There’s a shock for Belle Dingle (Eden Taylor-Draper) in upcoming Emmerdale episodes when she discovers she’s pregnant. This is, of course, something she dreaded happening.
She previously told husband Tom King (James Chase) that she didn’t feel ready for a baby even though he was keen for them to start a family. She tried to continue taking contraception without him knowing but he found her pills and in the ensuing argument he punched her.
Tom’s coercive control of Belle has continued, with him even taking the despicable measure of drugging their dog to force Belle to come back from a mental health assessment unit where she’d gone to try to work though the crisis brought about by Tom’s treatment of her.
So when she discovers that she’s pregnant it’s not welcome news, as Eden Taylor-Draper told us.
‘She feels apprehensive as it’s not what she wants at the moment but also worried as she knows it’s the only thing Tom wants. She doesn’t want him to know as he will be so excited.’
While Belle is still thinking through her options, with the help of some leaflets that Wendy (Susan Cookson) has given her, she tries to hide the news from Tom until her hand is forced by a moment of pure fear.
Eden explained what happens. ‘He’s embarrassed as Cain (Jeff Hordley) has had a go at him for selling Belle’s car, Mandy (Lisa Riley) had her opinions too, so he’s getting really cross with Belle for supposedly bad mouthing him to her family for what he’s done.
His temper rises and it looks like he’s about to hit her when Belle blurts that she is pregnant. So she only tells him to stop him hitting her. She didn’t mean to tell him.’
Belle heads to an appointment at the surgery (Picture: ITV)
With Tom’s anger turning to tears of joy, Belle urges him to keep things just between the two of them. Tom says he’ll be a better husband and Belle starts to hope that he’s sincere and perhaps their relationship might have turned a corner.
But despite Belle wanting to keep the pregnancy quiet, Tom can’t resist telling Rhona (Zoe Henry) the news. Belle’s heart sinks when she goes to the cafe and Jimmy (Nick Miles) and Nicola (Nicola Wheeler) congratulate her, with the pregnancy already the talk of the village.
‘Belle knew he would do this,’ Eden sighed. ‘I think that is why she just wanted to have some time – to put the brakes on a bit. She is aghast when she walks into the cafe and Jimmy, Nicola, Paddy (Dominic Brunt) are all congratulating her.’
There could be some hope for Belle, though, as nurse Wendy has started to realise that all might not be well in the King marriage.
‘Later Tom has booked her another appointment,’ Eden revealed. ‘Wendy is very surprised to see her again and I think queries what is going on. She tries to talk to Belle alone.’
Will Belle be able to confide in Wendy?
