The Heiress of Baylin

The summer sun felt soothing, gentle across my skin. I sprawled over the fresh, green grass, embracing the warmth. The moment was peaceful until I felt Jane stir beside me. Awake from her nap, she began pulling the strands of my hair. Her tiny hands possessed a hard grip.

“Ouch,” I whined. Brandon chuckled and stopped his construction of our new house to take a rest. He took Jane into his fatherly arms and placed her in his lap as he took a seat in the grass with us.

“She wants to play with you,” he said with humor.

“How did she get so strong? She’s only a few months old…”

“I guess she takes after her father.”

I sat up from my lying position to level with him. My hair fell naturally into place, sweeping across my forehead.

“Oh, Mary, you’re so beautiful,” he mused.

“Yeah, she is,” a familiar voice blurted from within the trees. Brandon and I looked towards the source of the voice, surprised to see Edward. He was shirtless, his skin drenched in sweat from performing some kind of manual labor. I hadn’t seen Edward in months but, gazing upon his form now, I remembered what I had initially admired about him. I bit my lip, pushing back my forbidden lust for him.

“Edward? What are you doing here?” I questioned.

“I didn’t know you lived here. What a coincidence! I was just out collecting firewood,” he explained. I could tell he was lying. He had to have somehow known that Brandon and I had made refuge out here. We were far from any known villages or towns.

“You gave up the castle for this?” he questioned, gesturing to the view of our log cabin behind us.

“Yes, we’re happy here,” I answered, a hint in my voice communicating that we were happy without him here.

“That dress looks beautiful on you, Mary. It flatters your form,” he was trying Brandon’s composure, infuriating him.

“Mary, hold Jane,” Brandon pressed, a threatening undertone to his voice. I knew he wanted me to take her so that he could spar with him.

“No,” I refused, not wanting the men to fight. I glanced from Brandon’s furious expression to Edward who looked amused. This was a recipe for fire.

“I see you are not yet pregnant with a second child. Good, that means there’s still a chance,” Edward spoke his offensive thoughts aloud.

“There is no chance,” I snapped. “Stop provoking my husband.”

“Oh, Mary, when are you going to leave this man and elope with me instead? I know you want me. I can tell. You have a certain spark in your eyes when you look at me.” I shook my head and glanced away. My cheeks burned crimson with embarrassment.

“She’s my wife. When are you going to realize that and leave us alone?” Brandon growled.

“Unlike Mr. Bennett, I don’t mind if you like us both.”

I looked to Brandon’s face that was flushed with fresh anger.

“Edward, I really think you should go,” I pleaded.

“That’s fine,” he chuckled. “I only live a short distance away.”

“You live here?” I questioned.

“Yes, I found a place nearby to settle down.”

“That’s it,” Brandon stated before shoving Jane into my arms so that he could stand up and face Edward.

“Don’t –” I tried to cut in but he ignored my plea.

Thomas sprung to my side once he overheard the commotion. He lived in a small cabin near our home. He was my friend and servant, helping Brandon and I care for Jane.

“Let them fight,” he said to me. “They need to work it out.”

“I don’t want them to get hurt,” I protested.

“I kissed your wife,” Edward told Brandon and I was thankful in that moment that I had already informed Brandon of this a while ago.

“I know. She already told me. You’re not going to kiss her again.”

“We’ll see,” he replied, looking to me. “I told you I wouldn’t give up. I will be nearby when you need me.” He looked ready to depart, satisfied after bringing drama to our peaceful abode.

“Don’t hold your breath,” I told him.

“I won’t have to,” he said boldly before taking his leave.

I grabbed at Brandon’s shirt, pulling him from charging after Edward. I could tell that he desired to run after him.

“Don’t do it, my love. Please, not while Jane is watching.”

Something about my words struck him. His eyes fluttered down to our daughter’s innocent eyes. The angry redness boiling under the skin of his cheeks faded when he looked to her sweet face.

“You’re right. I won’t fight in front of Jane. But he is asking for it. One of these days…” his voice trailed off, as his mind drifted in thought.

“Never mind, dear husband. Come sit with us. I have exciting news to tell you.” I gestured for Thomas to leave us so that I had a moment alone with Brandon. Jane remained in my lap, unaffected by what had happened. Her eyes seemed so fresh and innocent, exploring the world around her.

“I’m sorry, Mary. He just provokes me. I cannot believe that he would follow us and make a residence near us.” Brandon took back his seat beside me.

“I know. He does not seem to understand boundaries,” I agreed.

“I’ll make him understand,” threatened Brandon.

“No, you won’t. There is no need to worry anyway,” I informed. His eyes flickered to mine.

“You have something to confess?” he wondered, judging by my expression.

“Indeed,” I said, smiling.

“Tell me,” he urged.

I held Jane tight against my chest, squeezing her affectionately. I kissed her forehead and gazed at Brandon from under my lashes. I was feeling both flirty and maternal at the same time. I felt happiness bubbling from under my skin at what I was about to tell Brandon.

“Tell me,” he repeated, sensing my euphoria. The corner of his lips upturned into a lopsided smile, creating dimples along his cheeks. His smile looked a lot like Jane’s. The image of it was the greatest sight I had ever seen. I loved that smile.

“You do not need to worry about Edward,” I explained, “because I skipped my monthly bleeding.”

“You’re with child again?” his eyes lit up, overjoyed. A chuckle escaped my breath at his reaction.

“Yes,” I confirmed.

Brandon stood up again but this time it was out of joy, not to pick a fight. He danced with delight.

“I’m so happy,” he sang. Clearly, Edward was far on his list of concerns now. He returned to his seat by me and cupped my face in the palm of his hands. He pulled my face to his and crushed his lips against mine. We kissed until Thomas ran out of his cabin to see us. We parted our lips to acknowledge him.

