She leaned over and rested her hand against the table as she held her stomach with the other till the pains passed. She couldn’t help but wish that her mother were here with her now, for she didn’t knowing if she was brave enough to deliver this child from her body without her help. She walked awkwardly to the side of William’s bed and sank down onto her knees and she prayed. “… Spare my life and the life of my child when it is delivered from me...” She could hardly speak from the onslaught of tears as she buried her face in William’s cloak and held it to herself. Her thoughts turned to William, a man who had loved her, and protected her… and then to Garrick and the hard words he had spoken to her, words that she knew were true despite her heartache. She sank onto the soft bed and covered herself with William’s cloak; soft sobs filling the quiet empty room that left nothing in its wake…
When she awoke it was nearly midday; she laid there looking up at the canopy above her, uneasy thoughts still swirling in her mind. The child moved hard again and she frowned waiting for the pain to go away before she rose shakily and went to the door, she paused then lifted the latch not at all sure if she really wanted to leave ‘them’ into her world all over again or not. But finally, she opened the door and peered at the stern face of the guard beside it asking that her maid come and attend her. Emma came moments later with a tray and a frown on her weathered face; she set it down and looked at her mistresses again. “Is there anything else?”
Miranda shrugged. “…I—I wish to speak with the healer and the midwives without the men knowing… I—I do not know how to deliver this child and I would speak with them to steady my anxious heart.”
The older woman nodded without a word and left.
It didn’t take long and the women came to see her. Each reassuring her and telling her how it would be for her. She listened and worried and wished even more that her mother could be with her through it all…!
Garrick felt uneasy as he watched the women whispering among themselves before they went up to her; he stood from his seat by the hearth and stopped the healer with a frown as he took her to the side. “Is there aught wrong with the lady that we should know about?”
“Nay, m’lord.” She glanced at the stairs and lowered her voice. “The girl is merely afraid of the trivial of childbirth and asked to speak with us in private.”
He nodded solemnly. “She is well then?”
“Aye, I believe so.”
He frowned and shifted on long legs. “How much longer do ye think till the babe is delivered?”
The older woman frowned lightly considering his words. “Ah now, ‘tis hard to tell… the babe has settled low, ‘tis a good sign, I would think perhaps a fortnight.”
He couldn’t help but frown. “A fortnight?”
The older woman smiled. “She is young and healthy, m’lord; she should have no problem with the childbirth though she be slender.”
He frowned even harder at the thought of the girl dying in childbirth or even worse watching her try to go on after she’d lost both William and his babe… So much was riding on one young girl, it was hardly fair…
It had been two whole days and she had yet to allow anyone but her maid into William’s chamber. He’d promised himself that he would give her time to consider his words and he hoped that she would believe what he had spoken over Lydan’s lies. And yet despite his good intentions, somehow he found himself at her door anyway. He knocked on the locked door and waited for an answer. “…Oh Miranda—I swear I shall break this door down if ye do not answer me!” He drew a calming breath and waited till he finally heard her lift the latch. He sighed and opened the door. The room was the same as it had always was, none of her things were even visible, only William’s, as if he had just left that very morning—and as if she still belonged to him...
She stood by the window with her back to him as she said softly, “I am not yet ready to speak to thee.”
He didn’t move closer though he wanted to. “But ye must, for we have things to speak of, Miranda. Ye shall deliver the child soon, and ye must be safely wed soon after that. Ye know what I say is true, I would not lie to thee as Lydan has done.”
She dropped her head in a hand. “I am weary of this all...”
He knew it was true, he could see it in how she held her shoulders. “What am I to say? Ye know for thy sake and the sake of thy child ye must be safely wed.”
She just shook her head slowly. “I regret the day I laid eyes on Whittington.”
“Do not fool thyself, ye were bound to this place the day ye saw William and fell in love with him.”
It was true and she knew it, but yet she had no answer for his well chosen words.
“I offer ye my name and my title as protection for thee and thy child. And if ye shall have it, my affections also.”
She lifted her head, her back still to him. “I have no answer to give thee.”
He looked down for a long quiet moment. “Ye cannot delay, Miranda. If ye shall not have me, then another shall be found to take my place.”
“Aye, another and another with the enticement of gold…”
“Ye know well that it ‘twas not for gold I sought thy hand… but others may…” He shifted uncomfortable not able to bare his heart to the girl as he wanted to. “I have gold and wealth of my own; I need not thy dowry, I assure thee of that. And in truth, ye are more valuable to me than riches or lands.”
She lifted a hand to silence him, straining against the emotion in her voice. “E—enough…”
He watched her as she stood with her back to him; her thin frame trembled even as she tried to collect herself.
Though she tried not to cry, yet the tears slowly ran down her flushed cheeks as she spoke, “Ye know that I—I am without a choice in this, the whole world is laid upon my shoulder...” She closed her eyes and prayed out loud. “God, help me… I am lost without thee, William!” The child moved hard and she stifled a gasp, her hands going to the swell of her stomach, her shoulders tensed as she moaned softly.
