“You know we can’t do that. For once we’re one step ahead of Pallister and I don’t intend to waste that advantage.”
“Damned cowards. Exploiting a lady for their own ends.”
“Stop worrying. I have Denby flooded with our people. There are half a dozen reliable men keeping her within their sights at all times. She’s perfectly safe.”
Rob sighed. “I know.”
“Come on, little brother. Let’s go home. Your contessa’s now on her way there herself and we’ll hear from her own lips how it went.”
They cleared the village and retraced their steps across country at a brisk canter, no further conversation passing between them.
As soon as they stepped into the house, using the side door from the stables, Potter materialized, looking uncharacteristically ruffled.
“What is it, Potter?” Hal demanded, sharing a glance with Rob. “Is it her ladyship?”
“Yes, my lord. Meg and Miss Beth are with her upstairs.”
“Dear God, I knew it!” He ran a hand through his hair, almost dislodging his long locks from their habitual queue in his anguish. “I never should have left her.”
“Try not to get too agitated, Hal,” Rob said. “There’s plenty of time yet.”
Hal shot him a look. “That’s easy for you to say. Has someone sent to London for the physician, Potter?”
“Er, no my lord. Her ladyship said it wasn’t necessary yet.”
Hal looked fit to explode. “Who gives the orders in this house?”
“Her ladyship did ask for the midwife to be brought from the village.”
“Is she here yet?”
“The boy only just left, my lord.”
“Send an express to the physician in London at once, Potter.” Hal took the stairs three at a time. He reappeared a short time later, joining both Rob and Gabe in the small sitting room. “What the hell’s keeping that damned midwife?”
“How is she?” Rob asked.
“She sent me away,” Hal fumed.
“Ah, so she’s still herself then.” Gabe’s effort at levity failed to remove Hal’s ferocious scowl.
“I knew something wasn’t right today. I never should have left her.”
“Sorry, Hal, I’m to blame,” Rob said. “I shouldn’t have visited the contessa’s problems on you at such a time.”
“You didn’t. I offered, remember. Leah assured me her confinement wouldn’t be for several more weeks yet, otherwise I’d have—”
“Babies tend to make their own minds up about these things, I’m told,” Rob said, sharing a smile with Gabe. Neither of them had ever seen their suave, iron-willed brother in such a state before, and couldn’t help enjoying the moment just a little.
The door opened and Electra stepped through it. She glanced at the three men, probably sensed the tension in the atmosphere and sank into the nearest chair. “What’s wrong?”
“Leah’s confinement has taken us by surprise,” Rob explained.
“Ah, is that all?”
Hal swung round, clearly about to give her a piece of his mind but somehow restraining himself. “Excuse me, contessa, but I fail to share your casual attitude.”
“I apologize, Lord Denby. I understand your concern, but as one who’s been through a confinement, I can assure you it’s not nearly as dangerous as people would have you believe.” Her soft smile appeared to reassure Hal. “Women have been producing babies since time immemorial.”
“True, but—”
Potter entered the room. “Unfortunately the midwife has been called to a farm some distance from the village, my lord. A difficult birth that’s likely to keep her there for some hours.”
“Ye gods, will nothing go right for me today?”
“Who’s with Lady Denby?” Electra asked.
“Meg, her old retainer, and her sister.”
“Perhaps I should take her sister’s place? A confinement is no place for an unmarried girl.” Electra flashed a brief smile. “It could put her off marriage for life.”
“Would you mind, contessa?” Hal asked, grasping her hand.
“Not in the least, but I ought to advise you that the wait is likely to be a long one. First babies have a habit of taking their time.”
“But you will send word if there are any complications, and dangers...” Hal swallowed and touched her arm. “Any dangers to Leah?”
“Of course. Try to relax. Gentlemen,” she added, turning towards Rob and Gabe, “do what you can to keep Lord Denby calm. We don’t want his agitation communicating itself to mother and baby.”
Hal fixed Electra with a worried gaze. “Can that happen?”
“Oh yes,” Electra said, turning her head to one side and offering Rob a wink that Hal couldn’t have seen. “I’ve heard of many such instances.”
“Did everything go well in the village?” Rob asked as he opened the door for her. “I saw your brother was there.”
“Yes, there were no complications.” She glanced at Hal, who appeared frustrated by even this slight delay. “We’ll talk about it later.”
“She has a unique sense of humour,” Gabe said, laughing as the door closed behind her.
“I see nothing to laugh about,” Hal grumbled.
“Who’s laughing?” Rob asked, struggling to keep his lips straight.
“God, no one told me it would be this bad,” Hal complained, moving to the sideboard and pouring substantial measures of brandy for the three of them. “Gabe, if you’re not set against getting leg-shackled, then you ought to know that Garman intends to call again later in the week and propose to Beth.”
An elongated pause greeted this statement. “I suspected as much,” Gabe said, a little too casually.
Rob elevated a brow. “And that doesn’t bother you?”
Gabe shrugged. “Should it? Garman’s a good chap. I’m sure they’ll be very happy together.”
