Page 44 of The Earl Takes All
She rolled her head from side to side, once again squeezing her eyes shut. “I’m scared, so scared.”
He was terrified as well, but he couldn’t let her know it, couldn’t let so much as a drop of his terror seep out of him. It would only serve to reaffirm her fears, cause her to panic. “Julia.” He placed his hands on either side of her face. “Look at me, look in my eyes.”
Finally she did, and he had never been more sure of anything than he was of this. “You will not lose this child. And I will not lose you. I won’t allow it.”
“You cannot control fate.”
“Fate owes me on this. I will not let anything happen that will cause me to lose either of you.”
Blinking back the tears, she nodded, her mouth going into a firm line signaling that she was as resolute as he. “Yes, all right. But it’s not time.”
“Apparently this little one is of the opinion that it is. So let’s have a little faith here. Relax. Be strong. Be brave. We have a child to bring into this world.”
Chapter 11
Howcould she not believe him when he sounded so certain? A calm settled over her as she watched him yank on the bellpull that would summon her maid.
“Do you think it’s because of what we did last night?” she asked.
He looked at her, conviction mirrored in her eyes. “Absolutely not.”
“How do you know?”
“I should think this would have happened last night.”
She wanted to believe him, so at least she could sweep away the guilt. “He’s coming a month early.”
He sat on the edge of the bed, took her hand. “Maybe not quite. How can a physician accurately determine the date of delivery when he doesn’t know the exact moment of conception?”
“I suppose you have a point.”
“Trust me, Jules, you’re not going to lose this one.”
Wanting to believe him with every fiber of her being, she nodded. “Yes, all right.” Another contraction hit her, and she squeezed his hand, almost certain she heard bones crack, although since he didn’t yelp, but only folded his other hand over her shoulder, she had to be mistaken.
The pain receded, she breathed deeply. The door opened and Torrie stepped in.
“Have someone ride into the village to fetch the physician,” Albert barked.
“In this weather?”
“In this weather. Find a servant who knows something about delivering babies. Then get yourself back up here to help your lady change.”
Torrie pressed her hand to her mouth. “Oh, my dear lord. Is she—”
“Yes, now go tend to matters.”
Torrie ran from the room, her pounding footsteps echoing up the stairs.
“I do so love it when you’re forceful,” Julia said.
Laughing, he leaned down and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Later, we’ll discuss less dramatic ways for you to encourage me to be forceful. For now, let’s see about getting you into your nightdress, shall we?”
By the time Torrie returned, he had all the fastenings undone on her dress. Stepping aside, leaving Torrie to help her with the final stages of getting into her nightdress, he went to the fireplace and stoked the fire.
As Julia was settling beneath the covers, Mrs.Bedell, the housekeeper, walked in. “It’s been a good many years since I helped me mum deliver her last bairn, but I was young enough that it made an impression.” She turned to Albert. “You go on now, your lordship. We’ll see to Lady Greyling and the little one.”
“Not bloody likely,” her husband said as he shoved a chair nearer to the other side of the bed, then dropped down into it and took Julia’s hand.
