Finding Bliss

by B L Bierley

  He still held her face in his hands and longed to kiss her again. The towel over her shoulders had drifted away and lay in a heap with her ruined dress on the floor behind her. Eric couldn’t resist the urge to lean over and kiss the birthmark on her shoulder.

  Bliss began speaking, though her voice was crackling with nervousness as she did.

  “I know what you’re destined to do, Eric. You will be a very sought after individual. You will revolutionize the treatment of children! Mothers will insist that you are the doctor who treats their sons or daughters. You will be a credit to any family.”

  “But, I’m just a general surgeon. I’m not a doctor just for children. That’s unheard of!”

  “Well it doesn’t have to be children alone. But you will be good with them. You understand them, and you make them feel better. And the children you treat will love me too! I know it. And I’ll be a good mother to our children,” Bliss added on the end.

  Eric looked up at her face in astonishment. Her demure smile was enticing. He glanced down at her exposed cleavage, suddenly aware that she’s not shying away from him. But then he remembered her warning.

  “But you said I’d be married soon. You insisted I’d be found in a compromising position. But as a doctor I’m allowed certain latitudes with my female patients. Most often a maid is present. And I’ve done everything I could to avoid being with any unattended female. I’ll avoid it if I can, but I don’t want to hurt you, Bliss. Why are you shaking your head?” Eric asked suddenly confused. Bliss sighed.

  “You will marry me. You want to don’t you?” Her face tipped up questioningly.

  “Yes, I do! I love you! I probably have for years, but it took you coming here and hitting me over the head to make me see it! But how will it work? Your father will never allow ...” Eric stopped. He looked at her with an intensity that burned brighter than a candle in the dark.

  “Have you got there at last?” Bliss asked impatiently.

  “We’re going to be discovered?”

  “Not unless you get on with it,” she grumbled. Eric’s face broke into a devilish grin.

  His pulse began to race as he kissed her again, this time putting his hands around her tender shoulders and beginning to unfasten the loosened corset with dexterity only a doctor’s skilled hands could achieve. Her hands moved up to his cravat untying it quickly before moving to the buttons on his shirt front.

  Eric pulled back slightly worried they were going too far. Bliss pulled him back to her, soothing his fears with her soft words.

  “Don’t worry, Eric. I know what I’m supposed to do right now. But you’ll have to do all the work next time. My vision of the very first time is still a bit fuzzy.” Bliss was blushing, and she never looked more beautiful. Eric chuckled at her admission and kissed the side of her neck just as his shirt was parted.

  Bliss leaned in and pressed her barely concealed chest to his and whispered, “I love you, Eric. And don’t forget to duck.”

  “Duck? What?” Eric would have questioned further, but his mouth was soon occupied and all worries and cares went out the window.

  Chapter Thirty

  Penwood’s and Osterburg’s (plus one), Bristol, April 1811

  Ollie fretted below stairs for well over twenty minutes. Most of the guests had gone back to their dancing when the maids came back and said the damage was mostly to her dress and a little bit like sunburn.

  Ollie paced until Ozzie came by and asked Luxie to serve as hostess in Penelope’s place for a little while. He was escorting her upstairs to her salon.

  “Penelope? Are you feeling unwell, dear?” Luxie asked in concern.

  “I’m only having a bit of indigestion. I’m sure once I let my stomach settle, I’ll be back downstairs. Please make apologies for me if anyone asks,” Penelope said, making a face and putting a hand to her abdomen.

  “Ollie, would you come with me? We’ll get Penny settled and go and see how Bliss is doing,” Ozzie told his best friend.

  Ollie and Ozzie each took a side of Penelope and helped her along. Her walk was slow, and she got winded a few times getting up the stairs. Ozzie’s facial expression was serious by the time they’d reached the landing.

  Helping Penelope into her salon, they told her they’d get Dr. Benchley to come in and check on her. Without protesting, she nodded absently as they turned to leave the room.

  “I’m really worried about her, Ollie. She’s been declining so much lately. Not been herself in over five months. I’m worried something’s dreadfully wrong, and we can’t see it,” Ozzie said softly as they walked slowly toward the sitting room door.