“Who will be?” Beth asked, choosing that moment to enter the room.
“No one you know,” Rob said.
“How’s Leah?” Hal asked.
“No different to when you saw her five minutes ago.” Beth bit her lip in an obvious attempt to contain a smile. “I’ve been dismissed. The contessa and Meg appear to know what they’re doing, which is more than can be said for me.”
Hal shot her a look. “So I should hope.”
Beth headed for the door. “I shall leave you gentlemen to talk about whatever gentlemen talk about when one of them is about to become a father for the first time. I’m sure you’ll be more comfortable without having to moderate your language because of me. I shall be in the morning room if you have need of me.”
“Don’t leave if you’d rather not,” Rob said. “It’s not every day we get to see Hal lose his composure.”
Hal’s scowl bounced harmlessly off Rob’s amused expression.
“You have no need of me.” She turned to Hal with a charming smile. “I believe you’re supposed to pace the floor and mutter beneath your breath.”
“You read too many penny novels,” Hal replied caustically.
“Did the contessa manage to tell you how it went?” Gabe asked after Beth had left them.
Hal’s head shot up, as though he’d just remembered. “We should have asked her about her meeting this afternoon.”
“She indicated to me that it all went according to plan,” Rob said. “She can tell us more later.”
“Wouldn’t it have been easier just to take her brother back when he appeared in Denby this afternoon?” Gabe asked.
“A great deal easier,” Rob agreed. “But when Hal heard Pallister was involved, it changed everything.”
“Following them to France might come to nothing,” Gabe said. “I doubt they’ll be staying anywhe
re public.”
“Even so, it’s the best way to go about things.” Hal paused in his pacing long enough to contribute to the discussion, then resumed it.
“You’ll wear a hole in that rug,” Gabe told him.
“It’s my damned rug.”
Rob and Gabe exchanged a smile.
“We don’t need to accost the scoundrels, just get close enough to identify them,” Rob pointed out, returning to Electra’s problems. “Anything Pallister puts his grubby hands on worries me, especially if our family’s in any way involved.”
* * *
When reassuring the marquess, Electra hoped she seemed more competent than she actually felt. She remembered little about the experience of giving birth and was working solely on instinct. So too, it seemed was Meg. She had attended confinements before but had never actually given birth herself. All this money and splendour and that’s the best we can do for the lady of the house.
Lady Denby, in obvious discomfort, glanced up at her. “How’s Hal?” she panted.
“Beside himself,” Electra replied, laughing.
“Don’t worry about him, lamb,” Meg said. “Think about your own situation.”
“That’s precisely what I’m trying not to think about,” Leah said, groaning as another pain gripped her.
As the hours passed, Lady Denby became increasingly distressed, and Electra began to worry.
“Something isn’t right,” Meg said in an undertone to Electra. “I’m unsure what we ought to do.”
“What can be keeping that midwife?” Electra glanced at Lady Denby and panicked.
She placed her hands on the marchioness’s abdomen, trying to remember precisely what the people who attended her had done. They sought to find the position of the baby’s head, so that was what she did. Dannazione, she was sure the baby hadn’t fully turned but had absolutely no idea what to do to right it. What would Lord Denby do if this went wrong? If Lady Denby or his unborn child didn’t survive? It wouldn’t be her fault but she knew he would blame her. He didn’t trust her as it was, so she would be the obvious target for his grief and anger.
What was wrong with her, thinking about herself when Lady Denby was clearly in so much distress?
Lady Denby cried out, reminding Electra how she’d felt when Augusto had been born—as though she was being ripped in two. What she wanted to tell her ladyship was that the pain of a long confinement was forgotten the moment she cradled her beloved son in her arms. Determined to help Lady Denby to the extent of her limited ability, Electra shared a glance with Meg.
“I’m going to try and turn the baby,” she whispered. “I think it’s in the wrong position.”
Meg nodded. “Do you know how?”
Electra shook her head. “Not precisely, but if I don’t try, then...”
“I understand. Just do what you can.” Meg moved to Lady Denby’s side and wiped her soaked brow with a cloth. “Not long now, lamb.”
“What’s happening?”
“I’m going to help the baby along,” Electra replied in a confident tone. She remembered how sure of themselves the people attending her had been and how that confidence had communicated itself to her. “Then it shouldn’t take much longer.”
“Just relax,” Meg said soothingly.
Lady Denby groaned. “You try relaxing in this condition.”
“Bring your knees right up, Lady Denby, and try to relax your tummy muscles as much as you can. I know it’s hard, but it would really help me if you could do that.”
Lady Denby grimaced. “I’ll try.”
Electra took a deep breath, endeavouring to quell her nerves. If she got this wrong, which was a distinct possibility, the baby could finish up with the birthing cord wrapped around its neck. Dear lord, whatever made her think she could do this? Images of Augusto flashed before her eyes and it was as though the small boy was in the room with her. His presence gave her fresh resolve and she was no longer afraid. She might have had her child taken away from her but she was damned if Lady Denby would suffer a similar agony while there was breath in Electra’s body and strength in her hands to prevent it.
