Chapter Fifteen

The following three years had been wonderful for Mrs. Hughes. Her husband had provided her with a wonderful estate that was even more prosperous than anticipated. When they initially married, they spent several months alone in the dower cottage and in London. They happily furnished their homes and stables. Several days were spent at the horse auctions, but their best animals were gifts from the Darcys.

Bonnie, Hesper, and Spencer were happily situated at Gallifrey. Their fellow horses were eager beasts, grateful for such kind masters. Mr. Hodges and Peter saw to them regularly, though Peter spent considerable time with Mrs. Hughes. She took great interest in his education and was determined to see him literate and good with numbers.

Caroline enjoyed having Peter in the house as he would also entertain her two boys. At present, he was back at their estate while her children played by her feet. The London season was fully alive this spring. She had come to London with Kitty and Elizabeth to ready Kitty's trousseau. After a lengthy courtship and similar engagement, Kitty would wed in June (much to the eternal relief of her mother.)

She had taken Caroline's advice and took her time in getting to know each prospective suitor. She and Mr. Grantley were good friends, but quickly found neither found much passion for the other. It was Lord Crawley, of Downton Abbey, that secured her heart. Georgiana introduced them after he debut and the sweetest of romances began.

Shortly after their betrothal, Caroline found herself increasing with her second child. She was considerably nervous as her first pregnancy had been quite difficult. Her eldest boy, Harold, had been very small and sickly after his birth. Her second pregnancy fared better, but the birth was nearly fatal to both mother and son. After nearly a full week of Hattie's tireless ministrations, both were declared healthy again.

Jacob and Harold were both healthy, robust lads. They both had Caroline's dark hair that curled similarly to her brother's. Their father was seldom found without one of his sons tucked in his arms. Caroline smiled at the thought of Alex. He was such a wonderful father. She hated that Hattie stated she would not bear further children, but was glad to be able to see her children grow up.

She smiled to her husband as he approached her. He lifted Jacob to his chest and smiled when the one year old babbled happily to him. She let him press a warm kiss to her lips and took his hand as he held it out to her.

"Have you plans to be with Kitty or Elizabeth today?" he asked.

"Not today, my dear. We are meeting on Wednesday for tea and then making plans to meet for the wedding," she explained.

Though her time in London had been brief, they had been busy. Alex had kept himself to his sons or the auctions, but had asked she would spend a few hours with him today. He wanted her to review some of their charitable endeavours again.

He smiled brightly and escorted her to their waiting carriage. She tried to follow the direction but was soon lost to the scenery and was surprised to find herself being led into Foundling Hospital. A dedicated matron showed them around. She viewed clean, but cramped dormitories. There was a filled mess hall where the elder children were eating.

Several classrooms stood away from the rest. They taught the children to read and write, but also sewing for the girls. Once the boys were old enough, they often were put to work within the Hospital.

On the greens, several children played and waved to the Admiral. He had been coming here many times over the years and was a devoted patron. Caroline was mesmerized when a young lad of fifteen approached him with a wide smile.

"My word Paul! I thought you promised you would not grow any more!" Alex exclaimed before clapping the boy soundly on the shoulder.

"I did try sir, but the good Lord had other plans," Paul answered with a grin.

Caroline soon learned that her husband sponsored this young man to become trained as a carpenter and he would be entering the army in a few weeks. He was one of the Hospital's greatest successes. She looked about her and while she could admit it was vastly better than growing up impoverished and filthy, she was heartbroken to see so many children abandoned.

She saw the girls with hair unkempt and in threadbare clothes. The elder ones saw to the younger ones. Even though they were quite alone, they were all so happy just to see her. They all complimented her on her gown or slippers. They had never seen such finery.

She moved away from them as the matron took them into the nursery for their youngest children. They matron flinched when they entered the room. In the far corner was a young girl, holding a small baby. The matron excused herself and hurried to the girl. Caroline heard her whispering harshly to the child, but was not able to understand what was said.

