Page 81 of Her Daring Earl
“You know one another?” Fitz asked, looking back and forth between them.
“I do. Your sister has been instrumental in a few of the births I have attended,” the physician said. “She is very good at what she does.”
Fitz knew that Dot would excel at anything she chose, but he had no idea to what extent she had accomplished her work.
“Now, let’s have a quick look at you,” he said as Dot kindly yet firmly pulled Fitz back and away. He reluctantly followed her, although he wasn’t entirely pleased about it.
He stood as close as he could, arms crossed over his chest as he watched the physician with Eliza. It wasn’t long until Hudson stepped back before explaining his thoughts, addressing all of them.
“Lady Dot is, I believe, correct,” he said. “My best advice is to try to keep your life as calm as possible until the baby arrives. Can you do that?”
“I sincerely hope so,” she said, and Fitz nodded.
“I promise it will be so,” he said. “Whatever she needs.”
“I’m glad to hear it,” the physician said. “If you need me for anything at all, you know where to find me. In the meantime, I will be off to see to my brother-in-law.”
“I imagine that is not for the first time,” Fitz said wryly.
“Not at all,” Hudson laughed. “The man is forever getting himself into one scrape or another. If not on the job, then at home.”
“At home?” Eliza asked.
“Let’s just say that his wife has a propensity for taking in every stray animal she has ever laid eyes on. Not all are as friendly as they should be.”
“I see,” Eliza said, even though she still seemed curious. Before she could ask more questions, however, it was time she rested.
“Thank you, Doctor,” Fitz said, shaking the man’s hand. “We appreciate all that you do.”
He walked him to the door, giving him a generous payment before returning to Eliza.
“Now,” he said. “You have had quite the day. Best get you to bed.”
She pushed herself up to a sitting position, but before she could start walking upstairs, Fitz bent down and scooped her up in his arms.
“Fitz!” She laughed. “What are you doing?”
“What I should have done a long time ago,” he grunted. “Used brute force to take you where you are supposed to be.”
“I am perfectly fine to walk,” she said, even as she snuggled her head into his shoulder.
“That may be so, but you will have your every need looked after for the rest of this pregnancy, understand?”
“Very well,” she said, looking up at him with a smile.
When he made it to the top of the stairs, he took her right into his bedroom, lying her down on the slightly bigger bed.
“I need to prepare for bed,” she said. “My maid will be waiting.”
“I shall tell her that she can retire for the night,” Fitz returned. “I will be taking care of you.”
He did so as gently and tenderly as he could, lying her down and removing all of her garments before helping her to don her nightgown, wiping her face, her hands, and tucking her into the blankets.
“Will you lie with me?” she asked, holding her hands toward him.
“Of course.”
He huddled in under the covers with her, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her in close against him.
