Chapter 25
15 th April 1816
Charles tapped his foot in a furious rhythm upon the floor. Would this interminable night ever end? A hand pressed upon his knee.
When he looked over, Lord Richmond smiled. “Driving us all mad with that incessant tapping of your foot will not force the babe to come any sooner.” The earl had surprised Charles by signing upon his arrival to Bathwick. The family he had gained by his marriage to Georgie was more than he could have ever imagined. They accepted him without reservation. He could not have dreamt of such a family, much less being part of one.
“It has been ten hours. Something is wrong.”
“Nothing is wrong,” said Henry. “Janey and Mrs. Darcy are both with Georgiana. One of them would have come down if a problem arose. They would not withhold such information.”
A glass was shoved into his hand by Darcy. “Here. This will be of aid,” he signed.
Lord Richmond took the glass and set it on a side table. “Yes, because Georgiana would want him in his cups when he finally meets his child.”
Charles scoffed. “One glass will not put me in my cups.”
Henry took the brandy and handed it back to him. The strong liquor stung as he took a sip. It was no use. Charles rose and handed the drink back to Henry. When he paused at the window, the beginnings of dawn were creeping over the forest in the distance. They had just been about to settle for the night when Georgie’s pains had begun. He had wrapped his arm around her, his chest to her back, when the muscles of her abdomen had clenched mercilessly against his palm.
They had sent for the midwife, who had ejected him from the bedchamber the moment she had arrived. At least if Georgiana screamed, he would have no knowledge of it.
“You could not have remained if you were going to worry as you are. Darcy and I were both present for the births of our children.” Henry had leaned against the edge of the window while he signed.
“I would have been no good to her. I could not bear to see her in pain.” Henry’s gaze shot to the ceiling as he winced. “What is it?”
“You do not want to know.”
No, if she screamed, he certainly did not!
Charles clenched his hands into fists, his knuckles white. “I never thought it would take so long.”
“Lady Richmond once laboured for over a day,” said Lord Richmond. “That was our son’s birth—our first. Like you, I did not remain. I was in my cups by the time I met James. My younger brother had given me brandy and port until I even became insensible for time. They had awakened me when I was to finally see the babe. My wife was not best pleased, though she did forgive me.”
Charles poured himself another glass of brandy, but Hatton stopped him before it was full. “No more. I know this is hard, but she will be well. The birth of Seamus was difficult for Fiona. She laboured for what felt like days then screamed with every push. No one had told me at the time that our babe came out buttocks first. We have no guarantees of more children, but Fiona is hopeful. Even after the misery she underwent, she wants more. I do not understand it. I do not know if my heart can withstand another birth such as that one and I was not in the room.”
“Just because the first was positioned wrong, does not mean they will all be,” said Darcy. “My mother had a child after me who was positioned in such a way, but from what Mrs. Reynolds has told me, Georgiana’s and my births were not unusual in any manner.”
Lord Richmond wagged a finger. “I remember your brother. Harold became ill at four months of age and did not survive. The fever was too severe. We visited Pemberley to condole with your parents. Only we had not lost any children at that time. We could only imagine what they endured.” The older gentleman’s gaze became distant. No one would mention that Lord and Lady Richmond no longer needed to imagine such a circumstance. They had not lived it once, but twice.
After clearing his throat, Lord Richmond clapped his hands together. “I can tell you my wife and I would be pleased to be honorary grandparents to your children—if you do not object. Georgiana’s parents were our good friends, and we would welcome telling their grandchildren tales of them, their uncle, and their mother.”
“You are family,” said Charles. “You are welcome to act as their grandparents if you wish it. Georgie and I would never object.”
Charles downed the finger of brandy in the glass, but when the door opened, he nearly choked. Was it finally over?
“Georgiana has requested you come meet your child,” said Lady Richmond.
Hatton stepped forward. “You will not tell us if it is a girl or a boy?”
“I am not to say a word while Lord Bath is present. He has to meet the child to discover its sex.”
Each of the men slapped him on the back as he walked towards the door. Everything in him was poised to run, to hasten to Georgie as fast as he could. He would not calm, after all, until he was assured with his own eyes she was well. Regardless, he kept his composure until he reached the hall.
He took the stairs two at a time until he reached the floor with the family suites. His feet carried him with swift steps until he stood in front of the door to the mistress’s bedchamber where his hand shook as he released the latch and stepped inside.
Georgie sat propped against a headboard of pillows with a swaddled bundle in her arms. Dark circles framed the undersides of her eyes. She was exhausted but wore a smile that drew him to her like a bee to honey.
He sank onto the mattress and leaned forward to kiss her. Every bit of his love and relief was meant to be conveyed in that meeting of their lips, so he drew out the connection. Until this moment, he had been a nervous, frightened, and shaking mess of a man. He needed Georgie. He would never be able to breathe without her.
As soon as he released her, he turned to sit beside her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. His free hand drew the swaddling back from the baby’s face. The babe’s mouth puckered, suckling.
Georgie bent towards him as her eyes met his. He accepted his child into his arms as he continued to stare at the little one’s features.
“What do you think of your son?” signed Georgie.
A pang tore through his chest and his eyes burned. A son? He would have been pleased with any child as long as it was healthy, but a son? He had never considered how such news would make his life seem richer.
After swallowing hard in an effort to relieve himself of the lump in his throat, he blinked rapidly. “ I believe he is the most handsome child I have ever seen. ” He turned his head so his gaze could meet his wife’s. “ But I should not be surprised. He has the most beautiful mother in England .”
One side of Georgie’s lips quirked up. “In just England?”
“ Very well. In the world .”
She rested her head against his shoulder. “I am exhausted,” she signed.
“ Then sleep. I shall keep watch over the two of you .”
“You will need to sleep too. I know you were likely awake all night as well.”
He laughed and shook his head. “ I was not pushing this one into the world .”
“No, you were likely sitting in a chair, staring into the fire, and tapping your foot until my brother or Lord Richmond ordered you to stop.”
He frowned. “ How can you know that?” Had she a spy in the library ?
“Because I know you.”
“ I am not sure I could have remained in the library wondering what was happening much longer .”
Her tired eyes took in their son while she adjusted his blanket. “We never seriously discussed names, so what shall we name him?”
“ Darcy ?”
“You would name him for my family?”
“ He is a part of you, so why not ?”
She glanced down at their son. “Darcy Christopher Fitzwilliam Granville.”
“ Viscount Landsdowne .”
Her eyes widened. “He has a title?”
“ Yes, Simon never had children, so the title had yet to be used .”
“That is a mouthful of a name.”
He caressed his son’s head. Darcy had a shock of chestnut hair, but whether it would curl as his uncle’s did would not be known for some time. “ Maybe, but he will live up to it. Will you not, little one? ”
The babe’s face screwed up and he yawned.
“At the moment, I believe he would prefer to sleep, as would I.”
Charles stood and set his son gently in a cradle beside the bed. He shed his coat and his shoes before climbing in and taking Georgie in his arms. She was safe and where she belonged—in his embrace. Forever.