Edward really was rather adorable throughout the whole pregnancy. He hesitated about leaving for work in the morning and rushed home earlier than usual as if he were afraid that he would miss something. More than once she would catch him staring intently at her stomach, as if he expected it to grow before his eyes.

At night, when they were alone and she was out of her corset, which although designed for pregnancy, still hid the changes of her body, he would always be thrilled when examining the ever growing bump, making a big to-do about the subtlest changes that she had barely noticed herself.

Yes, Edward was excited about becoming a dad and involved himself in getting prepared for their baby to come along more than most men of their social circle did.  He wanted to know what was going on to prepare the nursery and he wouldn’t gently scold Elizabeth if she carried anything that was heavier than a cup of tea. She was pretty sure he would have spoon fed her if she let him. 

A lot of women would have been annoyed, but she found his behavior endearing. And, though he never said it, she was quite sure that he was wishing for a baby boy. Once when he thought he was asleep she heard him whispering to “baby Edward” and she let him have his privacy and continued to doze.

Almost everyday he brought her little gifts despite her protests. Her once bare jewelry box was now filled with countless baubles, bracelets, necklaces, earrings, jeweled combs and hair pins, all sorts of things. She kept insisting it was too much, but he didn’t seem to care. He kept telling her that she’d given him the most wonderful gift ever, her, and she was giving him another wonderful gift, their baby.

When she went into labor in mid-spring Edward rushed home to be with her, or at least be in the house since he wasn’t permitted in the actual birthing room. The birth was far from easy and it lasted several hours. In that time, through the haze of pain she began to worry, and the panic that Edward felt was obvious from the way he alternated between pacing and sitting with his head in his hands in a posture of torment.