Forgotten what it was like to be loved, and to love in return.
When Iris drew back a few seconds later, her eyes danced. “What a perfectly delightful way to get warm.”
“Indeed. I believe I could use a little more thawing out.”
And he drew her closer to kiss her once again.
Chapter
33
Nolan paced the hallway outside his room. With Hannah’s every scream, impotent fear filled his lungs, making the simple act of breathing near impossible.
Please, Lord, help Hannah. Don’t let her die. I can’t lose her again now that I’ve just gotten her back.
When Edward and Iris left, he’d gone in to sit with Hannah, holding her hand while she labored, until the pain got even more intense and the midwife had shooed him out of the room, claiming she couldn’t work with him in the way. Now he seethed with frustration at his helplessness to aid his wife and child.
Nolan descended the great staircase and peered out the front door, willing his father’s carriage to appear, but masses of swirling snow impeded his vision. He closed the door and paced the area inside. What was taking them so long? They’d been gone for hours. Hours that Hannah had writhed in agony. Nolan didn’t know how much more she could take—or he, for that matter.
At last, he made out the sound of horses’ hooves and carriage wheels crunching over hardened snow. Nolan opened the front door as his father emerged from the carriage. He helped Iris out, and a man soon followed.
Edward entered the house, shook the snow from his overcoat, and removed his hat. “How is Hannah?”
“In tremendous pain. Is this the doctor?”
The man nodded. “I’m Dr. Greenley. I understand your wife is having some difficulty.”
“Yes. She’s on the second floor.”
The man shrugged out of his bulky outerwear, grabbed his bag, and followed Nolan upstairs. Nolan entered the bedroom with him, determined that no matter what the midwife or doctor said, this time he was not leaving Hannah’s side.
His wife needed him, and he would not let her down again.
Edward removed his wet boots and accompanied Iris into the parlor where they took seats by the fire.
At the sight of her anxious expression, he reached for her hand. “It will be all right now. The doctor will ensure the baby is safely delivered.”
“Dr. Greenley is an excellent physician. I know he’ll do all he can.” Yet lines of tension still creased her brow.
Edward’s pulse quickened. He wished he could take her in his arms and kiss away her anxiety. Since when had it become his sole purpose in life to make this woman happy?
Iris squeezed his hand. “Would you do something for me?”
Edward gazed into those arresting eyes and nodded. If it was within his power, he would do anything she asked of him.
“Would you pray with me? It’s the one thing we can do right now for Hannah.”
Surprisingly, he did not find the idea at all aversive. In fact, he welcomed the opportunity to pray with Iris. He bowed his head over their clasped hands. “Of course. Why don’t you begin?”
After giving Dr. Greenley time to examine Hannah, Nolan quietly reentered the room, his eyes trained on the bed where he and Hannah had awoken earlier that day. The midwife stood by the headboard, wringing out a cloth. Nolan’s stomach fell as he caught sight of his wife.
Hannah lay unmoving against the pillows. Her usually lustrous hair hung in lifeless strands over the linens. The thin chemise clung to her chest, damp with perspiration. Suddenly, her whole body convulsed, and she let out a low moan.
Attempting to swallow his panic, Nolan moved forward to grasp her hand. The only other time he’d felt this helpless was at his mother’s deathbed. At that time, he’d asked God to spare her, but the Lord had chosen not to grant his request. Would He now?
When the pain receded, she opened her eyes and gave him a weak smile. “Nolan. You’re here.”
“Yes. And I won’t leave again.” Nolan turned to the doctor at the foot of the bed and lowered his voice. “Is the baby all right?”
Dr. Greenley raised his head. “From what I can ascertain, everything appears normal.” He shrugged. “I don’t know what to tell you. Some women have a harder time than others.”
Nolan gripped the bedpost. “What can I do to help?”
“It’s almost time to push. You can support your wife and lend her your strength once she begins.”
Nolan nodded and, ignoring the midwife’s disapproving scowl, climbed up beside Hannah. “All right, sweetheart. We’re going to bring our child into the world. Together.”