He reacted without thinking, moving towards her and threading his strong arms around her, his warm hands moving over the child within her to sooth her. And finally, as the pain subsided she slowly relaxed into his warm arms needing him now, though she did not want to. His warm breath feathered against her cheek as he whispered softly to her. “Shhh, it shall pass…” His warm hands eased over her and the child within her that seemed to respond to his every touch. “Marry me…”
She closed her eyes against the flood of emotion his words caused her; she needed him, needed his care and strength—and the protection he offered her and her child, but...
His lips brushed her neck softly, his words caressing her ear as he spoke. “Marry me…” His voice as soft as a whisper as he breathed the words against her gently, “Marry me, Miranda…”
She looked down at his strong tanned hands that held her child and shivered against the feelings they caused. She felt protected and cared for and her heart melted within her.
He laid his cheek against hers, his voice soft and low. “I shall protect thee…”
She closed her eyes at his soft words struggling against tears, and then without allowing herself to think further, she slowly nodded for she knew that she would not be able to endure another if she did not accept him.
His breathless whisper caressed her skin. “Say it…”
She hesitated at the words that would bind her to him forever. “…I—I shall wed thee…”
He smiled and held her closer. “I promise thee that ye have chosen well. Another could not care for ye more than I have.”
She felt herself melt at his soft words, wanting to be held, wanting to be loved and protected more than he would ever know... “We shall wed after the child is born, and I shall take thee back with me to Claymore.”
She stiffened at his words. “To—to Claymore? I—I had not considered such… I—I…”
“Do not worry thyself my lady, all shall be well. Ye and thy child
shall come to love it there. Claymore is near the sea… ‘Tis a beautiful lush place, a fine place to raise a child…”
He turned her slowly in his arms and lay warm hands on her pale cheeks, his soft dark eyes never leaving hers as he slowly bent his head pressing his lips softly upon hers.
She closed her eyes as his lips lingered there.
Finally, he lifted his head and looked down at soft shaken features resting his forehead against hers as he sighed deeply. “If—it were possible I would make ye mine now… but the wedding must wait till after the child is born.”
She closed her eyes at his words.
“Do not fear, my lady, all shall be well…”
He drew her trembling frame slowly against his, a gentle hand on the child she carried. “I shall leave thee for now, I have things to attend to now that Lydan is gone home.”
“He—he is gone?”
“Aye and rightly so, for I fear he would have found the end of my sword if he had not. Rest now, and I shall see to thee when evening has come.” He kissed her again then straightened with a slow easy smile upon his handsome face. “Ye shall not regret our marriage, I promise thee.” He touched her cheek with the back of his hand and smiled; then left before he could draw her back into his arms again.
“Uncle, are ye awake?”
The older man shifted uncomfortably in the dim room. “Aye. Come in, Garrick. Have ye come to bear bad tiding to me again? For I do not think I can bear more…”
“Nay uncle…. I only wish to tell thee that the lady has agreed to become my bride.”
The older man merely frowned at his nephew’s words. “In truth?”
“Aye, in truth.” He settled himself in the chair beside the older man’s bed.
Edmund smiled. “All of Whittington rests on that small child, Garrick… I shall see to the details of it all, the wedding must be soon after it is born.”
Garrick leaned forward with a frown and rested his elbows on his knees. “And there is one thing more… I only wish it would also good news, but there was trouble again last eve. And I must ride to Rawling to see to it, though I should be back soon enough.”
“Another fire?”
“Aye, but thy vassals were wary of trouble and have kept an eye out for it. They dowsed the fire without loss to life or property.”
Edmund relaxed and sighed heavily. “Just be careful, Garrick. The girl and I have much hope riding on thee.”
“Aye, I shall, I have a bride and a child to think of now.”
Edmund caught the man’s smiled and it pleased him.
When Garrick arrived at Rawling he was met by the anxious men of the town; he reassured them that even as they spoke patrols were scouring the area. But he reminded them to stay alert until whoever was responsible for it all was found. Curious that strangers would not have drawn more attention to themselves with so many wary and watching here, but perhaps it ‘twas not a stranger at all…
He turned to his own man at arms and took him to the side as he said in a guarded tone, “Send a group of men to Morley; if I am correct they shall descend upon that next.”
“Morley? But Kent is closer!”
“Aye, it is, but I have left it slip that we shall be patrolling Kent this night, if the news reaches our foes they shall go elsewhere and Morley is not far, nor has it been a target before this—but it shall be tonight, I feel it! I shall send a group of fifty of my uncles men to Kent, the rest I shall on patrols, so that there shall be little left unguarded this night. ”
The tall man nodded. “Aye, we shall do as ye have said, and perhaps finally we shall see them caught!”
“Place men in the forest and around the fields as well as near storage barns—arrow or not, a man still has need to get close enough to shoot it and he shall need a fire to light his arrow too… I can only hope it shall give him away in the end… And Captain— do not kill the scoundrel, the Earl and I wish to see who it is and speak to them first!”
