“Just to see if I can feel anything. Occasionally a good feel of the belly can tell one a lot.”
“Oh. All right.” Julia lifted her gown and lay still.
“What is this wrapping around you?”
“I was trying to make the bump less noticeable.”
“Well, do not do that anymore,” said Abigail as she unwound the binding. “It could do something to the baby.”
“Will the binding hurt the babe?”
“I do not really believe so, but I cannot think that tightening the area it needs to grow in is a good thing.” Under her hand Abigail felt the bump of a small foot and watched Julia flinch. “Now I understand those odd twitches you have developed. Babe is alive and moving. Do you wish the doctor to see you?”
“No. That would be akin to putting a big sign on the door, and I am trying very hard not to let the whole town know.”
Abigail pulled a chair up beside the bed and sat down, taking Julia’s hand in hers. “Julia, you should tell Robert. Maybe he can find a way for you two to marry now and give his child his name. You can always have a fancier service to celebrate with his family when this cursed war is over.”
Julia frowned. “I suppose that would be a solution. It would not be all I had dreamed of but, you are right, it would name my child.”
“I know others have done it. Well, maybe not because of a child, but they have married a soldier during the war. Half the widows here are soldiers’ widows.”
“I know. I will talk to him the next time I see him.”
“Good. Then all you will need to concern yourself with is caring for the child you carry.”
Julia rubbed her belly. “Yes. That is for the best. I promise I will tell him. I see him soon, this afternoon actually, so it will soon be done.”
Abigail pulled up the blanket to hide Julia’s belly when she heard footsteps on the stairs. A moment later, Mrs. Beaton stood there. The woman just looked at Julia and frowned.
“Should I tell Mr. Collins that you cannot see him now, Julia?”
“Oh no, Mrs. Beaton. Please tell him I will be down in just a moment.” Julia cautiously sat up as Mrs. Beaton left. “He has come a lot sooner than I thought he would.”
“That is for the best. Quickly done and problem quickly solved,” Abigail said.
“I suppose.”
“You said he had already asked you to marry him and you said yes,” Abbie said as she followed Julia to the door.
“Yes, he did.” Julia straightened up, walking to meet Robert with her head held high.
Abigail studied the man waiting for Julia and decided he could not be much older than her. He was about a head taller than her and lean bordering on skinny. His hair was as raggedly cut and long as was James’s and a dark blond. When he smiled at Julia one could easily see why the girl loved him. There was a soft glow in his blue eyes that backed up the message in his smile. When the two of them went into the little parlor, Abigail walked into the main room and sat down, planning to wait until Julia and Robert called for a minister.
“She and that boy sitting in the parlor?” asked Maude as she came and sat down next to Abigail.
“Yes. No walk today.”
“Those two havewalkedone time too many, I am thinking.”
It was hard, but Abigail bit back the urge to laugh at Maude’s pointed statement. “They have a few serious things to discuss.”
“Oh, they most certainly do. Reckless children that they are.”
“Maude, you can’t be much older than either of them.”
“You are sweet. I am nearly forty, child. None of these boys running around here in their uniforms interest me. Got my eye on the major. Man has some time under his belt but is still a fine-looking fellow. A widower.”
Maude was a strong, pleasant-looking woman with thick black hair and bright hazel-green eyes. “He sounds perfect.”
