Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
“What do you mean that her ladyship is feeling unwell?” Thomas stood up abruptly from the breakfast table.
It had been several days since he had kissed Vivian in the kitchen, and he had not been able to shift it from his mind. He dreamed of it, waking with the smell of roses in his mind.
She had not tried to elicit a kiss from him again, and he could not tell if he was disappointed or relieved. Instead, she had smiled at him and seemed more relaxed around him—more like herself.
His butler gestured to the hall. “Mrs. Bird asked that her ladyship be brought breakfast in her rooms today. Apparently, she is unable to leave the bed.”
“Send for the physician at once.” Thomas threw his napkin down and strode from the hall. “I am going to check on my wife.”
As he walked through the halls, he tried to tell himself that it was nothing to worry about. After all, she had seemed perfectly fine the day before, laughing and teasing him. But if she could not get out of bed today…
There was a cry of pain from Vivian’s room. It snapped his self-control, and Thomas sprinted toward her chamber, flinging the door open as his heart thundered wildly.
“Vivian? Vivian? What is the matter?” He rushed to her side, making several of the maids yelp.
Her face was streaked with tears, and her lip trembled when she saw him. His heart twisted. He sat on the bed beside her, feeling her forehead for some sign of fever.
“I am fine.” Vivian grimaced and clutched her side. “Really, it is nothing.”
“Clearly, it is not. I heard you cry out in pain, and there are tear stains on your cheeks.” Thomas frowned at her. “I was told you do not have a fever, but I have sent for the physician just in case.”
To his surprise, Vivian’s eyes widened, and she clapped her hand to her mouth. “Oh no, please cancel the summons. Really, it would be a waste of his time.”
“Making sure you are well is not a waste of anyone’s time. If you are worried about—” Thomas began, but Vivian cut him off.
“It is my courses!” Vivian blurted, her face turning bright red.
It took Thomas a moment to process what she had said. His own cheeks flushed, and he swallowed. “Oh. I see.”
He tugged at his collar and looked away, spotting a footman who happened to be walking down. He waved the man over. “Kindly tell the physician we have no need of him. If you are swift, you might catch the messenger before he leaves.”
“Of course, my lord.” The footman bowed and hurried from the room.
“I am sorry. I did not expect you to be so worried. I would have tried to come down for breakfast, but—” Vivian began, but Thomas waved her explanation away and looked her in the eyes.
“You have nothing to apologize for.”
“But—”
“I mean it. With any luck, the summons will be intercepted. If they are not, I will deal with it.” He looked at the paleness of Vivian’s face. “Though if this level of pain is not usual for you, perhaps we should summon a midwife or perhaps an herbalist.”
“It is neither usual nor unusual. My courses have always been a little unpredictable, as has the pain they bring. With any luck, by tomorrow the pain will have died down.” Vivian clutched at her stomach and doubled over so violently she nearly tumbled from the bed.
Thomas moved to steady her, gently shifting her so that she was more secure beneath the bedclothes, and waved over one of the maids. “Have Cook brew up a pot of sage tea with honey. There should be some in the glasshouse; if there are none, go to the Duke of Caverton. He will have some.”
“Of course, my lord.” The maid curtsied and left the room.
He turned to face Vivian, who was panting even as she arched an eyebrow at him. “Sage tea?”
“Apparently, it can help with the pain.”
“And how do you know that?”
“When my cousin Cecily first started hers, we both thought she was dying. I took her to Grandmama, who insisted that I learn about such things.” He smiled at the memory of his grandmother ignoring his protests that surely this was not suitable for men to know of.
“As far as she is concerned, men should be prepared for the fullness of a woman’s body, not just the bits he enjoys.
And he should know how to care for a woman in pain. ”
“A rather unusual ah—” Vivian gasped, and her face paled. “Approach. My own mother thought my behavior was dramatic; she believed the best course of action was to stay in bed if I could not make myself fit for company. That way, it would pass with minimal inconvenience to everyone around me.”
Thomas kept his face neutral with an effort. He remembered how frightened his cousin had been when hers had started, how much they still pained her.
I cannot imagine asking someone to simply hide that away.
“She did not suggest anything that might alleviate the pain?” Thomas forced himself not to clench his hands into fists.
“It was not anything she had ever experienced, but my maid, Henrietta—ah.” Vivian gasped again as she nodded to her lady’s maid, who was standing nearby holding a bundle of cloth in her arms. “She prepares hot-water bottles for me to hold, and that helps.”
