Carroll, Laurie - War Of Hearts.txt

by War Of Hearts. txt (lit)

  when she checked her, carefully probing the girl’s swollen

  belly. “How do you feel?”

  “The pain grows,” Liza gasped. Her eyes widened with

  agonized fear. “My mother died in childbed,” she

  whispered. “Will I, also?”

  Alicen swallowed hard, but managed a calm answer.

  “You’re not your mother. With your help, I’ll bring you

  through.” She firmly grasped Liza’s hand. “We’ve yet

  several hours. The babe’s not in position. Stay with me!”

  ***

  Just after midnight, a woman’s agonized scream

  wrenched Jeremy from sleep. Estelle! Disoriented, he had

  gained his feet, sword in hand, before recalling himself.

  His heart thundered as he saw Liza writhing on the cot,

  and the vision of his dying wife faded from his mind’s

  eye. Alicen pressed wet cloths to Liza’s forehead and spoke

  soothingly.

  “Please fetch Rhea, Captain. And tell her ’tis best Pearl

  not attend this lying in.” Alicen glanced up and met

  Jeremy’s gaze. “The child attempts to arrive soon.”

  Her calm tone pleased Alicen, as it belied her inner

  turmoil. Liza had been in labor for two days and now

  bordered on complete collapse. She’d not hold up under

  much more strain.

  When Jeremy arrived with the midwife, Alicen had

  everything in readiness. She hurried to the old woman’s

  side and drew her into the corner farthest from Liza’s

  bed.

  “The child is breech,” she murmured for Rhea’s ears

  only.

  Rhea grimaced. “I suspected such. The labor’s been

  too long for a common birth.”

  Jeremy noted the women’s worried expressions and

  hushed tones. His stomach tightened, and instinct warned

  of danger. He moved closer. “Is there aught you wish me

  to do?” he asked, voice as low as theirs.

  “Do you pray, Captain?” Rhea questioned solemnly.

  “If so, we could use aid from Saint Anne. And Saint

  Gerard.”

  Jeremy raised inquiring eyes to Alicen.

  “The circumstances are dire,” she explained. “We

  may—”

  Liza’s scream brought them all to her bedside.

  Delirious, she thrashed in an effort to free herself from

  the agony.

  The soldier’s mouth went dry. “Is there naught to help

  her pain?”

  “Very little,” was Alicen’s terse reply. “Less than an

  hour ago I gave her a draught of mithridate and treacle

  to speed the labor. But I can give her no more.” It took

  great effort for Alicen not to wring her hands in her apron.

  Fear closed a vice around her heart.

  Rhea wiped sweat from Liza’s forehead and murmured

  words of encouragement. Then she turned, quietly saying,

  “She’s failing quickly and won’t live out the night.” Old,

  black eyes met young, emerald ones. “You’ll have to kill

  the infant.”

  Rhea’s words seared Jeremy. He inexplicably started

  to shake, staring hard at Alicen until Liza’s next chilling

  cry made him jump. Instinctively, he stepped back.

  Alicen bit her lip, mind roiling. Could she save both

  mother and child? Without question, she had to try.

  Mother, what should I do? She closed her eyes a moment,

  listening. Then her eyes flew open.

  “I’ll turn the babe around.”

  Jeremy started, ready to swear he’d heard a voice

  say those very words in an Irish brogue that was becoming

  familiar to him. He felt something brush his shoulder, as

  if someone had moved past him, but there was no one

  else in the hut. He was about to ask if the others had felt

  the same thing, but Rhea’s reaction to Alicen’s proposal

  saved him.

  The midwife gasped. “Are you able to do such?”

  “If I’m unable, I’ll lose either Liza or the baby. Or both.

  ’Tis a hazard I must face.”

  “You’ve the courage of a lioness, my friend,” Rhea

  stated, shaking her head.

