Chapter 24

"Life's under no obligation to give us what we expect." Margaret Mitchell

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Long A/N but please read for future story info x

Chapter Twenty – Four

Kit was relieved at the feeling of joy that filled him when he learned he had a brother. It was such a pleasant change from the despair that had taken up residence in his heart these last weeks.

"He came February seventh," Cassian informed him, "as an early birthday gift for Lucy."

"And all is well?" Kit asked his mother, concern in his tone.

Faith nodded. "All is well," she assured him. "He is healthy. I am healthy. I did not want to inform you in a letter," she added tentatively. "I wanted for us all to be together."

"I understand," Kit replied. "In fact, I am glad I can be here to meet him. Please, introduce me," he urged.

Cassian proudly led the family out of the library. Faith walked beside Kit and the girls followed behind.

"He is very excited to have an infant son," Faith whispered to Kit. "But I do not want you to worry. You will always be his eldest."

Kit had not been worrying. In fact, he was in suddenly realisation of something. This boy was Cassian's blood son. His heir. Legally, this boy would be in receipt of everything. He would be responsible for Lucy and Emma, if they were not married, upon his inheritance. It was an odd feeling knowing that an infant, twenty-two years his junior, was to be responsible for his sisters.

As it had been with Emma, the baby was not kept in a nursery, but in a bassinet in his parent's bedroom. The bassinet was a gorgeous white, wicker bed draped with gossamer fabric.

Lucy and Emma trotted over to the bed, peeking inside. Kit followed carefully being led by his parents. In seeing the four of them surrounding the bassinet, Kit felt such a sense of home. No matter what happened in the future, he could not make the same mistake by walking out on his family again. These people, his people, were far too precious to him.

And there was now one more to love.

Kit peered inside the bassinet. The baby, his brother, was sleeping. He looked so peaceful, unaffected by how cruel the world could be sometimes. Kit got down on his knees so we was looking in at the same height as Lucy. He reached in carefully and stroked his brother's cheeks. It had been a long time since he had felt the softness of a baby's skin. In fact, Emma had been the last baby he had held. It would never cease to amaze him how smooth they were.

He was wrapped in white bedclothes, and a small cap was keeping his head warm, but Kit could see little tufts of dark hair poking out from underneath it. His eyelashes were dark as well. He had definitely inherited Cassian's dark features.

This dear child was so innocent. Heir or not, this boy was another one of Kit's younger siblings. He would always be responsible for him, and he would be glad to guide him.

"What is he called?" asked Kit softly.

"Tom," said Cassian proudly. "Thomas Sky Kensington is what he will be christened."

The significance of his second name did not escape Kit. It honoured his mother's first born son, the child she had lost.

"A good, strong name," Kit decided. "Welcome to the world, young Tom."

"I am so happy you are home, Kit," Faith said quietly.

Kit met his mother's eyes and saw that they were glassy. "Mother, don't cry."

"I cannot help it. I have wished for this sight before me for so long and I am so happy that is has finally come to fruition. I do not ever want us to argue like that again. Any issue that arises will be discussed calmly and rationally," she said firmly, yet emotionally.

"I agree," nodded Cassian.

"You have my word," Kit promised.

They spent the next hour fussing over the baby. The noise around young Tom stirred him, and once he was awake and settled, Kit had a turn holding him. Kit gently rocked his brother, and marvelled yet again how perfect and innocent he was.

This young man would have a lot to offer a young lady one day. Kit doubted he would ever be abandoned.

When Tom tired again, Faith put him back down in the bassinet and Lucy and Emma kept watch over him.

Kit, Cassian and Faith then went to sit down on the settees in front of the fireplace.

"Now, I am sure the thought has crossed your mind," Cassian began. "What will happen when I die?"

Kit scoffed. "No, Father, I cannot say that I spend a lot of time thinking about your death."

"You know what I mean." Cassian shook his head at Kit's sarcasm. "You know the law. Tom is my heir now, and I want you to know what that means for you."

"As I said, nothing has changed. You are still the eldest," Faith interjected. "You are still their older brother," she said, nodding to the younger three.

"Exactly," agreed Cassian. "Now, you legally own half of this estate and all the income it generates. I made sure of that when I purchased it that your name was on the deed of purchase, just as I will if and when I purchase any other holdings. When I die, Tom will inherit my half of this estate, as well as the factories and the money. You know how it can be. I could die of fever tomorrow and Tom would still be an infant. You are a man, and I need to rely on you to take care of your mother and siblings."