If only he felt as confident as he sounded.
I need you, Lord. Let me be Hannah’s strength now. Use me to help her deliver our child.
“On the next contraction, Mrs. Price, you must start pushing.” The doctor’s firm voice roused Hannah.
She opened her eyes and nodded. “I’ll do my best.”
When the next pains began, Hannah gripped Nolan’s arm with the force of ten men.
On a burst of energy, he helped raise her upper body as she pushed. “That’s it, Hannah. You can do this.”
Her breath came out in panting gasps, then she fell back with a thud. “No. I can’t.”
“Yes, you can. Focus on my voice.”
She lay weakly against him for several seconds until her whole torso stiffened, and another contraction started.
“Again, Mrs. Price,” the doctor ordered.
“Push now, Hannah.” Nolan hoped she would obey without question and that instinct would take over.
She bore down, grunting with exertion, then fell back against him when the contraction ended. With each new pain, she struggled until he thought she would swoon from the sheer effort it took.
How many times had he seen a mare deliver a foal and watched sheep, cows, and even barn cats give birth? Most times the process happened with barely a grunt from the animals. Why was it so difficult for humans? If Nolan could, he’d take every ounce of pain in Hannah’s stead.
Finally, the doctor beckoned to the midwife. “Bring me a clean sheet.”
The woman hurried to do as he requested.
“That’s it, Mrs. Price,” the doctor said. “One more big push should do it.”
Hannah’s groans indicated how hard she was straining. She stiffened, then collapsed against Nolan.
His heart stilled in his chest. “Hannah? Don’t give up on me now.”
Just then a lusty cry split the air.
“Congratulations, Mr. Price,” Dr. Greenley said. “You have a son.”
One thing Edward hated was feeling helpless. Powerless. Out of control.
His grandchild’s life hung in the balance, and there was nothing he could do about it. He stood outside the bedroom waiting for Iris, who at his request, had gone inside moments earlier to check on the progress, since he feared he would go mad if he didn’t know what was happening.
At the sound of a baby’s wail, Edward jumped away from the wall. His heart pumped at a furious rate. Crying was good, wasn’t it? It meant the child was alive at least.
For a moment, Edward’s sole focus centered on the door that hid the secrets of life and death behind it. The child’s cries quieted, and Edward’s palms grew slick with sweat. When he thought he couldn’t stand still another moment, the door opened, and Iris emerged carrying a bundle in her arms.
Tears streamed unchecked down her face, but he couldn’t tell if they were tears of sorrow or joy. Repressing a fierce urge to gather Iris in his arms, he took a deep breath to steady himself for whatever was to come.
“Edward,” she whispered. “Meet your new grandson.” A tremulous smile quivered on her lips as she moved the cloth away to reveal a tiny, wrinkled being with a shock of black hair.
Edward stared down at the closed eyes, fringed with impossibly small lashes, the bud of a nose, and miniature, pouting lips. He swallowed past a lump in his throat the size of a hen’s egg.
“Is he . . . all right?”
“I don’t know much about infants, never having had one of my own, but he appears to be fine. The doctor said his color is good, and he’s breathing well.” Iris raised wide eyes to him in what looked like awe. “I’ve never held anything so precious and . . . new.”
He reached out a finger to touch the petal soft skin of his grandson’s cheek. “I barely remember my daughters being this small.” He frowned. “Why isn’t he with his mother?”
“Hannah lost consciousness when he was born. Nolan won’t leave her side.” Iris’s chin quivered.
Alarm shot through Edward’s veins. How would his grandson survive if his mother perished? “What is the doctor doing for her?”
“He’s trying to stop the bleeding.”
Edward raked fingers through his hair. “We have to do something.”
“All we can do now is pray. Let’s take the baby to the parlor by the fire. Keep him warm.”
Helplessly, Edward followed Iris down the staircase and into the parlor. She took the seat closest to the hearth and motioned him to sit beside her.
“Would you like to hold him?” she asked.