  “Courage is simple for me,” Alicen responded through

  a tight throat. “My life will not be lost should I fail.” She

  breathed deeply. Guide me, Mother. “Captain, sit at Liza’s

  head and raise her upright when I tell you to. You’ll have

  to support her until she delivers.”

  “Shouldn’t I go tend the horses?”

  Alicen looked into Jeremy’s stricken face and knew

  he’d rather be anywhere than in that hut. “We need you

  here,” she stated. “Rhea and I can’t do this ourselves.”

  Jeremy swallowed and moved to sit at Liza’s head.

  With a shaking hand, he grasped one of hers. When she

  squeezed back, his eyes flew wide at her grip.

  Alicen stroked the laboring woman’s cheek and spoke

  clearly. “Hold back on the next contraction. No matter

  how you wish to bear down, you must not. Do you

  understand?”

  “I cannot hold back,” Liza sobbed. “I cannot!”

  “You must. Breathe deep between pains. Pant when

  they come. And don’t crush the captain’s hand.” When

  another shudder began to wrack Liza, Alicen moved

  swiftly to the foot of the cot. “Rhea, hold her legs. Captain,

  keep her lying flat for now. Liza, hold back!”

  Liza screamed again. “I must push!”

  “Do not,” Alicen commanded. The baby’s rump was

  between its mother’s legs. “Hold back.” When the

  contraction eased, Alicen said a silent prayer, slid her

  hand in next to the infant, and pushed it back up the

  birth canal. Liza wailed. “Just a bit longer!” Alicen

  encouraged. “In a moment, push all you wish.”

  “I’m going to die,” the woman moaned. “Sweet Jesu,

  I’m going to die!”

  This hopeless cry raised the hair on Jeremy’s nape.

  Bile burned his throat, and he struggled to hold back his

  stomach. A battlefield had more appeal than this. Such

  intense suffering threatened to suffocate him. Sweat

  trickled down his back and from under his arms, and his

  body went rigid with tension. Dear Lord, small wonder

  Estelle feared this!

  “You’ll not die.” Alicen’s voice held steady. “Hold back

  until I tell you to push. We’re nearly finished.”

  “God’s blood, but you’ve a cool head,” Rhea whispered.

  Another pain hit, but with encouragement from Rhea

  and Jeremy, Liza kept from straining down.

  As soon as the spasm passed, Alicen turned the baby

  and positioned its head correctly. Guided by an inner

  vision, her fingers probed to find the umbilical cord and

  assure it didn’t encircle the child’s neck. Satisfied, she

  looked at Jeremy.

  “Please sit her up, Captain.” When this was

  accomplished and the next contraction overcame Liza,

  Alicen caught the woman’s gaze and held it. “Now, Liza!

  Push!”

  Liza needed little encouragement to do so. Grunting,

  she bore down, and the baby’s head appeared.

  “Again. The babe is almost here!”

  Rhea placed her hand on Liza’s swollen abdome
n and

  gently assisted. Liza screamed another agonized cry. On

  the fifth push, the child, amid the fluids and blood of the

  caul, lay in Alicen’s waiting hands.

  “You’ve a son,” Rhea exulted.

  Her lined face broke into a smile as Alicen handed

  her the tiny boy. She tickled the infant’s feet, eliciting a

  gasping cry. Once the cord was tied and cut, the old

  woman went to the basin to cleanse the baby then swaddle

  him in linen.

  Speechless, Jeremy laid Liza gently back onto the bed

  then slumped against the wall and stared at the hut’s

  other occupants, emotions chaotic. He could not honestly

  say he’d relished witnessing the beginning of life.

  Liza’s suffering resulted not from battle but from an

  act he had heretofore performed with little thought to

  more than pleasure. He’d certainly never considered the

  anguish of the woman who bore the fruits of that act.

  Were other men as ignorant of their culpability as he? He

  could almost understand the fear that had driven Estelle

  to purge herself of his child.