  “What does Bliss think? Have you asked her?” Ollie asked looking not in the least bit doubtful of his daughter’s ability.

  Ozzie reached a hand out to open the door to the sitting room before he could reply. Walking in just ahead of Ollie, Ozzie abruptly turned back to shield his friend from what he quickly witnessed in the room. But he was a second too late.

  “What the devil? YOU! Unhand my daughter!” Ollie shouted as he charged into the room like an angry bull and took a swing at Eric. Eric ducked the blow easily and began trying to shield Bliss from her father’s anger. Bliss, on the other hand, wasn’t afraid in the least.

  “You see, Father, this is why I’m marrying so soon,” her face was triumphant. Ollie simply stared at her. The closer he looked at her he realized something he hadn’t seen before.

  “You look very happy,” he said in an off-hand way, as though it wasn’t expected nor was it a usual condition for her. Bliss beamed at him. Eric quickly began buttoning his shirt and tucking the ends. He looked around for his cravat, but didn’t see it anywhere, so he gave it up to have time to explain.

  “My lord, forgive me. I know you probably think I’m not worthy of her. I’m nothing but a surgeon, a plain man. But I love Bliss! I want to marry her as soon as possible. I can’t live without her. Besides that she told me this was my destiny, and I believe her!” Eric turned and winked at Bliss. She smiled as though he’d given her the most extravagant gift money could buy. Ollie cleared his throat to break their attention from one another.

  “Bliss, are you absolutely, one hundred percent certain that this is what you want? Is this how you want your life to be?” he asked her without discouraging or encouraging. Bliss looked back at Eric and gave him a wink of her own before answering her father.

  “I’ve known it was since I was ten years old. I just couldn’t do anything until recently. But as it’s unfolded it is exactly what I expected and better! And he’ll be a fantastic husband! Just wait and see how he is with the baby!” Eric looked confused as Ollie became angry.

  “Baby? You ... did he ... I’ll murder ...” Ollie stammered.

  “OH, no! Not me father! I won’t conceive until a few months after the wedding! I’m guessing it will be around July when we visit the cottage in Brighton! No, I mean Uncle Ozzie’s baby,” Bliss said pointing at Ozzie.

  Ozzie rolled his eyes at the mention. Then he chuckled and shook his head. Eric got a pained expression on his own face.

  “I believe you can see things the rest of us can’t my darling. But I’m still inclined to believe in medical science in this case,” he said quietly going to her and offering her his coat. Bliss accepted the coat and shook her head with a sigh.

  “Someday, my love, you’ll learn you should never doubt me.”

  At that moment, they heard a horrible scream from Penelope’s salon. Eric, Ollie and Ozzie ran from the sitting room and directly toward the salon with thundering steps. Bliss hurried behind them, but not in the same state of agitation.

  When the door opened they saw Penelope standing at the foot of the bed, her hands gripping the post. At her feet a puddle of blood-tinged water had begun to spread out on the beige rug.

  “Penny!” Ozzie said with a frantic shout. But Bliss’s next comment took them all by surprise.

  “Aunt Pen, you really should lie down. Eric will need to get to work b
efore too much time passes, otherwise it will be much more painful for you.”

  Ozzie looked at Eric who was looking intently at the puddle at Penelope’s feet. Ollie gave a chuckle. Eric looked at Bliss with a smirk.

  “Well I’ll be damned! Medical science loses to Bliss,” he said softly.

  “Believe it,” Bliss whispered to him.

  Eric turned and grabbed Ozzie by the shoulder to shake him gently.

  “My lord, you’d best carry your wife to whichever bed she uses to give birth. Have a maid fetch an oiled cloth, a bunch of towels and some warm water. I need a bottle of spirits and some stiff twine. Have all of that brought to the room and hurry,” Eric told them.

  “Childbirth was always slow for Penny,” Ozzie said hollowly.

  “Well this is different. This baby is likely a bit smaller than the other two were. It’s going to go faster. And you’d better be prepared,” Bliss told him.

  She walked over to help Penelope to the head of the bed. Penelope gave her a curious look before another pain hit her hard.

  “Why are you wearing Dr. Benchley’s coat and little else?” Penelope asked through gritted teeth.

