Chapter Twenty - Three
"My lady, 'tis Anne! The babe is coming!"
The maid blurted out her words then ran from the room.
Gillian pushed herself from her chair, running a calming hand over her belly.
The babe settled. She'd anticipated this day for weeks, but now that 'twas here, a strange apprehension rose.
She strode to the hall, calling for Thomas. The steward appeared before her.
"Fetch the midwife. Anne births her child."
"I've already sent for her, my lady."
Gillian nodded and set herself to the preparations for the birth, ensuring the stool was brought in and plenty of blankets to swaddle the babe. By the time the midwife arrived, Anne screamed in pain.
"I cannot bear this agony!"
Anne's panicked shouts roused a responding alarm in Gillian's stomach.
She leaned against the wall, a strange weakness seeping into her limbs.
She closed her eyes against the sight of Anne's huge belly contracting and quivering under the strain of her labor.
Anne continued to yell, her cries piercing Gillian's ears.
At least this morn, she'd awoken without that great pressure on her lungs, making it difficult to breathe. She needed a clear head through this.
"Take deep breaths and pant like a dog, my lady," said the midwife, Maida. "'Twill help the pain."
Anne seemed not to hear, continually bawling and cursing.
Gillian rubbed her belly, the child inside moving in fierce, agitated motions.
For several hours, Anne cried out while Maida barked orders.
Gillian seemed to feel each pain as it contracted through Anne's body, knowing that in a few short weeks, she would be facing the same agony.
Fear rose up and despite her hatred for her former stepmother, Gillian shared more empathy with the woman than she'd ever imagined.
She stepped still closer, surprised when Anne grabbed her hand, squeezing hard.
Jesu, the woman had the strength of an ox!
A piercing wail from Anne and another order from Maida broke through Gillian's unfocused thoughts. Again, pain grabbed the red-haired woman and she squeezed Gillian's hand with such force, she thought her fingers had been broken.
"'Tis a boy!" Maida's triumphant cry preceded the infant's wail. Anne slumped weakly against the stool and closed her eyes as the midwife tended to the babe. His mewling cries drowned the sound of her stepmother's gasping breath.
"Give me my son." Anne weakly reached for the babe. Maida swaddled the child in clean cloths and handed him to his mother.
Maida set about cleaning up the afterbirth.
Gillian remained silent, watching Anne with her child.
Burke's child. The babe of a traitor. What would happen to him once his parents were tried and likely executed?
Fearing Edward would be ruthless toward the helpless infant, Gillian already formulated a plan.
Convincing Royce to support the notion would take some work, but she felt sure she could. ..
"My lady, take the babe!"
The panic in Maida's voice indicated something terrible.
Gillian reached for the infant, alarmed at how pale Anne had grown.
She looked at the floor, eyes widening to see copious amounts of blood pooling beneath the stool.
Much more than there should be. As she drew the crying child away, Anne made a feeble attempt to hold onto him.
"My baby. I want my baby."
"Let Maida tend you," Gillian said, rocking the wailing baby.
He was likely hungry but she could do nothing for him now.
Had the wet nurse been summoned? All she knew was the distress in the room had grown palpable.
She stepped away to let Maida and the others work, but with each passing second, realized whatever had gone wrong could not be fixed.
Anne quickly lost consciousness, her limp body falling to the floor.
"Summon the physic," Maida ordered, sending one of her young assistants in search of the one person who might save Anne. A moment later, Maida shook her head and stood. "'Tis too late. She is gone, my lady."
Gillian gaped, unable to comprehend what had happened and how it occurred so quickly.
Anne, dead? One look at the woman's waxy countenance and blankly staring eyes, and Gillian knew it to be true.
Yet, what she'd so desperately longed for all these months seemed strangely unsatisfying. Sad. Near tragic.
As if he sensed his mother's death, the child's screams grew louder and more urgent. Gillian cooed to him and cuddled him close, but it wasn't enough to quiet him.
"Maida, send for my husband. And the wet nurse."
As she rocked the infant, a sharp pain stabbed into her belly. Breathless, she hurried to the bed, fearful she might drop the newborn in her arms. Something seemed wrong, or was it simply the sudden passing of Anne that sparked the pain?
"Maida, I think something is wrong with me."
The midwife carefully drew a blanket over Anne's unseeing face and studied Gillian. She folded her arms and shook her head.