  He nearly retched. His head spun, and he realized

  how close and hot it had grown. He needed fresh air.

  “Not as pretty as a battlefield, eh, Captain?” Alicen

  laughed, but the sound was hollow and shaky. “I’m

  surprised the sight of blood so affects such a brave

  soldier.”

  He clenched his teeth, fearing if he opened his mouth

  to reply he’d vomit instead. The wretched vixen took

  advantage of his misery, and naught could be done to

  stop her. He’d have gladly choked her if he thought he

  had the strength for it.

  But her attention was already back to Liza.

  “Rhea, assist me,” she murmured. “There’s much

  bleeding, and I would set some stitches to stop it. Hold

  Liza’s legs.”

  Rhea glanced around, the child in her arms, then

  placed him beside his mother.

  “Nay, not there,” Alicen said, picking up the infant.

  “Does she lash out in pain, he could be injured.” She

  turned to Jeremy, who had risen and was sidling toward

  the door, looking like he’d just lost a major dispute with

  his stomach. “Hold the babe while we attend Liza.”

  If possible, he paled even more. Complete shock

  registered in his horrified expression. “I? I cannot!”

  With a slight smile, Alicen offered him the boy. “You’re

  fearless in the face of death, sir, yet terrified in the face of

  life. I assure you, the lad won’t hurt you.”

  “I might drop him.” Jeremy’s deep voice rose in pitch.

  His hands shook.

  “Just hold him as I show you, and all will be well.”

  She laid the baby in the crook of Jeremy’s elbow, along

  his forearm. “Use your other hand alongside for support.

  Not too tight, now. There.”

  The baby gave a hearty yowl. Unnerved, Jeremy tried

  to pull back.

  Alicen restrained him by grabbing his elbows. “Steady,

  Captain. The lad is fine.”

  “But he’s crying!” Stricken blue eyes pleaded with

  Alicen not to abandon him to this child’s custody.

  She patted his arm encouragingly. “He’s tired, naught

  else. I must see to his mother, or his sleep will be delayed

  longer.”

  With Rhea’s help, Alicen quickly sewed Liza’s torn

  flesh, then disposed of the bloody linen. The midwife

  cleansed the young mother, resettled her, and gave her a

  drink of water.

  “He’s a fine boy, Liza,” Rhea said as Alicen returned.

  “Thank you,” Liza hoarsely whispered. “Thank you

  both.”

  Another yowl obscured any reply, and the three

  women gazed as one at the man holding the protesting

  infant. Jeremy Blaine was misery incarnate. Dazed, he

  stared at the child squirming in his arms. Sweat beaded

  his upper lip, and his face was taut with concentration.

  He stood stiffly, as if afraid to move lest he drop his

  precious burden. He dared a desperate glance at Alicen

  as she went to his side. “I’m hurting him!”

  “Nay, you’re not. Be firm but gentle.” Again she

  repositioned his hand. “You only need hold him a few

  moments more, then he’ll sleep beside his mother.” She

  chuckled as Jeremy gaped at the boy in wonderment.

  “He’s a wee thing,” he said, voice hushed with awe.

  “Aye, but he’ll grow to be a man.” Seeing the captain

  clumsily trying to soothe the fussing babe made Alicen

  smile. “Mayhap you could become a midwife when your

  warring days are done, sir knight,” she lightly teased.

  Intent on the child, Jeremy made no reply. Instead,

  he placed his blunt-tipped finger in the boy’s hand. A

  delighted grin lit his face when tiny fingers curled around

  his.

  “He has a mighty grip for one so small,” he whispered.

  “His is a fierce desire for life.”

  A fierce desire for life.

  Suddenly, the impact of what had transpired hit

  Alicen. Her brazen gamble almost overwhelmed her, and

  her knees began to tremble. She sank weakly onto a stool

  as Rhea took the infant from Jeremy’s shaky arms and

  placed him upon his mother’s breast.