  “Oh, that’s right. You haven’t heard yet. Eric and I are going to be married on April thirtieth! Incidentally, Papa, you’ll need to write to the steward and have him alert the garden staff not to sell the ivy and Irish Bells or there won’t be any for the ceremony!”

  Eric’s head whipped around in surprise when he realized his wedding was less than a week away. Bliss looked pointedly at Penelope to redirect his attention. Realizing the salon was likely her birthing bedroom, he hurried up to the head to strip the bed linens and quilts away.

  Ollie took over the ordering of the necessary equipment and sent another maid to fetch Luxie.

  The scene became unusually frantic when Penelope began to curse low and double over.

  “Lady Osterburg, let’s get you ready. Bliss, help her remove her gown first. Anyone squeamish, embarrassed or anyone Lady Osterburg wishes not to have present should get out now!” Eric told the room.

  Ollie took the cue and said good luck to Ozzie as he walked out, still chuckling. Luxie was just coming in as her husband left. She saw her friend looking pained.

  “What’s going on? Ollie sent word that supplies were needed, and the maids are frantic. What’s the matter with Penelope?” Luxie asked suddenly, moving to help Bliss get Penelope onto the bed. Maids continued to scurry into the room and leave basins and toweling, a clean nightgown and leather straps.

  “I thought you had indigestion? How does indigestion become a baby?” Ozzie asked suddenly looking pale and sweating.

  “I thought I was in my changing years! You heard both doctors say that it was just that time! I’ve not been myself, but I thought it was just normal for a woman my age!” Penelope gasped, her back arching and a nearly nonexistent bump seemed to roll up in her abdomen as she did.

  “Did you not gain weight? Weren’t there signs? Cravings? Nausea?” Luxie asked, still disbelieving.

  “I thought I was just suffering the effects of my age. Even the doctors’ opinions pointed out that the two are similar!” Penelope gasped again. Bliss was helping Eric raise Penelope’s legs to slide the oil cloth the maid brought in. Eric then glanced up intently at his patient.

  “Lady Osterburg, I’m going to need to examine you now. Will you give your consent?”

  “Dear, if you’re about to be family, it’s Penelope. And yes, by all means, make it stop hurting!” she wailed. Another pain seemed to take her breath the next moment.

  “How is Dr. Benchley going to be family? What’s that about,” Luxie looked puzzled.

  “Mama, I’m marrying Dr. Eric Benchley. Next week. I saved my pale blue organza and twill for the day. It’s going to be lovely. And we’re going to take a trip to Ireland for our honey month. We’ll enjoy visiting our Patterson cousins! And I’m going to live here in Bristol until I convince Eric to move back to Cardiff and stay in the house he grew up in,” Bliss chattered happily as Penelope grunted and strained.

  Eric, looking at the situation from a different perspective, seemed to frown.

  “What’s the matter, Dr. Benchley?” Ozzie asked in alarm.

  “It’s not serious. The baby is crowning. But he’s gotten a hand up into the birth canal, and he’s facing the wrong way. He’s coming facing up instead of down. That’s only bad for Lady Osterburg. She’ll have to push harder, I’m afraid.”

  “She ... and this shouldn’t be any worse than Maxwell. To hear Mama talk, Aunt Pen pushed and strained for hours with him. He weighed over a half stone! But this little angel isn’t going to be so bad as that, if I’ve seen correctly,” Bliss told the room at large.

  “It’s a girl? I’m having a girl? Oh, Daniel, a baby girl! Oh,” Penelope’s joy was enthusiastic.

  Eric got into position just as Penelope began to strain and bear down. With little more than a count of ten, the baby’s shoulders were out. Eric told her to wait a moment while he used a towel to wipe the baby’s nose and mouth. Then he told her to give it her all. Penelope curled upward and pushed with all her strength.

  “It’s a girl, as if we had a doubt,” Eric announced. Penelope squealed in tearful delight. Ozzie looked over at the squirming infant in Eric’s hands and collapsed backward.

  “Daniel? Daniel? Oh, well, don’t anyone step on him! I’ve got a daughter! Look at her Luxie! A baby girl at last!” Penelope crowed.

  “What are you going to name her?” Luxie asked still in awe.

