Katie took to her studies eagerly and studiously, and as I promised she could have a holiday from the 10th December, she worked hard to the day in question. Her academic level was far in excess of her age group.
Little William was a joy, as I began to spend more and more time with him. The nurse, or Nanny as she was now called, would call me his mama, and he started to call me that whenever I saw him.
After hearing him call me ‘mama’, Katie frowned and looked at me curiously.
“What do I call you?”
“What would you like to call me?”
“Well, I should call you ‘step-mama’, but that sounds silly. My real mama is dead, so I don’t imagine she would mind me calling you ‘mama’, do you?”
“Katie, I couldn’t love you any more if I was your real mama, so I would be so honoured if you call me that. But you must call me whatever you think is right.”
“William calls you mama, so I shall too. But not until you are married to daddy.”
“That will be fine,” I said, and gave her a hug. I saw Roger push open the door and watch us. I smiled and he smiled back.
“Are you and daddy going to have lots of babies?” she asked.
“I don’t know. Perhaps, but maybe we have enough with just you two,” I said, looking over her shoulder at Roger. How could I tell him that I couldn’t have children?
CHAPTER FOUR
Wedding Bells.
December flashed by, and before I knew it, Christmas was almost upon us. The banns were read in the local church, and I heard much more gossip about me living under the same roof as my intended husband. It did not bother me at all, but I was concerned for Roger. Roger simply smiled, and said, “Not one jot, Jane, not one jot!” The Manor had changed, as we had several dinner parties in the weeks leading up to Christmas week.
Roger wanted to show off his new fiancée, so invited many of his friends and their wives to dinner. Some were army friends, whilst others were local. They were all utterly charming, and Roger told me that I performed the duties of hostess wonderfully. Maud was conspicuous by her absence, and even when I should see her about the town, she studiously ignored me.
When I told Roger, he became angry, and I urged him that it was of no account. I ordered my wedding-dress and one for Katie too, and supervised the fitting of my new shower system to my bathroom.
I had a back-boiler fitted to my fireplace, with a water tank in the attic. It still required manually filling, but I planned to place a hand pump next to it to draw water up and straight into the tank. The idea was simple. I would fill the boiler by turning a tap, and then using a handle, pump the hot water through a pipe and into my shower-head. It gave about ten gallons a time, so was just right for a decent shower.
The blacksmith was so taken with the idea, that he would spend many hours with me in the kitchen going over ideas for indoor plumbing. He wanted to use lead pipes, but I told him that the lead was dangerous to health, and he seemed surprised. I suggested copper pipes, and gave him ideas for indoor WCs and water systems.
I am sure he went off to become a leading light in the plumbing world, but I got my shower, and was happy with that. I didn’t have the Time Police knocking on my door, so I breathed a sigh of relief.
I spent every night with Roger, yet our lovemaking was as enthusiastic and energetic as that first night. We learned new levels of pleasure together, and I particularly enjoyed pleasing him with my mouth. I have no idea whether oral sex was an accepted part of normal sexual relations in this century, but I didn’t care, as it was such fun. I really enjoyed the sense of complete control I had over my lover as soon as I took a hold of his cock. He was a complete slave to my desires, and yet I was as much a slave to him too.
Christmas was a happy time. Nanny returned to her family, so I looked after the baby, who was not so much a baby any more. I promoted young Abigail to be my personal maid, and she took her duties seriously. Part of these were to stand in for Nanny, as William adored her too.
The household awoke with William at a little after six. The fires were all lit, and we dressed. The ladies’ fashions actually hid a multitude of layers, so regardless of the lack of central heating in most houses, it was nice to wrap up warm. Having a nice fire in each room was pleasant, but much of the house was arctic.
We went to church, so I took a careful look at the church in which I was due to get married in a few weeks. It was quite large, seating more than 500 people. I discovered that Roger’s family was a lot larger and widespread than I had realised.
He never told me that his cousin Richard de Lambert was the Marquess of Malmsbury, and that side of his family were actually very wealthy and titled. His own small branch may not have been as wealthy, but were equally proud of their long and very respectable heritage. Many knights and other titles were spattered down the ages, and Roger’s own father had been Sir William de Lambert, a General in the army.
Many people greeted us after the service, and the local people treated me with real warmth. Maud almost smiled at us, but Roger cut her dead. I could see that there would be problems from that quarter before too long.
We returned to the Manor. Roger invited several local friends for some mulled wine and to join us for luncheon. I only then realised that Christmas trees started in the Victorian age, and so I would have to wait for at least fifty years to enjoy decorating a tree.
We had a large roast goose and lots of wine. I became very merry indeed, and after lunch, we played games like charades. At teatime, our guests left, so Roger had us all put on our warmest coats. It had snowed and we walked to the stables through about five inches of fresh snow. I couldn’t resist it, and threw a snowball at Roger, knocking his fine new beaver skin hat off. He grabbed me, upended me into the snow, and we rolled about laughing in front of the bemused children.
We arrived at the stables, where Roger led out a small foal. He was exquisite, almost pure black but with a small white mark between his eyes.
“Katie, this little chap is yours. You must look after him, care for him, and you need to name him,” he said, and Katie burst into tears of joy.
“I am going to call him Snowflake, because his mark is just like one, and it will remind me of the day I got him,” she said.
I agreed that that was a super name, and Roger placed his arm around my shoulders as we watched the little girl get to know her foal. The little chap nuzzled her, and I handed her some carrots with which I had thoughtfully come equipped. She held them out and he took them and munched them eagerly.
He was too young to ride yet, but Katie was totally smitten. I knew that if ever we lost her, she would be with Snowflake.
Roger took him into his stall, and Katie wrapped a big blanket around him.
“May I stay here a while, Papa?”
“Yes, but we shall be opening presents in half an hour,” Roger replied.
I carried William as we walked slowly back to the house.
“It seems too good to be true,” he said, holding my hand.
“What does?”
“All this. I never dared hope to find such happiness. It is like a dream.”
I smiled as we went back into the warmth.
William was becoming impatient, so Roger brought out the fort that a local craftsman made him. Small lead soldiers, painted in bright colours, some infantrymen, and other Dragoons on horses, were in a small wooden box. I marvelled at the craftsmanship, and hoped that the small boy would look after them.
Roger handed me a small box, wrapped in gaily-coloured paper.
I opened it and saw a wonderful string of pearls. They were truly beautiful.