It was if they were asking him to burden himself. Kit frowned. "I will endeavour to be a better brother to all three of them then I have been these last months," he promised. "I am grateful that you took measures to ensure my future when you purchased this estate, Father, but I assure you that I do not resent Tom his rightful inheritance."

Faith took Kit's hand and squeezed it. "Tom is so uniquely blessed to have an older brother to guide him towards his future. We obviously understand you have such important responsibilities in London now, but we hope that you will visit and stay when the opportunities present themselves." She paused. "That is, of course, if you are not otherwise ... engaged?"

Kit knew that his mother had not used that word in the context of marriage but it still stung just the same. He had not hid his reaction from his parents well.

"Kit, what happened? You look terrible," Cassian stated.

"You are too kind," retorted Kit.

Faith shuffled closed to Kit on the sofa and put her arm around him comfortingly. "You know what he means," she said softly. "But you do look really tired." She was putting it kindly. "The ring you gave to Lucy ..." she trailed off.

"Is it an engagement ring, son?" asked Cassian.

"It was," he confirmed. He coughed trying to suppress the humiliating sobs that wanted to come. "I know you do not approve, Father, but it turned out she didn't want the ring anyway."

"What?" gasped Faith.

"She turned you down?" Cassian asked in disbelief.

"Well, I never got a chance to ask. She did not like where her life was heading with me, and so she left to ... change the world." It sounded like an exaggeration but Kit was fully confident in Olivia's ability to lobby and work for whatever she set her mind to.

"Oh, I am so sorry, Kit!" Faith said sympathetically. "But I could have sworn when she visited us at Christmas that there would have been a different outcome. We both thought so."

"I might not like her family, Kit, but I do approve of her. She came to tell me of the election date, to ask me to come. When we spoke at the election she so desperately wanted us to talk. The way she cared for you made me really think that ..." Cassian stopped, probably when he realised the dry glare that Kit was giving him. "I am sorry for you, Kit," he said sincerely.

"But you mustn't give up hope!" insisted Faith. "Have hope that she will see sense!"

"But she is seeing sense," replied Kit. "I may not like her decision at the moment but she has gone to do exactly what she has been trying to do since the moment I met her. She is trying to make the world better."

Faith smiled sadly. "Well, have hope that you both will find happiness, together or apart. I want you both to be happy."

"I am happy being here with you all," Kit responded.

No matter that he still felt the constant ache of daggers in his chest, he felt the smallest ounce of optimism. There could be happiness again.

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I'm sorry it's such a short chapter! I never usually upload anything less than 2,500 words but I wanted to stop it here. I wanted to leave it on a note of optimism as we head into the epilogue.

I'm going to write the epilogue in two parts. The first part will be what happened to Olivia and the second part will be what happened to Kit.

I'm really excited to tell you what happens to both of them.

I honestly haven't worked out what I'm going to write next. I had an outline for a plan for Lucy's story, but it's not properly worked out or researched yet, and I'm honestly unsure if I want to type Lucy over and over again. As you guys know, she is named after my baby and I miss her terribly.

This will probably sound so gross but I ran out of my chapstick yesterday. It's winter so I'm going through them! Anyway so I knew I had a lip balm in my handbag so I was digging through it and I found it in this pocket I never use. Anyway, there was a Lucy hair stuck to it. Sounds gross but it was like, that belonged to my baby.

Anyway, so I haven't decided whether I want to write that story or just give her an ending in this story, or leave it open to your imaginations. I might even come back to it one day. Who knows.

I do have loads of other ideas swimming around in my head. I have this medieval story that I've been jotting away at for a few weeks. I've got two other 19th century ideas that I think would make for interesting novels as well. I've also had this modern day story in the back of my mind for over a year that I have tried to write for ever but I don't know what it is, I cannot write modern day hahaha.

Okay, you guys vote. Comment on the line of what you want next.

Lucy and *spoiler*'s story -----> vote here. I will get over it and write it for you guys if you want it!

John and Sara. I wrote this plan in February. I don't want to write too much of the plot because these are my ideas, I'm sure you guys can understand that. But this one is essentially about two people who come together because of a debt. Lot's of drama. Love triangles. And a heroine "whom no one but myself will much like" as the great Jane Austen once said. I promise she does redeem herself. -------> vote here.

Peter and Caris. I wrote this recently after watching World Without End and becoming obsessed with the name "Caris". That's how I come up with stories as you guys know. Anyways this story includes old heartbreak, sudden death, near destitution and a marriage of convenience. And lots of drama. ------> vote here.

I'm sure I'll write all three at some point. Just let me know what you guys want to read next.

Vote (for the chapter and what you want to read next!) and comment!!