THE DISAGREEABLE DUCHESS

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

"Annabel, what's wrong?" I asked, looking at Annabel who's looking worried. "Is it your father? What happened?"

She looked at me, eye to eye. "It's not going to work out, Colin." Said Annabel. "My parents want a better life for me, and you're not the best choice for it."

"There's someone else, isn't there?" Trying to reassure myself, I looked around to see if there was anyone around watching us.

"No, there's no one here." She tried to put my mind at ease, pulling me near her. "Colin, you are perfect and I love you, but I love my parents more. You can't let me choose, Colin, because in the end, you're the one that's going to be left hurting."

"Why?" I asked once more. "If you really love me, you'll fight for me. Annabel, there's more to life than the riches you seek."

"Colin, it's not about money. It's never been about money." She said. "Maybe this is for the better. We're still young. We don't know what we want."

"That's not true." I replied. "If you'll only give me a chance, I can love you, Annabel. I can give you what you want."

"But I don't know what I want!" She yelled. "At least not anymore. I don't want to choose, Colin."

"You don't have to." I tried to comfort her, wrapped around my arms. "If defending our love is the only way, then so be it."

"It's a hopeless fight, don't you get that?" She asked, freeing herself from me.

"Annabel!" Shouts Marco, her father. "Didn't I tell you not to leave the room without my permission?"

"Papa, I'm sorry." Marco grabbed her and tried to drag her away, but she was fighting. "Papa, let me go."

I tried to pull her, fighting against her father. "No, don't go."

"Papa," Annabel drops to the ground. "Give me a chance to finish this."

Marco sighed. "Finish this." Then he steps away.

"Colin," Called Olivia's sweet voice, shaking him gently awake. "Colin, wake up. You were having a nightmare. Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," He replied, sitting up at the edge of the bed. "What time is it?"

"A quarter before 6 o'clock." Said Olivia. "Are you sure you're alright? You've been having the same dream these past few nights."

"I said I'm fine." He stood up and walked away.

Colin and Olivia have been married for almost two months. To their surprise, Olivia was in fact with child. It seemed that the night they try so difficult to forget left a memory, but it was a happy memory they welcomely accepted.

For the past month and a half, they've been living in London with David.

Olivia was finally introduced to society through a large ball held at the mansion. There were a lot of ongoing rumors at first, but it soon died down after a while. She was quite famous among titled bachelors as well. All of them knew that if she was not presented to the society as a married woman, she'd be having fleets of suitors at her doorstep, even though she's to be considered a spinster.

Among the events that had happened before, Colin was granted the license to treat with a full recomendation from his previous professor. From their arrival, Colin has been known as doctor Davenport across London, specializing in children's pediatrics. He's finished training and is now a doctor with his own clinic, courtesy of David.

A month's worth of pay for Colin was enough to put his parents out of work. He was proud that he was able to sustain his parents' needs and was fully contented with his earnest living, though soon he'd have to face inheriting David's title.

Nowadays, Colin often worried about Olivia and their unborn child. Ever since the day they found out about Olivia's pregnancy, they've been living tough days, with Olivia being nauseous most of the time and with her being meticulous of what she ate.

The whole family was actually worried for her, especially Colin.

Magnolia and Charlotte actually suffered difficulties in childbirth, which lead Magnolia to only have one daughter, Charlotte. And Charlotte to pass away from giving birth as well. Now, with Olivia being with child, they were all very cautious. Though she insisted to live in Chester till birth, David opted that they wait in London instead, where he would surely send a battaleon of doctors if anything was to go wrong.

"How about some fruits?" Colin presented his wife with plates of sliced fruits, she barely ate anything for breakfast and was now refusing lunch.

Olivia shook her head, feeling nauseous. "No," she declined.

"What am I supposed to do?" He asked, passing the platter to the attending maid nearby. "It's not good for you to starve, and especially not for the child. You're barely sustaining enough nutrients for yourself..." He scolded. "Tell me, what do you want?"

Suddenly, Olivia felt like gagging. Her face was pale and body tender and weak, but she strode to the bathroom and released every single piece of food that she consumed last night. Colin followed her in a hurry, along with a towel to clean herself off with. "Apple pie," she whispered.

"What?" Colin asked, sitting on the cold bathroom floor with Olivia leaning against him.

"I want apple pie, grandma's apple pie." She demanded.

"Your grandmother's house is a day and a half's ride from here." He contradicted. "But if that's what you want, then I'll fetch every baker in town."

"Don't be silly," she chuckled lightly. "I want grandma's pie."

"Then I'll send for her immediately."

Colin did send for Magnolia and the two children, Tommy and Tara, that afternoon itself. He'd do anything for his wife and unborn child, and right now, all that matters was that they were both strong and healthy.

Colin did manage to feed Olivia a couple of bites of bread and a cup of tea before the day ended.

He wasn't even able to attend work caring for her, but he was more exhausted than any other day at the clinic.

"What did your parents say?" I anxiously asked Annabel.

Annabel was a bit paler than the usual, sad unlike other days. I looked down, our eyes equally leveled in an unbreaking eye contact. She looked at me directly as tears were slowly pouring from her beautiful blue eyes. It was the first time that she's shown me such emotion that it pained me, slowly tearing my heart open.

"Colin, wake up." Ordered Olivia who was shaking him awake, again. "Colin."

Colin was surprised, quickly sitting beside his wife, thinking that she was in need of any kind of assistance. "What is it? Do you need anything?" He asked.

"No," she said. "Colin, what's happening with you? Something, or rather someone has been bothering you in your dreams."

"How did you know?"

"You talk in your sleep, though you always cut it off whenever you are about to say the name." She stated. "You have to tell me what's wrong."

Colin didn't reply anymore, but instead, he wrapped his arms around her, slowly leaning against the bed. "Sleep," he commanded. "We'll talk about it once your feeling better."

To his luck, Olivia was not feeling well enough to argue. She closed her eyes and slowly drifted back to sleep.

The next morning, Olivia was feeling better with an increased appetite, much to everyone's delight. She was craving everything sweet, from cakes to pies to fruits, which Colin offered her without any regards to her figure. As long as she eats, nothing matters.

Colin returned to work as well, now that Olivia's well enough, he was able to leave her in the care of the servants and David.

Sitting by the warm fire, Olivia couldn't help but whisper thoughts to her unborn child. She was anxious for the day that day'd be able to see each other for the first time and anxious for the day that she's to be called 'mama' by the little one. Colin swore to put all efforts on becoming a father to their child, and with that reassurance did Olivia get by everyday.

"Lady Olivia," called a servant. "there's a woman out front looking for master Colin."

"Do you know of her?" Asked Olivia.

"I'm afraid not," replied the servant. "Shall I send her away then?"

"No," she said. "Let her in."

The servant then bowed, walking away.

When he arrived, he was with a beautiful lady with curly, brown hair and eyes in the darkest shade of blue. "Hello," Olivia greeted. "You were looking for Colin?"

"Yes," replied the lady. "Is he present?"

"No," Olivia disagreed. "Would you like to wait for him? I'm certain that he'll be home soon."

"If it's alright..."

"Please, sit down." Offered Olivia. "I'll have a servant arrange some refreshments while you wait."

"Thank you." Said the lady. "So, how are you related to Colin?"

Olivia hesitated to reply, but she breathed in deep and said. "Olivia Davenport," she offered her a hand. "His wife. And you?"

The lady stood up and shook her hand. "Annabel Wentworth."