Page 73 of Pursued Beyond Treachery
He nodded, but when they took up their position, his heart thudded in his chest. A glance at the back of Melior’s gown with a small red stain gave him all the information he needed.
Chapter 24
Lady Stanford’s face was ashen when Susannah entered the carriage, her breathing labored. At the house, Sir Nathaniel swept his wife into his arms and carried her in.
Susannah followed Mr. Kendall to the front parlor where he dashed off a note to someone.
“Who is that for?” she asked, not having anything to occupy her time as she paced nervously in front of the fireplace.
“My uncle. He will want to know of the current situation. ”
She nodded and took another turn of the room. “Where are the others?”
“John will be here shortly, but Al accompanied Javenia and her mother to fetch the doctor.”
Sir Nathaniel entered, panic in his eyes. “Miss Wayland, my wife insisted I call for you. She says you know some about birthing babies.”
Susannah stopped, her eyes widening. It was too soon. “Only what little I remember from when my youngest brother wasborn, but that was six years ago.” How much did they believe her thirteen-year-old mind retained?
“It will have to do.” He grabbed her arm and pulled her out of the room.
“Sir Nathaniel, might you go to the housekeeper? She is sure to know more than I do.”
“Mrs. Clark never had children.”
Susannah wanted to name other servants that might have more experience, but they were already up the stairs and to the Stanfords’ bedroom door. Inside, the room was stifling, the fire having been stoked higher than any other in the house. Lady Stanford lay on her side, sweat on her brow and a tear trickling down her cheek.
“I shall go await the doctor.” Sir Nathaniel dashed from the room, leaving Susannah bewildered.
Slowly, she approached the bed. “Are you in much pain?”
“It is not the pain that distresses me so much as the knowledge that this baby will not—” her voice broke.
She did not need to finish her sentence. Susannah knew it was far too early for the child’s survival. Kneeling down by the bed, she took Lady Stanford’s hand.
“I am so sorry, Your Ladyship.”
“Melior.” She sniffled. “If you are going to share in my grief we might as well drop the formality. Besides, it is still odd to be called by my mother-in-law’s title.” A small smile broke through the grief on Melior’s flawless face.
“And you must call me Susannah.”
Melior nodded, then grimaced. Her features became taut, her hand tightening around Susannah’s.
Panic filled Susannah’s chest as the pain enveloped her friend. Thinking back to Michael’s birth she pulled out the only bit of knowledge she had from her memory. “Breathe, Melior. In and out. Slowly.”
She didn’t know how much time passed in such a manner, but when the doctor finally arrived, she breathed a sigh of relief.
The man crossed to the bed and looked down on Melior, his face impassive. “How long since the pains started?”
“About two hours,” Melior said through clenched teeth.
“Any more bleeding?”
More? Susannah’s gaze flicked back and forth between the two. Melior had been bleeding and yet had still been up and about.
“Yes.” Melior blew out a breath.
“More or less?”