"'Tis a bit early, but it looks as if your babe is anxious to be here as well, my lady."
Gillian shook her head. "Nay, 'tis impossible. I can't possibly be ready to..."
"Ready to what?"
Royce stood in the doorway, a scowl darkening his face. His stare moved from Gillian and the babe to Anne's body on the floor.
"What happened?"
"Anne birthed her son. Then she... died. There was so much blood, and –"
Another pain, a tightening of her belly, stole the rest of her words. She gasped and shook her head. 'Twas too soon. The babe shouldn't be born for at least another month.
Royce was at her side in a moment, alarm gleaming in his golden eyes.
"What is wrong?"
"I think Maida might be right. Our babe comes as well."
"Are you sure?"
"No, but she knows better than I. Maida?"
The midwife took the baby from her arms and handed him off to another maid. Just as she was about to speak, a gush of liquid ran between Gillian's legs, soaking her, her gown and the bed.
"'Tis time, my lady. Your waters have broken and your baby is coming today."
Gillian grabbed hold of Royce's arm. "Nay, 'tis too soon. Make it stop!"
"Babes come when they are ready," Maida replied, her tone too calm for Gillian's liking.
"My lord, you must help me get her to your chamber where she can labor in comfort."
Gillian's protests went ignored as she was led from the chamber down the corridor. She looked around for the maid with the baby, but didn't see her.
"Where is the child?" Her panic made her voice weak and shaky.
"He will be well-cared for. The wet nurse has arrived and will feed him. Have a care for yourself."
Royce's tone bordered on a command but the urge to laugh at his worried expression vanished as another wave of pain gripped her back and abdomen. She bent forward, trying to ease the terrible cramping sensation, but it did little to soothe the discomfort.
Royce's gaze grew troubled, adding to Gillian's worry.
He held her close by his side, moving carefully so as not to pain her further.
But another slice of agony cut into her and she couldn't contain her cry.
Royce bent and gathered her into his arms, cradling her bulky body.
She clung to him trying to restrain her sobs.
Royce obeyed Maida's orders and laid Gillian in the bed. He sat beside her, taking her hands in his. His eyes never left her face, his concern feeding into her apprehension.
"Something is wrong." His tone sparked still more distress.
"Nonsense, 'tis the way of things," Maida said, bustling about the chamber. The door opened and a tub of hot water was brought in, just as had been done for Anne.
"She is in pain. Ease her suffering!"
Gillian might have laughed at Royce's order if she wasn't so afraid. She squeezed his hand.
"There is nothing to be done. It will stop when the babe comes." Maida busied herself arranging blankets and cloths, and instructing her assistants.
When Royce looked at Gillian with such deep concern, she almost wept. Recollections of the cold, hard warrior who had arrived so many months ago sprang up. Not even a year had passed and knowing this fierce man loved and protected her, possessed her, left her breathless.
"My lord, you must go now." Maida stood with fists on her hips, a disapproving scowl etched into her round face.
"I'm not leaving." He scowled at the woman. Somehow, a giggle escaped Gillian.
"But 'tis not proper!" Horror widened Maida's dark eyes.
"Madame, this is my home. I am lord here and will remain."
"'Tis all right," Gillian said. "I would like him to stay with –"
Her words dissolved into a strangled moan, this time the sensation of a knife twisting in her gut sucking the breath from her lungs. Maida's protests ceased and she set herself between Gillian's legs.
"Very good, my lady. There is plenty of time yet."
"Plenty of time? How long must my wife suffer?"
With the wave of agony behind her, Gillian squeezed Royce's fingers, a weak attempt to calm him. His fierce expression did not soften.
"Several hours at least. 'Tis normal for a first child."
"Several hours? Not acceptable! I will seek someone else."
"My lord, forgive me, but there is nothing anyone can do now." Maida pressed on Gillian's belly. Shouldn't that hurt? Instead, it felt as though a great pressure eased inside.
"Royce, there's no one else!"
He glanced sharply at her. "I will not stand by and watch you suffer for hours!"
Another squeeze of her belly left her panting. "'Tis how a child is born."
One look into his face and he knew he shared her thoughts about how Anne had suddenly died moments after her son arrived. She held his stare, lifting her chin. It earned her an arched eyebrow and a scowl, but he said nothing more.
"Sit with me and hold my hand. I'll need to –"