Page 129 of The Secret Love of a Gentleman
‘Very well, but ring if you need me,’ she acquiesced, and left the room, but left the door ajar.
Rob lifted the covers and reached beneath the sheet to find Caro’s hand. It was warm and clammy. He brought it out and held it on top of the covers.
‘Have faith,’ he said over her hand and kissed the back of her fingers, then leaned and kissed her cheek. Her skin was salty with dried tears.
Her eyelids flickered and her eyes opened.
‘Rob.’ Her voice was loaded with emotion. ‘I am losing the child.’ Her fingers closed about his hand, holding firmly.
‘No, you are not. There is still a heartbeat.’
A tear slipped from a corner of her eye.
He leaned and kissed her lips, then rested his other hand over hers as it held the child in her tummy, his hand on top of the covers and hers beneath. Something jerked within her.
‘Caro.’ Their gazes met. ‘Did it move?’
‘Yes.’ She smiled.
‘If it can kick or hit out, we have a fighter. But you should never have doubted that because you are a fighter, and a survivor. This child will be too. It must be a girl, who takes after her mother. Are you still bleeding?’
‘No, it has stopped. But there was so much blood.’
‘If I threw a glass of red wine across the bed it would appear much more than it is. Lie quietly now and let us see if she will kick again.’
Another sudden thrust of movement beneath his hand made him grin.
‘I have been so afraid,’ Caro said.
‘I understand. I am not a doctor, but I will take his word that the child’s heartbeat is strong, and I will pray daily our daughter is born healthy.’
‘I shall too.’
‘What happened to you was nothing compared to what I will do.’ Rob heard the threat in Kilbride’s voice. He was still unsure who the threat had been directed at, and he would not see Caro suffer any more. He had to stop Kilbride.
Caro’s eyes closed and her breathing slowed as her hand stroked her stomach.
‘I will stay with you until you fall asleep,’ he said. ‘If you sleep, the child might sleep,’and I will go out and resolve this, I will not let that man hurt you or our daughter again.
He waited until her breathing steadied, her bosom lifting and falling in a slow rhythm, then released her hand and left the room.
He hurried along the hall, his uneven strides urgent, fighting against the stiffness of his wounded leg. ‘Mama!’ he called, as he neared the drawing room.
She came out almost immediately. ‘Is all well?’
‘Yes, but I need to go out. Will you sit with Caro? She is calmand sleeping. We felt the child move, so we have hope it will survive. Is Harry here?’
A questioning frown creased her forehead. ‘He is, but he is in bed. I believe he came back about two hours after sunrise.’
‘Which room is he in? I need to talk to him.’
‘Second floor, fourth door on the right.’
‘Thank you.’
‘You are good for Caro,’ his mother stated.
‘She is good for me,’ he answered.