Cautiously she placed those hands on Lady Denby’s stomach and applied pressure.
“Remember to relax your muscles,” she said.
“It’s hard to relax when my instincts tell me to push.”
“Whatever you do, don’t push!” Electra applied more pressure but nothing appeared to happen. She pressed a little harder, causing Lady Denby obvious distress. “I’m sorry, but I have to do this.”
“I know, but it hurts like the devil.”
Meg wiped fresh perspiration from Lady Denby’s brow. “Be brave, sweetheart.”
Electra exerted more pressure, wondering if it was possible to cause damage by overdoing it. At this point there was nothing to lose and she pressed harder still.
“Something moved,” Lady Denby said exultantly. “I felt it.”
“That’s good.”
Well, Electra hoped it was. Either way, there was nothing more she could do and there was still no sign of the midwife. Lady Denby screamed as another contraction gripped her. Electra felt her stomach again and gasped with relief.
“I think it’s going to be all right,” she said quietly to Meg. “Now then, Lady Denby, when the next pain comes, you can push this time.”
“Grip my hand, lamb,” Meg said.
It happened very quickly after that. Lady Denby screamed as the pains came faster and she pushed with each one. Finally the baby’s head appeared.
“You’re doing really well,” Electra cried, truly moved. “One more push should do it.”
Electra guided the baby from her ladyship’s body when the next contraction came and he slithered into her waiting hands.
“Oh dear lord,” the marchioness cried, falling back onto her sodden sheets, jubilant but totally exhausted. “Is the baby all right?”
“Absolutely perfect,” Electra replied, tears of joy and regret clouding her eyes.
Electra cut the cord, slapped the baby’s bottom and was rewarded by a howl of protest. Laughing now, she wrapped the baby in a blanket and handed him to his mother, while Meg dealt with the afterbirth.
“Let’s get you cleaned up, lamb,” Meg said, also crying. “I don’t think we’ll be able to keep the marquess out for much longer.”
* * *
Daylight turned to darkness. Food was delivered but not touched by Hal. Slumped in chairs, the men had run out of conversation. When midnight passed and there was still no news, only Hal wasn’t struggling to keep his eyes open.
Finally, at three in the morning, Hal jerked upright. “Did you hear something?” he asked. Rob and Gabe shook their heads. “I thought I heard a child’s cry.”
Before he could ascertain if he actually had, Electra appeared in the doorway wearing a blood-streaked apron and a broad smile. “Would you like to come and meet your son, Lord Denby?”
Hal stood up and blinked like an owl, speechless for the first time in Rob’s recollection. “How’s Leah?” were the first words he could manage.
“Exhausted, but otherwise absolutely fine.”
“I have a son,” he said slowly, an incredulous smile gracing his features. “I have a son! Leah was convinced it would be a girl.”
“I believe she told you that just to tease you, knowing how much you wished for a son.”
Beth appeared, wiping sleep from her eyes. “A boy?” she asked, blinking. Electra smiled and nodded.
Rob shook Hal’s hand, slapped his shoulder and expressed hearty congratulations.
Hal was suddenly all action. He took the stairs three at once for the second time that day and disappeared inside his wife’s bedroom.
“Well,” Rob said, stretching his arms above his head
and yawning. “I don’t suppose we’ll get to see the infant before morning, so I’m for bed.” He smiled at Electra. “Thank you for helping. Goodness knows what Hal would have done, had you not been here.”
Their gazes locked. “I was glad to be of some help, especially after all your family has done for me.”
“You ought to retire,” Rob said. “You look all done in. I’ll escort you up and you can tell me all about your meeting with your brother as we go.”
“Gladly.”
As they walked together up the stairs, Rob was acutely conscious of the sway of Electra’s hips. They almost touched his body as they climbed, and his mind was no longer on her meeting with her brother when they stopped outside her door. Even so, he needed to ask her about it. “Was Vincenzo well?”
“Yes, but furious at the way he’d been treated. He tried to escape and would have attempted it again but they threatened to hurt me if he did.”
“That’s just the sort of cowardly reaction I’d expect from the likes of Maynard.”
“Yes, I agree.”
Her lush mouth, and the way her lips parted, shiny and wet when she spoke, captivated him. He closed the distance between them, pulled her against him and crushed her mouth beneath his. Passion swirled through him as she recovered from her surprise and responded with unbridled enthusiasm.
Rob broke the kiss far sooner than he wanted to. It was that or tumble her onto the bed on the other side of that door and keep her there for a sennight.
“We’ll get him back safely tomorrow,” he told her, breathing heavily. “Never fear.”
“You believe me,” she said, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “You didn’t, not completely, but now you do.”
“I didn’t disbelieve—”
“Shush!” She sent him a radiant smile as she stood on her toes to stroke the side of his face with a soft touch. “You don’t need to explain. I understand your dilemma better than you imagine. Good night.”
And with a swirl of petticoats and waft of gardenias she was gone.
Chapter Seventeen
“I ought to be leaving,” Electra said the following day, seated in the small salon with just Lord Robert for company.
Finessing the Contessa Page 17