  “The babe needs your touch, lass.” Rhea guided Liza’s

  weakened hands around the child. After the new mother

  had settled her boy comfortably, the midwife moved to

  Alicen’s side. “My friend, ’twas the most incredible feat

  I’ve yet seen. You’ve a dead man’s fear.”

  Too shaken even to smile at the compliment, Alicen

  quietly replied, “I did what I could.”

  “And saved them both! I’ve brought two hundred

  children into the world in near threescore years, but of

  the dozen breech births I’ve seen, this is the first where

  both babe and mother survived.” Rhea’s dark eyes glowed

  in the candlelight. She clasped Alicen’s shoulder. “You

  did well, lass.”

  “’Twas good fortune.” And help from a far better healer

  than I. Thank you, Mother.

  ‘Twas you who saved them, Alicen. I can do no more

  than advise.

  My thanks just the same.

  Alicen felt a warm breath brush her cheek as she

  crossed on still wobbly legs to the basin to wash. She ran

  a cold, damp cloth over her face and across her neck.

  When she turned, she caught Jeremy staring at her, an

  unreadable expression in his eyes. Too preoccupied to

  wonder at it, she let a tremulous laugh betray her

  condition. “Rhea, is there any ale? I’ve ne’er before needed

  a drink so much.”

  “The cask hangs in the well. Fetch it, and pour

  draughts for the captain and me, also.”

  Soon, they raised their mugs in three unsteady hands

  to salute the miracle of birth.

  Jeremy drank silently, unable to tear his gaze from

  the boy who now slept upon his mother’s breast. Liza

  fairly glowed, plain features transformed to true beauty.

  It astounded him that, after her ordeal, s
he yet had

  strength to hold the child against her.

  “I’ll spend the next several nights here,” Rhea stated,

  breaking the silence. She met Alicen’s weary eyes. “Best

  you return home. You look spent.”

  Jeremy noticed that Alicen barely managed a nod.

  “Get yourself to your bed, lass.” Rising, the old midwife

  hugged her. “If aught goes amiss, I’ll send word with

  Pearl.”

  “Do not delay in doing so.” Alicen briefly grasped Liza’s

  hand, stroked the baby’s dark head, then left, Jeremy at

  her heels.

  They rode without speaking. The eastern sky showed

  faint lightening as they followed the Great North Road

  toward Landeyda. At this hour, the highway was deserted.

  A cool breeze blew at their backs, forcing them to a more

  purposeful gait, and thus they continued for several

  moments.

  Charon’s easy canter lulled Jeremy deeper into his

  musings on the two days past. He’d witnessed life’s

  beginning. Held a newborn infant! Respect for women’s

  resiliency and strength grew within him. And while

  Estelle’s betrayal still seared, Liza’s incredible effort to

  bring forth a babe awed him. He’d seen warriors unable

  to endure far less pain, far less effort.

  He shook his head and cast a glance at the woman

  riding beside him. For someone who’d just delivered a

  child—and saved the mother’s life as well—Alicen showed

  amazing restraint. Perhaps exhaustion tempered her

  happiness.

  “You never let your doubts hinder your actions,” he

  stated abruptly.

  Alicen started up from her own thoughts and shot a

  wary glance at him. “And if I said I never have doubts?”

  Jeremy smiled. “I’d say you lied. You questioned

  yourself last eve, but like a good general you weighed the

  outcomes, took your chance, and triumphed.”

  She straightened in her saddle. “Never compare me

  to a soldier,” she snapped. “I’ve naught in common with

  killers.”

  Her heated response crackled in the cool air.

  “Forgive me my clumsy attempt at praise,” Jeremy

  retorted. “But, loutish warrior that I am, I admire courage

  and decisiveness. All great leaders have those traits.”

  Alicen suddenly felt like a petulant child. Indeed, she’d

  acted as such. Her defiance crumbled. “Have a care,

  Captain,” she said softly, “else I’ll begin thinking I have