to meet their new baby brother, but Diana went on to the guest parlor to wait for Uncle Arthur. When Marta finally came back unaccompanied, Diana looked at her questionably.

"Mr Fleming cannot be excused my lady," Marta stated, her expression sympathetic, "He said that he'd be back when his shift ends, and that isn't until after dinner."

"But did you inform him of Aunt Frederica's condition?" Diana pressed on woefully.

"Baby boy and all, my lady," Marta responded.

"What is it? Hasn't Uncle Arthur arrived yet?" Alicia's voice came and Diana turned to look at her standing at the door.

"He isn't coming," Diana sighed, "He can't be excused."

"What am I to tell Aunt Frederica? I already mentioned to her and the boys that we sent for him," Alicia groaned, she had always hated to be the bearer of bad news ever since she was little, and it seemed to her that her luck would always deem her one.

"You shan't say anything, my lady," Marta spoke towards Alicia, "Mrs Fleming and the little masters are accustomed to such inconveniences by now. I shall bet they don't expect anything now too."

Diana got up from the sofa suddenly and headed out of the room.

"Diana, where are you going?" Alicia called after her, as Diana climbed the stairs to their rooms.

As Alicia stood at the foot of the stairs waiting, her cousin soon emerged, fully dressed to head outside with a sky blue Spencer jacket over her white muslin dress, and a matching bonnet.

"Are you—" Alicia started, and was immediately interrupted.

"Going to bring Uncle Arthur home? Yes," Diana spoke as she adjusted both her lace gloves properly on to her fingers.

"Aunt Frederica needs him by her side," The lady continued, "No matter how much we assist— Uncle Arthur needs to be present here. She just gave birth to his child, for heaven's sake. You heard what Doctor Drew said, Aunt Frederica may fall ill again and when that happens, she'll be very weak as to fight, and think of the baby then!"

"But Diana, you aren't thinking this through, it is the employer who is holding him back, you may cost Uncle Arthur his job," Alicia insisted. "What then?" 

"Don't you see? He needs to choose between something temporary and something permanent, and thus far, he's been choosing the wrong thing," The aggravated response came, before Diana sighed and composed herself. "I won't cause a scene, don't worry. I will talk to the employer civilly and request Uncle Arthur's leave from his job for a few days, at least."

Alicia nodded woefully, not saying anything more.

"Marta, you're coming with me," Diana added, and the maid instantly nodded and grabbed a linen bonnet, putting it on and tying the strings under her face and heading out the door, right after Diana.

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

"This is it, my lady," Marta announced slowly as they stood in front of the giant establishment, with the air around as thick as dust and the furnace smokes rising high into the skies. Shouts echoed in the air and one could hardly distinguish the direction they were coming from. A huge wooden board hung above the main entrance, bearing the factory's name, 'Portsmouth, Cotton textiles mill & co.'

Walking into the establishment, Lady Diana Beaumont was greeted by a man who stood seated behind a big wooden desk, and appeared to be writing with the utmost determination.

"Good morning," Diana spoke, loudly enough to be heard, and low enough for a lady. The man peeked up from his writing, his small eyes peering over his spectacles as he inspected the interruption.

After about a few seconds of silence drew by, Diana grew tired of waiting she spoke up, "Do you not stand in front of ladies and greet them in response?"

The man's expression remained the same as his eyes ran back and forth from Marta to Diana. A bored inspection that betrayed no duty whatsoever behind his irises. 

"Do you want to see Arthur Fleming again?" The man uttered, his tone containing a hint of annoyance as he looked at Marta.

"No, I am Lady Beaumont and I am here to request an audience with the owner of this mill," Diana stated, clearly showing her displeasure with the man.

The man raised his brows at such a request, and then observing the party standing in front of him one last time, he fiddled through a set of papers on his desk and pulled one out, fixing his spectacles on top of his nose to read it.

"Hm," He let out a hum, "The boss is in a meeting as of this very moment, he should be free till three. Perhaps, you ladies would require a seat for waiting purposes?"

"Perhaps not," Diana answered back, "I shall like to have a quick word with him, and all you have to do is point me in the direction of his office."

"I'm afraid, I cannot. The boss has strict orders as to disruption in midst of his meetings," The man shot back, taking off his spectacles and fully focusing on the rebellious opponent in front of him.

"I see, your boss must be a rather patronizing gentleman," Diana observed, then putting on a determined smile, she continued, "Luckily, I am well equipped to deal with such people. And now that I think about it, how hard can finding the office of such a gentleman be?"

Then turning towards Marta, who stood in shock and anxiety, Diana continued, "Come Marta, let us begin the search."

"Wait," The man behind the desk called after the Diana and Marta as they headed off into the hallway on the right, before groaning and sitting himself back down as they disappeared from sight. "Great, the boss shall have me packing by nightfall."

"There, that must it," Diana said as she pointed towards a glass office space towards the far end.

There were a lot of men passing by who spotted Diana and Marta and tipped their top hats in greeting. They all seemed curious as to why the ladies were there, for perhaps not many ladies dropped by at the mill for entertainment purposes, or any purpose at all. 

The office had wooden walls, yet a tainted glass door. The door had a shiny brass label on it, entailing the name of the enterprise amongst other things, but Diana, without wasting time reading them, approached the man who stood beside the office door.

"I am here to have an audience with the owner," Diana spoke, and the man nodded before asking her name. After that he requested her to wait while he went inside to inform of Diana's presence.

After about a minute, the man came back out, "The boss will see you now," he said and held the tainted glass door wide open for the visitors to pass through and Diana made her way through it, closely followed by Marta.

Entering the office, she was met by about twenty faces staring at her; all seated around a long table, but of all those faces, there was one that caught her attention. Her eyes widened a little as realization rushed to her, and for a moment her mind went blank and she completely forgot the reason she was there. As she looked at the face of the man at the head of the table who had now stood up and was looking back at her with surprise, she silently scolded herself for being caught off guard.

Of course, he is the infamous employer, how could I have failed to see it, she thought, talking to herself as though she had misbehaved.

It suddenly hurt to think how much torture he had put her Aunt and Uncle through, and even though Diana had convinced herself that she never trusted him in the first place, she still felt as though her trust had been broken. He wore perhaps the finest suit out of all the other twenty faces present, and his part of the long table had another small shiny brass label sitting on it, his full name and enterprise written clearly in bold letters. Perhaps if the lady had bothered to read the brass labels outside, she would've been earlier aware. 

Composing herself as her heart filled with anger and hurt, she spoke plainly, "Lord Edward Buxton, what a surprise."