  “I’ve got a suggestion. How about, ‘I-told-you-so,’ since she will be living proof for the rest of your life and mine that I was right!” Bliss said smugly.

  Eric chuckled as he tended to the life cord and handed the baby to Penelope’s ladies’ maid for further cleaning. Marla looked at the baby and grinned.

  “She’s beautiful, my lady! A perfect little thing! I bet she weighs less than a quarter of a stone! Would you like me to send for a nanny? I’ll bet you never thought you’d see this day,” Marla gushed.

  “I’ll see if Nanny Barbara would like the job. She’s been staying on these last ten years since Maxwell left for school just doing odd jobs because I couldn’t bear to fire her or lose her to another household. I hope she’s up to the task!” Penelope said in a whisper.

  The baby began crying out in earnest. Penelope strained upward to see her. Eric finished tending to Penelope’s condition, which he declared she had come through in excellent shape, letting Bliss and a maid help get Penelope cleaned and dressed in a fresh nightgown.

  Marla laughed and asked someone to fetch a couple of clean flannels, since there obviously wasn’t a layette for the little one. She used scissors to fashion a nappy with one and the other substituted as a makeshift swaddling blanket.

  Ozzie, who was revived with a small whiff of smelling salts as soon someone got a free hand, waited for them to finish cleaning and remaking the bed before coming over to hug his wife. Penelope reached up just as he released her to take the baby from Marla.

  “I can’t believe it,” Ozzie whispered as he peered down at his daughter for the first time. “She’s a miracle!”

  The baby wriggled in the large flannel and opened her eyes to peer myopically upward at the sound of his voice, and in that moment Lord Daniel Osterburg was a goner.

  “Bliss, how can we ever make it up to you for not trusting you,” Penelope asked as she leaned down and kissed the baby’s nose.

  “I know, darling, we should name the baby after her!” Ozzie said suddenly. He looked at Bliss in complete loyalty.

  “How about Erica Bliss Parminder, Lady Osterburg,” Bliss suggested.

  “It’s perfect! Little Lady Erica! My sweet surprise angel,” Penelope cooed. Just then a knock sounded at the door.

  “May I come in?” Ollie called from out in the hallway. An efficient chambermaid had just finished scrubbing the rug and folding the oiled cloth to carry it away.

  “O
llie, yes! Come meet our little Erica Bliss!” Ozzie cried out in a laugh. Ollie entered and walked over. Ozzie rose and took the baby to show Ollie.

  “Guess you’re not as old as you thought, eh? Looks like Penelope has got her daughter at long last!” Ollie chuckled giving the baby a rub on her tiny head.

  Eric took Erica from the proud gentlemen to check her once again for breathing sounds and to make sure her arm wasn’t hurt by its unusual position during the birth. Putting her on the foot of the bed, he unwrapped her, making her scrunch up her arms, legs and face in protest.

  “Sorry, sweetling, I need to check you over,” Eric soothed.

  He manipulated her little limb, turning and flexing the joints to make sure they weren’t compromised or swelling. Then he glanced over toward Bliss. She smiled and nodded with a peaceful smile.

  Turning, he spoke confidently to the Osterburg’s with a smile, “She’s as perfect a baby as I’ve ever seen, Lady Osterburg! You are a lucky woman!”

  Wrapping the flannel back around the naked infant, Eric told Penelope he would come back after they’d had time to nap and check her weight and length. He guessed she was around five pounds and looked to be a bit on the shorter side. It was nothing unusual for a baby no one except Bliss even believed was real until they saw her being born!

  Eric congratulated the Osterburg’s and then excused himself. He pulled Bliss to the side with him and asked what he should do next.

  “If you say we’re getting married in less than a week, then I believe you. But I’m not sure where we’ll live. I live in a boarding suite in a gentleman’s establishment. I don’t know what I can accomplish in so short an amount of time. But if you say it, I’ll trust you. We won’t have any problems,” Eric vowed.

  “Good. Now, I need to go and change into something presentable so that I can go downstairs and tell everyone in the ball the good news. Then we’ll have to find a nice place to be alone for a little while. I have many things to tell you,” Bliss explained with crisp efficiency.

  “Shall I meet you?” Eric asked.