Henrietta moved forward, and Thomas shifted on the bed to allow her to hand the bundle to Vivian. He studied her face, noting the beads of sweat, then took a cloth from a maid and held it, hesitating before dabbing at her brow.
“May I?” he gestured with the cloth. “I always find it helps me when I am in pain.”
“I shall have to remember that.” Vivian panted, her smile strained.
“With any luck, you will not need such knowledge.” He gently wiped away the sweat, watching as her shoulders relaxed and she eased back in the bed. “And once the tea has arrived, that should help as well.”
“You really do not have to—ah—keep doing this. I do not want you to waste your time.” Vivian let out a groan accompanied by a string of curses that would make even the hardiest of sailors blush.
Behind them, Thomas heard several of the maids gasp. He turned to face them, his face stony.
I will not have them add to Vivian’s discomfort.
“I think it’s best if you leave the Marchioness and me for now.”
The maids filed out, leaving him alone with Vivian, whose face was pale as a sheet.
“I had not realized you were capable of such colorful language.” He arched an eyebrow at her, continuing to dab at her brow.
She swallowed, her eyes wide. “I did not mean to offend. I know such behavior is unbecoming.”
Thomas saw her grit her teeth and knew she was trying to keep from swearing again. “I think we can allow propriety to slide in this instance. I know few men who do not curse when they stub their toe, and from what my cousins have told me, this sort of thing is considerably more unpleasant.”
Vivian let out another stream of curses so vulgar that Thomas could not help but laugh. “How does someone so innocent know such filthy language?”
“My first governess had a beau who was a sailor. She would sneak him in to visit, and well, I think they assumed I could not hear their chatter.” Vivian grimaced, but whether it was from pain or the memory, Thomas could not be sure.
“I did not realize that some of the words were curses until I let one slip at dinner. Father replaced the governess, but it did nothing to remove my knowledge.”
She smiled at him, and he returned the gesture. Then she doubled over as she clutched at her side, her skin turning a delicate shade of green.
“Shall I fetch something for you to be sick in?” Thomas asked, standing up.
Vivian shook her head. “I think I have embarrassed myself more than enough, Thomas, and taken up far too much of your time already. I do not want to be any more in your debt than I already am or for you to think I am a burden.”
“I am not about to leave you while you are in this much pain; I am not heartless.” Thomas gently took her hand in his. “Right now, looking after you is the most important use of my time.”
Vivian’s lip trembled, and she looked away, a tear falling down her face. Thomas’s chest twisted, and he gently wiped the tear away with his thumb. “It is all right; once the tea is here, that will help the pain.”
“I am not crying because of that… It is… it is what my courses mean.” Vivian bit her lip, looking down at her hands, which were clasped together. “I am not with child. I thought perhaps after we kissed the other night, I would be… but clearly not.”
“Why would—” Thomas began, frowning before understanding hit him and his eyes widened.
She really is that innocent.
“Did you think a kiss would be enough for you to get with child?”
“Well, yes. At least everyone kept telling me I had to kiss you so I could get you an heir and secure my future, but… Why are you laughing?” She glared at him.
“I am sorry. I should not laugh. I just… It is sweet, really.” He made an apologetic gesture toward Vivian, who glowered at him. “Child making is considerably more complex than a simple kiss, Vivian.”
“Oh.” Vivian bit her lip. “I suppose that makes sense. If it were simply about kissing, then there would be far more children in the world.”
“Indeed.” Thomas shook his head. “Child making requires significantly fewer clothes and a more… um… intimate sort of connection between those parts that make one a man and make a woman a woman.”
Vivian’s eyes widened, and Thomas felt even his ears turn red as he tried not to think about what he was saying. He decided to change the subject, or at least move away from such racy territory.
Thankfully, a maid re-entered the room, carrying a silver tray with a large teapot and a mug. Thomas took the tray from her and poured Vivian a mug.
“I would drink it while it is hot; it tastes even worse cold.” Thomas handed her the cup.
Vivian nodded and took a sip of the drink, grimacing as she did. “Ugh, this is awful.”
“Add more honey.” He handed her the pot and a spoon. “It will help.”
Vivian did as she was told and heaped several spoonfuls of honey into the tea. Thomas massaged his neck, thinking of what she had just told him.