The girl refused whatever order she received and turned her attentions back towards Admiral and Mrs. Hughes. She introduced them to several babies and Caroline was well pleased with the care she saw. She would encourage Alex to further his patronage. He and the matron were speaking and she wandered away from them.

As she approached the end of the row, her eyes met with the girl at the end. She smiled to her and approached her quietly. They babe she held was tiny and asleep. The girl watched Caroline draw near and her eyes darkened.

"'Ave yah come tah take 'er away?" She asked in a harsh whisper, heavy tears filling her eyes.

"Not at all, my dear. I am only admiring how well you take care of her," Caroline responded.

"Why?" she demanded.

Caroline smiled a bit, "I am a mother of two young boys. Harold, my eldest is nearly three and Jacob is just still very little."

"Boys, I wan'ed a bro'her bu' me Mam had this 'ere gel den wen' an' god 'er brown bread," the girl admitted.

Caroline's smile died, "I am sorry to hear that. Where is your father?"

"Sah been caugh' a prig an' hanged," she answered emotionlessly.

Caroline nodded and her heart went out to this poor orphan. She had dark straight hair that was clearly dirty. Her eyes were bright and green.

"May I ask your name, my dear?" Caroline asked.

"Mam called me Lou, short for Louise, I fink," she said without removing her gaze from the babe.

"And this is your sister? She is quite young," Caroline said.

Lou nodded, "Yeh, she 'bout a monf ol' now. I try to keep in 'ere but tha ladies run me outs. But Bethy needs me. I'm 'er sis'er, ain't I?"

"Bethy?"

"Mah say if'n it a gel, tah call 'er Bethany," Lou explained, "But tha nurses didna' like tha' so theys call 'er Mary."

Caroline rightly understood things. Poor Lou had been charged with caring for her increasing mother and when she delivered and passed, Lou took up looking after Bethany. She remembered how fiercely her own sister had protected her when their own mother passed. She softly asked Lou if she could hold her sister.

Bethany stirred for a moment as Caroline settled her on her lap. Lou stood guard over her, but relaxed as Caroline settled Bethany easily. Lou explained how a pastor had found them in their home after she had gone out to find food and turned them over to the hospital. She wanted to take care of Bethany herself, but as she was not above six years old was not allowed to keep her.

Lou told her how she went to her sewing lessons and reading lessons, but never went to more than that because she had to tend to Bethy. She lamented how several nurses, and even the matron, had insisted she let her sister go. No one would want a family of two urchins, much less two ill bred young girls.

Caroline told the child to pray for God's help and saw when Lou visibly relaxed when she handed Bethany back into her arms. She allowed Alex to collect her and return her home. That night she slept little. Her body was warmly pressed against her husband.

To her mind's eye, he was flawless. The expanse of his shoulders and chest seemed to glow in the flickering light of her candle. A strong hand was hidden under his head and the sheets dipped lowly to his hip. The summer night was affecting both of them.

He perspired, but slept while her mind raced. Had their father passed instead of their mother, Caroline could have had a similar fate to young Lou and Bethany. Louisa would surely have been put to the poor house with their mother, if father's debts had not been able to be paid. Caroline would have been left to fend for poor Charles.

How she wanted to help them, but she knew not how. She had been to Foundling Hospital before, but something about this visit changed her. She saw the rooms, the people, and the children better on this visit.

In her heart she felt Lou and Bethany had been calling out to her. Caroline well knew that no one in her circle would bring a foundling into their home. How would they raise such children? Would they dower the girls? Would they claim a child so young as Bethany as her own? Her mind flew with a way for her to welcome those girls as her daughters.

She sat up and played with the hem of her thin nightgown. Her thoughts consumed her so completely that she did not notice when her hair fell loose about her shoulders. Alex threaded the silky strands of her hair in his fingers and tugged at her nightgown. She turned to him and reclined onto his chest.

"I can not explain it," she answered his unasked question.

"Do you want them?" he asked softly.

"Inexplicably, yes. But how could we even contemplate such a thing!? Louise is older than Harold," she answered without looking at him.