Nerves roiled through his stomach. He’d never held a newborn before, not even his own daughters, and had no idea how to support such a fragile thing. He opened his mouth to refuse, but Iris laid the blanket on his lap.
“Support his head in the crook of your arm,” she instructed.
His arms stiffened like two pieces of firewood as he looked down into the face of his progeny. Gradually the warmth of the small body seeped into Edward’s muscles until they relaxed.
He looked down at the tiny creature cradled there. Never had he experienced such joy and wonder. On this child rested the future of the earldom—a new generation of Fairchilds.
Molly entered the parlor. “Aunt Iris? Did I hear a baby?”
“Yes, dear.” Iris smiled. “Come and meet your nephew.”
Molly rushed over and knelt in front of Edward to peer at the child. “He’s beautiful.”
“Yes, he is. A miracle from above.” Iris held out a hand to Molly. “Now let’s pray for Hannah and this beautiful boy.” She bowed her head.
Edward glanced from the face of the child in his arms to Molly’s fair head bent in prayer. Then he fixed his eyes on Iris. With her eyes closed, her mouth reciting the soothing words, she had never looked more beautiful.
Edward’s heart swelled. This is what had been missing in his life. This bond, this sense of connectedness. Even in the midst of a crisis, Edward had never felt more part of a family than he did right now.
He bowed his head and joined in their heartfelt prayers.
Hannah drifted out of sleep, slowly coming back to consciousness. Her body felt both hot and cold at the same time. She tried to open her eyes, but her lids refused to cooperate. Somewhere in the distance, an animal cry could be heard. The noise grew louder and more insistent until Hannah felt an odd tugging in her breasts.
Fighting the urge to sink back into sleep, a deep instinct urged her to fully awaken. She forced her lids open as the crescendo of harsh sobs climbed.
Her baby!
“Nolan.” She tried to speak, but her voice was a whisper. She cleared her throat and tried again. This time footsteps clattered across the floor.
Nolan’s concerned face appeared in front of her. “Hannah? How are you feeling?”
“Tired. But how is the baby?”
Nolan leaned over the bed and smiled. “Our son is perfect. But he needs to nurse. Do you think you’re up to trying?”
Hannah moved a hand to her chest, felt the wetness there, and realized what had happened. Her body had answered her child’s cries. A rush of joy filled her soul. “Bring him to me.”
Nolan reappeared seconds later with a swaddled bundle in his arms. “The midwife will help if you need her.”
Very carefully, he brought the baby down to her level. He moved the blanket aside to reveal a very red-faced infant.
A lump rose in Hannah’s throat. This was their son.
She untied her chemise and brought the baby to her breast. After a few unsuccessful attempts, the child finally latched on and began to suckle. She marveled at the way the baby and her body knew instinctively what to do.
Tears slid down her cheeks. “He’s so beautiful, Nolan.” She glanced over at her husband, who had been so strong through the whole ordeal, and saw tears in his eyes as well.
“Yes, he is. And so are you.” He pressed his lips to her hair, his shoulders shaking.
“Nolan, is everything all right?”
He smiled at her through water-rimmed eyes. “Thanks be to God, it is now.”
Chapter
34
Three weeks later, Hannah sat in her bedroom back at Stainsby Hall, rocking her son. Though Edward had insisted on equipping the newly furnished nursery with everything Teddy could possibly need, Hannah preferred to feed the baby in her own room where she felt most comfortable.
After the baby’s birth, they had spent more than two weeks with Aunt Iris until Hannah felt strong enough to make the trip home. Now, settled back at Stainsby, Hannah’s world was perfect. She gazed down at her son’s precious face, relaxed in sleep. How blessed was she to have such a wonderful husband and child?
She kissed Teddy’s downy head one more time before reluctantly handing him to the waiting nanny who would put him down for his nap. When the woman left, Hannah released a sigh of pure happiness. Her son should be settled for the next while, so perhaps she’d go and see if Molly’s lessons were over. Now that Edward had accepted Hannah into the family, they all agreed that Molly need not work as a maid, and that she would be better off completing her schooling. Edward had been most accommodating in hiring a tutor for her sister.