“I overheard the news!” he exclaimed happily.

“Mary, are you really pregnant again?”

“I am.” I exchanged a happy glance with Brandon. His face flushed red once again but this time not out of anger.

“Congratulations to both of you,” Thomas sang.

“Thanks, Thomas. We’re going to need your help more than ever with two little girls running around,” Brandon said to him contentedly.

“Two girls? You think it’ll be another girl?” I wondered.

“I hope so,” Brandon admitted.

“What if it’s a boy?”

“I’ll love him the same,” he answered to my satisfaction.

“Good.”

Later that evening, Jane was asleep in her crib beside our bed. Brandon wrapped me in his warm embrace. He placed his hand over my belly that only possessed a slight bulge. I could feel his warm breath in my ear. I did not think anything could make me happier in that moment. I was content while in the presence of my husband and our growing family.

“I love you, Mary,” he whispered soothingly.

“I love you too,” I answered back.

“We’re going to have an amazing family.”

“We already do,” I pointed out with delight.

“True. Tell me, do you think we’ll always be this happy?” he wondered. I considered the challenge of having Edward living near us. I wondered if we would have to take our leave and find a home elsewhere. If he continued to invade our privacy then we might’ve had to consider it. I knew that we wouldn’t be able to enjoy our little piece of bliss if he was going to continue to make appearances and provoke Brandon. Neither of us would want that.

“I think that life will throw us some challenges,” I admitted in my response. “But, overall, we will be happy,” I assured.

“Edward…” he spoke through gritted teeth.

“Maybe I should be the one to talk to him,” I mentioned. Perhaps if I were to tell him he should leave, he’d comply.

“That’s what he wants you to do,” Brandon pointed out.

“Do you trust me to take care of it?” I asked him.

“You’re going to go see him alone?” he questioned bitterly.

“Yes. Do you trust me?” It would be the ultimate test of trust for me to visit Edward alone but it was the only method I could think of to work. If I told Edward that I wasn’t interested in him, maybe he would take the hint. As of now, he seemed to be under the false notion that Brandon was preventing me from being with him.

“Yes,” Brandon sighed, realizing reluctantly that it was the best option. “I trust you.”

The next morning after breakfast, I ventured into the woods from where Edward had emerged the day before. Surprisingly, it was not difficult to find his residence. It was but a hundred paces from our land. It was an old, rebel tent propped up by tree branches.

“Hello,” Edward greeted me with pleasant surprise from his sitting position by a fire. He was still shirtless. I would have to work hard to exercise constraint. He leapt up and flocked to me.

“Hello, Edward,” just speaking his name sent flutters spiraling in my chest. I truly did love him, almost as much as I loved Brandon. I knew, however, that I needed to make a firm stance and choose my husband. The time for games was over. I sighed heavily before flashing my gaze to his.

“It’s wonderful to see you alone,” he commented. This was not going to be an easy task so I decided to blurt it out rather than beat around the bush.

“Edward, you have to go,” I told him. My voice contained the pain that I was feeling in saying it. Nevertheless, it needed to be done.

“Mary?”

“You need to leave my husband and I alone. You’re crossing our boundaries…”

“Did he tell you to say that?” Edward’s voice sharpened when he mentioned Brandon.

“No. I’m ending this. He had nothing to do with it,” I pushed.

Edward grabbed my arms and pulled me to him. My body did not want to resist but my mind was determined. I immediately pulled away, squirming out of his grasp.

“Mary…” his voice sounded broken. I could feel the hard lump rising in my throat at the intensity of the moment. My eyes grew swollen with tears.

“I’m sorry,” I told him. “You can’t be here.”

He cupped my face in the palm of his hands and leveled me so that his eyes were focused on mine. It was difficult to peer into his perfect, round eyes and tell him that the romance was over between us.

“Mary, are you certain?” he wanted to be sure.

“Yes,” I didn’t hesitate.

“Okay then,” he dropped, releasing his hold. “If you desire me to go then I will. But I won’t if Brandon is the only reason.”

I thought about how I desired peace for sake of my family. Peace did not involve the close proximity of my two lovers. One of them had to go and that had to be Edward. I was, after all, soon to have my second child with Brandon.

“I want you to go,” I asserted. Stay strong, I thought to myself. As much as my body ached at the separation, I knew I needed to stay focused on the task of letting him go. A tear escaped his eye, rolling down his cheek. He nodded acceptingly.

“Then I will.”

“Thank you.”

Every inch of me felt the urge to grant Edward a final hug but I knew that if I did, I’d never wish to release him. I sighed heavily as Edward packed his items into a sack and mounted his horse.

“Goodbye, Mary,” he said sadly.

“Goodbye, Edward.”

He rode off as a dark cloud arose in the sky above. I watched after him, sad that he had finally given up. I hoped I wouldn’t later regret saying goodbye.

“How did it go?” Brandon wondered anxiously when I returned home.

“It was difficult.”

“Yeah, you loved him…” Brandon sounded oddly understanding.

“I did,” I admitted, “But I still love you more.”

“I know you do. You chose us. You chose our family.”

“I will always choose you,” I said. Brandon picked me up in his arms and whirled me into a spin. I laughed along with the embrace. He knew how to make me happy.

“I promise that I’ll make your choice worth it.”

“Until we grow old and frail?” I wondered. He cradled me in his arms, his face only an inch from mine. His scent was as alluring as the first day we met, luring me in like a moth to a flame. His smile stretched along his face. It was contagious, causing me to smile in return. My thoughts over Edward seemed to dissipate far to the back of my mind.

“Yes and beyond,” he cooed.

“Forever,” I mentioned.

“Yes,” he confirmed. “Forever and always.”