Her husband sighed and moved to hover above her on one arm, "We get an additional nurse and an excellent governess. I confess I had hoped you would be open to taking in a baby, specifically a daughter, but now I see you have exceeded my hopes as you always do."

His body cradled in hers, he kissed her neck and caressed her face. She responded lovingly and moved with him in a familiar rhythm.

"I left word at Gallifrey to find an additional nurse, hoping for such an outcome," he confessed sometime later.

Her heart beat faster at the thought that her husband would want more children, "I could find a governess after they were settled. Louise will need our help and we mustn't overwhelm her in the beginning."

Alex nodded and held her close to him, "We shall go after breakfast."

She slept little that night and ordered the carriage readied as quickly as possible. She hastened to several shoppes as soon as they were open. She found a few small toys for Bethany, and a lovely doll for Lou. She found a beautiful gown for each girl and was quick to outfit both of them fully.

When she finally returned to their townhouse, her husband was waiting for her.

"Dare I ask what rose you from our bed so early?" he asked as he joined her in the carriage.

"If we are to become the parents of two lovely such ladies, they must be properly dressed my dear. I only got a few things for each to ensure a comfortable situation until we return to Gallifrey," she answered as he pressed a scone into her hand.

They arrived quickly at Foundling Hospital and quickly made their individual paths. Alex strode hastily towards the Head Mistress's office, while Caroline went directly to the nursery housing Bethany. A sweet nurse pointed her towards "Baby Mary." She carefully picked her up and felt the weight of her emotions hit her.

She remembered when her sons had been born. When Hattie carefully laid one of them to her breast it felt just like this. She pressed a soft kiss her crown and turned back to the nurse. Just as they were about to depart, Lou came running at her.

"Yeh canna take 'er! She's mine!" she wailed as she tried to claw and hit towards Caroline.

It was then that Alex and the Head Matron arrived. The Matrons and nurses quickly tried to subdue the wailing Lou, but she heard nothing. Caroline smiled and handed the baby to Alex. She motioned to the nurses to release Lou and caught her when the child flung at her bodily.

Lou swung and kicked, grasped and wailed before she finally wore herself out. Caroline held her still and adjusted her in her arms.

"My love, I would not want her, if I could not have you, too," she whispered into Lou's exhausted ear.

They quietly made their way back to the office. A nurse and Caroline washed each child vigorously before gowning them in their new clothes. Lou greatly protested, terrified she would muss such an expensive article and again when they combed and bound her hair. Bethany did little more than watch the proceedings with inquisitive eyes.

The family left in short order. That night, Louisa Jane Hughes was introduced to her extended family. First, she met her Aunt and Uncle Bingley who had three sons Charles, Will, and Henry. Her aunt looked to be increasing again, but Lou was too young to understand such things.

Next, she met Aunt Darcy and Uncle Darcy (of whom she was privately terrified.) Aunt Darcy was very playful and she enjoyed her cousins Anna and Benjamin. She said little throughout the night, but was happy to meet everyone.

She also met Aunt Kitty. She was quite fun too, especially since she was about to be married to Lord Crawley. Lou listened to her talk about her fiance with rapture for several minutes before declaring the whole story quite "roman'ic."

She learned that they would travel to Aunt Kitty's home for her wedding before going on to her new home, Gallifrey. She imagined her life would be much better than she had imagined in her six years, but was glad for her new family, even if they were overwhelming. But above all she was glad she still had her sister, because nothing could have torn her away from Bethany. The bond of sisters is something not often understood, but Caroline was someone who did and she would help Lou and Bethany as they grew from girls into women.

In the years that would follow, Caroline would hardly remember the broken and angry woman she had once been. She would only remember her removal to Pemberley as the beginning of a future with a wonderful family full of love and laughter. She would bear the trials all people did, but with the support of those who truly loved her.

A/N: Thanks for coming to play in my imagination. I have another story I am kicking around, but not sure if it will see the light of day. Best to all my followers and reviewers!