Nolan entered the bedroom just as Hannah finished fixing her clothing and re-pinning her hair.
“Our son looks quite content.” He dropped a kiss on her cheek. “I peeked into his room on the way here.”
“He’s always content with a full belly.” Hannah chuckled.
Nolan’s arms slid around her waist. “Like father, like son, it appears. Though there are other appetites I look forward to satisfying.” His lips caressed the area of her neck below her ear.
She shivered. “All in good time, my love. You must be patient a while longer.”
He turned her around within the circle of his arms and winked. “At least there are no restrictions on kissing.”
“None at all,” she murmured as his lips claimed hers. Her heart nearly burst at the intensity of his embrace. As much as Hannah adored being a mother, she also yearned for the love of her husband.
Before things got too heated, she stepped out of Nolan’s arms. “When will Edward be leaving for London?”
“I’m not sure. After being away from Stainsby for so long, he has things to take care of here first.” Nolan frowned. “Speaking of London, I’d hoped Evelyn and Victoria would have come to see their new nephew by now.”
“Not many people enjoy traveling in the winter, even by train.” Hannah laid a hand on Nolan’s arm, wishing she could ease his insecurities concerning his siblings. “I’m certain with time Teddy’s birth will bring this family together. Look at how he’s changed your father.”
“You’re right.” Nolan laughed. “I’ve never seen a man so besotted by a grandchild.”
“Teddy will have the same effect on his aunts once they meet him.” She kissed Nolan’s cheek and crossed to the dresser to retrieve a handkerchief. With the baby, it seemed she was always in need of a clean one. “Perhaps when Teddy is a little older, we can take a trip into London and visit both your sisters. Or there’s always the christening. I’m sure they’ll come if you invite them.”
“Of course. There will be plenty of opportunities to win them over.” He grinned. “And even if my considerable charm doesn’t work, they won’t be able to resist my beautiful wife and son.”
Hannah laughed, having
no doubt that God would answer her final prayer and that the Fairchild family would ultimately be healed, united by ties of affection and mutual respect.
Sometime later, Nolan walked toward the barn and, despite the sleet that fell from the leaden sky, lifted his eyes to the heavens in sincerest gratitude. Never could he have imagined such happiness, such a feeling of rightness in the world.
He was home again with his wife and newborn son. And though his relationship with his father was not perfect, Edward had made remarkable progress over the last few weeks and had finally accepted Hannah into the family. Giving Edward a grandson had gone a long way toward cementing their bond. Naming the child after him hadn’t hurt either.
Nolan entered the stables to check on King, fed him the apple he’d brought from the larder, and then headed over to Bert’s cottage. Nolan had been back at Stainsby for two days, and with having to catch up on estate business, he hadn’t had a spare moment to come down to the barn or the smithy. Now, with Edward gone into Derby on some personal business and Hannah spending some time with Molly, Nolan could at last see how his friend was faring.
Franny McTeague answered his knock. “Master Nolan. Come in, come in.” She beamed at him, easing the tension in Nolan’s shoulders. If she was smiling, Bert must be doing better. “Bert will be so happy to see you. I understand you have some wonderful news to share.”
“Happily, yes. Hannah and I have a new son.”
“Ach, congratulations, lad.” Bert’s hearty voice boomed through the cottage as he emerged from the bedroom. “I knew you’d come to your senses. Finally begged your wife’s forgiveness, I see.”
Nolan grinned. “Not only that, I married the girl all over again.”
Bert chuckled as they took a seat by the fireplace, and Franny scurried off to tend the stove.
“You’re feeling better, I take it.” Nolan glanced at the bandages still partially covering Bert’s hands.
“Aye, but I won’t be able to work for a few weeks yet.”
“I’m glad to hear you’re improving. And I wanted to thank you for your advice. It took a while for it to sink into my hard head, but between you and God and even Edward, I think I’m on the path the Lord intended for me.”
A Most Noble Heir Page 28