STARRY EYES ⎯ BRIDGERTON

001. Thornharts

"Rachel, my dear, we are not having a girl." Francis sighed, setting his newspaper to the side and stared at his wife.

After her usual checkups with her doctor, Rachel had found out she can no longer have any more children. This was her last pregnancy and Francis wanted to make it count. He needed someone to pass down the Thornhart last name and he would hate to have another girl be added to the mix. It had to be a boy, it just had to.

"Francis, you never know. I have a gut feeling it's a girl."

"Well, your gut feeling is wrong. We are having a boy and that's final." Francis stood up from his chair and started walking out of the living room. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll be in my office."

Rachel frowned as she watched him walk away. She didn't like the man he was turning out to be. He cared more about passing down his last name than caring about the baby that was growing inside her. Rachel knew, in her heart, she would always care for her kids, she didn't care about the titles or their last names, Rachel only cared about the well being of her kids.

"Don't listen to him, he's just becoming a grumpy old man." Margaret voiced out as she brought Rachel some tea. "I'm sure he'll be happy once the baby arrives."

"I'm not too sure about that." Rachel thanked Margaret for the tea as she took a sip. "He's very adamant about the baby being a boy. I'm afraid of what he'll do once the baby arrives." 

"Don't stress too much on it dear, we need to keep you relaxed, it's not good for the baby."

Rachel nodded her head, drinking more tea before placing it on top of the living room table. "Athena, what would you like? A baby brother or a baby sister?"

Athena looked up from her drawing and gave her a toothless grin. Athena was only 8 years old but knew so much for age. "I would like a sister, someone who I can play dress up with."

"I'm glad to hear that sweety." Rachel smiled at her daughter, seeing the glint of excitement in her eyes. She was glad not every Thornhart thought the same.

"Now that you've finished your tea, why don't we bring you upstairs and run you a bath. I'm sure you're awfully tired." Margaret gently took the cup out of the pregnant woman's hand and placed it on the table. "Athena, why don't you run upstairs, I'll have Rose run you a bath as well."

Nodding her head, Athena got up from the floor and rushed upstairs. Leaving her pregnant mother and caring nanny downstairs. Rachel carefully stood up from her seat, when suddenly a sharp pain coursed through her body, immediately sitting back down.

"The baby's coming!" Rachel managed to say as she grabbed her stomach in pain.

"Oh, dear. Joseph, help me bring Lady Thornhart to her room!" Margaret yelled, trying to soothe the pregnant woman who was shaking from the pain. "We have a baby to deliver."

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"You've got this Lady Thornhart. One more push, come on." Maragret calmly spoke, seeing how far along she was. "I see the baby's head."

Drops of sweat were covered throughout Rachel's body. She honestly forgot how painful it was to deliver a baby and she was glad this would be her last moment in doing so. She tried to stay calm, focusing on pushing her baby as quickly as possible for their sake but the pain was unbearable, the pain only seemed to increase the more time went on. The poor woman screamed in pain as another contraction went through her body. 

"Just like Lady Thornhart, you can do this." Margaret encourages the young woman.

The sound of a crying baby filled the room, another life was born. Rachel sighed in relief, tears running down her face as she saw a glimpse of her baby. After months of waiting, the long hours of labor, Rachel got to meet her baby.

Margaret cleaned the baby with a wet towel, while also trying to soothe the wailing child who was yet to stop crying. After managing to clean the baby up, Margaret had managed to look at the baby closely confirming the gender of the child.

"Congratulations Lady Thornhart." Margaret smiled, passing the baby to the mother. "The baby's beautiful."

Francis couldn't hold it in anymore. He had spent hours in front of the door, waiting for Margaret to let him in or at least tell him that his wife and son were alright. But the more time went on, the more frustrated he was. Without thinking twice, Francis burst through the door, watching the scene in front of him. His beautiful wife covered in sweat and tears, holding the baby in her arms. Francis walked closer to his family, getting a clear view of the baby who was now sound asleep.

"So, are we naming him after me?" Francis asked looking at eyes who stared back at him with an unreadable expression.

"It's a girl, Francis." Rachel quietly spoke. She looked away, afraid to see his reaction to the news.

Many emotions circled through him as those words echoed through his mind. He was hoping for a boy, someone who was going to pass down his last name, to make him proud, to become just like him. He wanted a boy, not a girl.

"There has to be a mistake, maybe you didn't see correctly." Francis shook his head, there was no way his last child was a girl.

"I may be old but my eyes have yet to deceive me." Margaret sternly told the man. "Your second child is a girl whether you like it or not."

"This can't be Rachel. We can't have a girl." Francis ignored the old woman as he ran a hand through his hair. "Our last child can't be a girl."

"I'm sorry love but she's beautiful and she'll be an amazing addition to the family." Rachel tried to reason with the man, the baby had no fault in this situation. "I'm sure once you hold her, you'll change your mind."

Francis immediately shook his head. "I don't want to be near that thing."

Margaret huffed, sick of the man's attitude. She was in disbelief with what she was hearing, the way he spoke, the way he acted, it disgusted her. Instead of consoling his poor wife and making sure she was alright, he was adding more distress than relief.

"If all you're going to do is complain, you might as well leave. You're stressing the poor woman." Margaret pointed to the door, slowly walking to the side of the bed.

As the door slammed shut, tears ran down Rachel's cheeks once again, this time, for different reasons. Holding the baby tighter in her arms, Rachel tried to control herself. She knew how much Francis wanted a boy but she didn't expect him to act like this. Rachel was disappointed in the man she married, she wanted nothing more than to stop the pain she was feeling at the moment.

"Don't listen to that man, he doesn't know what he's talking about." Margaret wiped the sweat and tears from Rachel's face. "Why don't we think of something more important, what will you be naming this beautiful girl."

Rachel looked down at the baby and caressed her cheek. The baby looked so peaceful, unaware of the darkness that lurked around her. She was in her own little world. Rachel smiled, immediately thinking of the perfect name that suited the little one.

"Persephone. She'll be named Persephone Thornhart." Rachel looked at Margaret who nodded her head, loving the name already. "Throughout the darkness that lurks around her, she won't fear it, she'll thrive, become stronger."

"An Angel between the darkness."

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! Author's Note !

─◌✰್ I am so excited to finally start this book. It's been in the works for a while but I decided to finally release it!

─◌✰್ I would also like to say that this book isn't going to jump straight into season 1 of Bridgerton. Act one is solely based on Persephone and her family, of course James will pop up but not as much.

─◌✰್ Anyways, don't forget to vote and comment. Enjoy♡