6 Shock and Horror

"I swear, Gerard. If I had known earlier, I would have kept that stupid old man alive!!!" Frederick ranted his heart out to his housekeepers in the staff pantry.

"I'm sure you would, sir," the Head Butler agreed as he listened attentively to his master's drunken vent.

"Damn right I would. I would torture him the same way he did to the poor girl."

While Gerard was busy communicating with their boss, the rest of the staff were busy exchanging glances. They were not sure whether they would want to hear gruesome stories of who had been killed and the whys and the hows. After all, the lesser they know the better.

Of course, time is another issue. Considering it was already too late a night, they would want to go back and rest. However, they were hesitant and afraid to leave since it was the first time Mister Mortcombe came to mingle in their pantry.

Underneath the table, they were nudges and kicks between themselves as the staff challenged each other to make the first leave. From the Head Chef to the housemaid, it finally reached Gerard, the Head Butler. He signalled the rest to wait for the perfect timing before leaving.

"Yes, sir. He definitely deserved to be punished for his action. Maybe you would like to carry on the conversation with Mister Rafael, sir?" humoured the Head Butler and provided a suggestion so the rest could scamper.

"Nooooo... He's going to stick on her like a leech! Can't have that!" Frederick shuddered at the end of his statement but his head was swaying side to side with his eyes shut.

"Definitely not, sir," he said while waving his hand to dismiss everyone.

One by one they scoot. They stood on their toes and tiptoed like a conga line to the door. Half were already exiting the area and celebrated their successful escape. But upon hearing their Mister Mortcombe murmurs, they instantly froze and their curiosity piqued.

"You know what, though? That poor girl," was what Frederick Mortcombe muttered as his head slowly rested on his arms on the table.

"Psst, Maria. Who is Mister Mortcombe talking about?" one whispered.

"I don't know. Could it be the girl in his room?" Maria questioned back.

"The poor Princess... Is being artificially inseminated by her own family," the drunk man continued.

"ARTIFICIALLY INSEMINATED???" yelled the rest in chorus as they shuffled back to their seat.

"Now now, children. Mister Mortcombe is drifting to sleep. Off you go," Gerard pushed them away as he instructed one of the security team to hold up their boss to bed.

"Aww, Geraaaard. What if Mister Mortcombe has more to share?"

* * * * *

"Gerard, can you check what is Rafael scheduled for today? Do it discreetly, please," Frederick commanded as he read his morning paper.

"Yes, sir."

The Head Butler took three steps away when Frederick changed his mind.

"On second thought, give him an errand in the next city. I want him out in an hour for the whole day."

"Will do, sir."

When Gerard left his room, the scheming villain strode toward his secret wardrobe and knocked.

"Sleeping Beauty, you awake?" He placed his ears over the wooden door. He knocked again impatiently.

"I'm awake," replied his prisoner.

He instructed her to get ready in an hour as they will be leaving for an ultrasound visit. Audrey came out looking stunning in a knee-high skirt with an off-shoulder frill crop blouse.

Frederick was horrified. He regretted ever buying those even though he was not aware of the situation then. Sexy and eye-catching as it looked, he knew her confidence level was not that high yet. "Do you want to wear this?" He asked with unintended shock and knew it sounded wrong the moment it left his lips.

"These two are the only decent match to wear that is two-piece," said Audrey in defence.

'Damn it, Fred. Why didn't I buy long pants?!' he swore internally.

"Don't get me wrong, Princess. You look amazing. But what about the long dress I bought for you?" Frederick looked at her exposed scars, worried it would attract unwanted stares and cause her anxiety.

"I just thought it's easier this way."

"I have no issue if you want to wear that. But if you are choosing to wear them because you think it makes other people's life easier, then please go back inside and change."

Audrey walked into the car with a new outfit, earning a small curve on the young lad's face. "Shall we go?"

They reached their destination and went straight to the doctor's office. Frederick waited outside the curtain while she was lying on the examination bed with her midriff uncovered and her bottoms were wrapped with his jacket.

"How's the baby?" He asked from the other side of the curtain.

"You can come in, sir," the doctor invited him once again.

The villain growled at the ridiculous suggestion, prompting the doctor to quickly vocalise his findings.

"The baby is in good health. Two complete hands with ten fingers. Two legs with ten toes. Head. Body. Good. This is the spine and this is the heart."

The sound of woosh woosh quietened the room, as though the baby's heartbeat greeted them with happiness. Soon after, the doctor came out and gave the ultrasound picture to him, who explained diligently what's what to the unfamiliar eye.

"The baby is currently around 18 weeks—"

"Is it too late to... you know?" He asked innocently.

The room fell silent and awkwardness filled the air. It was when the sounds of metals clanging to the floor did the doctor shook his head and blubbered, "That. That is... Up to the mother to decide b-b-but I would strongly disagree with the. Ehem."

Audrey came out with tears running down her cheeks and her hands on her stomach. For the first time, Frederick witnessed Audrey voicing out her feelings.

"Please don't kill my baby," she begged.