by Amelia Price
Leaving him absorbed in some classified information the government wanted him to look over, she'd finally snuck up to the bathroom en-suite to the spare room she used for her belongings. The two minutes she was meant to wait for a result felt like they were taking forever.
As she watched, the line through the middle started to morph into a cross, and she couldn't tear her eyes away as it grew stronger and stronger. She was carrying Mycroft's child.
Her mind froze, unable to process the news and what it might mean. Although they'd talked of marriage, there had been no mention of children. It wasn't something she expected him to want. His house was orderly and tidy, everything a child wasn't and shouldn't be forced into.
A cough from the doorway made her jump. She looked up to see Mycroft, his eyes already taking in every detail, but giving no reaction away, as usual.
“I was about to come and tell you,” she said, hoping he wouldn't mind that she'd taken the test without him.
“Did you think I wouldn't notice?” Mycroft walked over to her and she held the stick up so he could easily see the result, although she suspected he'd already looked at it while in the doorway. “You've been showing symptoms for quite a few days.”
“I... I'm sorry. I know this wasn't planned.”
Mycroft shook his head, cutting off the slightly panicked apology.
“It takes two to make a child. The odds were small given all the probabilities but it was still possible, and I knew that.”
She looked up at him, letting the air out of her lungs and some of the tension along with it. So far, he was reacting well. After looking over the emotion she wasn't even trying to hide, he gently stroked her cheek with his hand.
“It might explain how you have gained the immortality we have. It's possible that it's a temporary effect of carrying my child.”
“I know. I'd already thought of that as well. I'd understand if it changed your mind about the wedding date. If you wanted to postpone it until after we know either way.” She lowered her eyes, wanting to hide the prickle of tears that the offer created.
“No. This changes none of that. I would marry you either way now. And I do believe I told you I'd take care of you. The wedding is just a public declaration of the same promise.”
“Thank you,” she replied, leaning into the hand still against her cheek and allowing herself to look at him again. While her eyes swam in grateful tears, she saw his soften and show her a tenderness only borne by one emotion: love.
~
Thank you for reading The Ambitious Orphan. The sequel, . While you wait you might also like to try my fantasy works beginning with a free short, Wandering to Belong.
If you would like to subscribe to the new release email to be notified of the next publication by Jess Mountifield (or Amelia Price) you can do so here.
For a complete list of all works by the author and her pen name, separated by genre, please continue. If you have enjoyed the book you just read and would like to let the author know you can email her via [email protected] or alternatively leave a review at your place of purchase.
Books by Jess Mountifield
Already published
Historical Adventure:
With Proud Humility (#1 in the Hearts of the Seas series)
Chains of Freedom (#4 in the Hearts of the Seas series)
Fantasy (Tales of Ethanar):
Wandering to Belong (Tale 1)
Innocent Hearts (Tale 2 & 3)
For Such a Time as This (Tale 4)
A Fire's Sacrifice (Tale 5)
The Hope of Winter (A short story in the anthology 'Flights of Fantasy' - Tale 6.05)
Sci-Fi:
Sherdan's Prophecy (#1 in the Sherdan series)
Sherdan's Legacy (#2 in the Sherdan series)
Sherdan's Country (#3 in the Sherdan series)
Sherdan's Road (A short story in the anthology 'The End of the Road')
The Slave Who'd Never Been Kissed (A novella in the anthology 'The Kiss')
Find Purchase links here
Coming soon
Historical Adventure:
Victorious Ruin (#2 in the Hearts of the Seas series)
Fantasy (Tales of Ethanar):
The Fire of Winter (#1 in the Winter series, Tale 6.1)
The Tales of Ethanar anthology - containing:
The Tales of Ethanar 1-6.05
A Brief History of Ethanar
Maps of Ethanar
A Note on Dragons
A Note on the Humanoid Races of Ethanar
Fantasy (other):
Angel of the Sands
Books under Amelia Price
Already Published
The Hundred Year Wait (#1 in the Mycroft Holmes Adventures)
The Boy Next Door (A short story in the anthology 'The Bitten')
The Unexpected Coincidence (#2 in the Mycroft Holmes Adventures)
The Invisible Amateur (#3 in the Mycroft Holmes Adventures)
The Female Charm (#4 in the Mycroft Holmes Adventures)
The Reluctant Knight (#5 in the Mycroft Holmes Adventures)
The Ambitious Orphan (#6 in the Mycroft Holmes Adventures)
Coming soon
The Honeymoon Surprise (#7 in the Mycroft Holmes Adventures)
About the Author
Jess was born in the quaint village of Woodbridge in the UK, has spent some of her childhood in the States and now resides near the beautiful Roman city of Bath. She lives with her husband, Phil, and her very dapsy cat, Pleaides.
During her still relatively short life Jess has displayed an innate curiosity for learning new things and has therefore studied many subjects, from maths and the sciences, to history and drama. Jess now works full time as a writer, incorporating many of the subjects she has an interest in within her plots and characters.
When she's not working she can often be found with friends, enjoying a vast array of films, ice skating or trekking all over the English countryside.
You can find out more about the author and her upcoming projects by following her on twitter or her fanpage on facebook or at her blog www.jessmountifield.co.uk
