A Refuge at Highland Hall by Carrie Turansky

underfoot and William’s closeness. What a comfort he was. How thankful she was for their life together and the blessings they enjoyed. If only…
    She bit her lip.
    “So, what do you think of having a house full of children?”
    His words pierced her heart, and her steps faltered.
    He glanced down at her and stopped, his eyes reflecting his regret. “I’m sorry, my dear. That was not how I should’ve phrased my question.”
    Julia shook her head. “It’s all right.” She tried to swallow away the tightness in her throat, but it was useless. It had been almost seven weeks since she’d lost the baby, but her heart still ached. She’d only been twelve weeks along, but she’d let herself hope everything would be all right this time, but it wasn’t.
    She’d lost their first baby a little over a year ago, only a few days after she’d told William she was pregnant.
    He pressed his hand over hers. “I love you, my darling. I wish there was more I could say or do.”
    She looked down. “I know you do, and I’m grateful.”
    “Our time will come. I’m sure of it.”
    Julia’s eyes burned. “Are you?” She lifted her gaze and swallowed, trying to hold back her tears. “I hope you’re right, but I’m not certain of it anymore.”
    Compassion filled his eyes. “You are young and healthy, and the doctor says there is no reason we can’t try again soon. We must not lose hope.”
    She nodded, but an ache weighed on her heart. After losing two babies, it was hard to imagine any other outcome. What if God had a different plan for them? What if William’s children, Millie and Andrew, were the only ones who would ever call her mother? Could she accept that?
    She loved them dearly, but her heart yearned to hold a babe of her own, one born of the love she and William shared…a baby with his eyes and her nose or some other feature that stamped the child as their very own.
    “Papa!” Millie ran down the gravel drive toward them, and Abigail hurried after her, though she couldn’t quite keep up.
    Panting and smiling, Millie skidded to a stop beside them, her red curly hair blowing across her face. She brushed it away and looked up at William. “It’s almost time, isn’t it? Ann said we might come down and ask to wait with you.”
    William tousled her hair. “So, you’re eager to see your cousins?”
    “Yes, and the children.” Her blue-green eyes glowed as she hooked arms with Abigail. “We think it will be great fun to have more children at Highland. I’m sure we’re all going to get along well and become good friends.”
    Millie was such a cheerful, optimistic child, but her words sent questions thrumming through Julia’s mind. The children Jon and Kate had taken into their home came straight off the streets of London’s East End, where poverty and crime were the norm. Most had no parents, and they had received little education or training before arriving at Jon and Kate’s.
    Memories of the young girls she cared for in India rose in her mind. They’d been abandoned by their parents or rescued from a terrible life of slavery in the temples. A shiver raced down her arms as she recalled some of the painful stories the girls had told, describing how they had suffered.
    While her experiences in India had prepared her to cope with this new group of children, she wouldn’t have her parents on hand to help this time.
    A ripple of unease traveled through her, but she told herself not to worry. The main responsibility of caring for the children would fall on Kate, but she would need help from William and Julia, as well as Penny and the rest of the staff. Especially since Jon must stay in London. Handling a dozen children, no matter where they were born or raised, was not an easy task, and it would take teamwork to bring about good results for them and for the children.
    Off in the distance, two cars pulled through the main gate and made their way up the drive toward the house. A wagon followed behind, stacked