“Aye m’lord.” Even as his man left his side, he worried for Miranda’s brother in all this, though he still hoped he was wrong…!
Garrick rode into the courtyard and dismounted only to find Nigel hurrying to his side. He frowned at the man as he came closer. “What is it?”
“’Tis the lady, she has asked for thee and shall see no other!”
A hard frown creased his brow as he turned from his horse and raced up the tall castle steps still in his armor, pulling at the bindings as he went, taking the stairs to William’s chambers two at a time. Something was wrong, he could feel it! The guards stepped back from her door keys in hand. He stopped and tried the handle then lowered his voice as he spoke through the heavy wood that barred his way. “Miranda?!”
He heard her cry out from somewhere in the room and kicked the door without a thought before he raced in! “Miranda!”
She was on the bed, her face was pale, dampened curls clung on her forehead and neck as she struggled against the pain. She bit back a sob, and gripped the sheets beneath her unable to utter a word through gritted teeth.
He felt the fear in the very words he now spoke, “The child?!”
She closed her eyes and nodded. “’Tis—‘tis too soon…!” She clung to him as another pain shook her thin frame. “Too soon…!”
He held her through it, the horror in her eyes worse than any pain she was feeling! He smoothed a strong hand down her pale face. “Shhh, all shall be well, I have prayed for thee... Ye and the child shall be well.”
She clung desperately to the hope in his voice as he eased her back upon the bed and smoothed her damp hair from her pale face.
“Take heart, my love, all shall be well.” He kissed her softly and stepped away, not wanting her to see the worry in his own eyes.
She tried to sit up, her voice as despite as her words. “Nay! Do not leave me!”
He pressed her softly down again upon the bed. “I must call the midwives and the healer, but I shall come back to thee.”
She closed her eye and gritted her teeth against the pain as she nodded again, her hands gripping the sheets as she cried out weakly. He hurried to the door yelling the guards to get the midwives and healer as he threw off the rest of armor then hurried back to her and sat beside her gently, lightly touching her pale face. Soft sweet words cooed to her as he did so, “All shall be well...”
He gently wiped the tears that fell silently down pale cheeks. “…I—I am afraid…”
“Shhh, ‘tis natural. The women shall come to help thee and I shall not leave thy side lest ye wish it…”
Her eyes widened, as another pain took her and she bit her lip to keep from crying out. But before it was done the women were in the room with clean sheets and water, a knife and string, he almost cringed at the sight of it knowing already the pain she would endure. “Out with thee, Lord Farrington!”
He looked into Miranda’s pleading eyes. “Nay, I shall not leave her to do this alone.”
“But a man does not belong—”
He cut her off with a wave of his strong tanned hand. “See to the lady and her child, but I shall not leave her!” He stood and moved towards the head of the bed, yet she never took her eyes from him. He sat down there and stroked her damp face, cooing softly to her as the women worked around him. She wore only a thin white gown, the women placed large folded sheets beneath her. The midwives cast her concerned glances and whispered of their fears, but in his heart he prayed…
The old healer came and sat beside her on the bed and spoke gently to her of the birth, her eyes darted to his for strength, and he did not waver. Another pain took her, she clenched her teeth and struggled against it; her choked hoarse voice escaped her throat, “Spare—spare my life, oh Lord… S—save my child… m—mercy!” She collapsed back panting for breath, desperate tears streaming down her frightened face.
He felt tears stinging in the depths of his own eyes as he spoke to her of his love and of the child that they would raise. She opened her eyes and gazed at
him searching his face for hope.
The healer spoke to her gently and looked up at Garrick. “I have need to check the girl…”
He nodded and looked down into her damp frightened face as she whispered tearfully. “If—if I die…” Her faint voice broke with tears.
He tried to speak but she silenced him with trembling fingers. “N—nay… if something happens… promise me ye shall protect my child...”
He closed his eyes and nodded. Another pain gripped her. She clenched her teeth and grabbed onto his tunic till her knuckles were white. “N—name it as I have asked…”
He kissed her softly. “Ye shall name thy child thyself, take heart, my lady, all shall be well…”
The healer leaned forward and touched his arm. “It shall not be long now. She must have struggled all day waiting for thee.”
Her words meant to comfort him only made his heart cringe. But instead the hour passed with pains and prayers, heart wrenching cries and pleas for mercy… And then finally… “There, there, yes, push, my lady! I can see William’s child and it has his dark hair!”
Miranda couldn’t help but cry, tears streaming down her flushed face. “Let it live, please, let it live…”
He smiled at her weakly and stroked her damp hair, echoing her prayer in his own heart. “All shall be well…”
She looked to him with bloodshot eyes then stiffened as another pain gripped her making her cry out again.
“Push! A little more!”
Then suddenly, the pressure and pain slipped away, her eyes flew open in shock and relief as looked into his eyes too afraid to even cry. He looked down at the child that now lay in the healer’s bloodied hands and smiled as Miranda’s soft voice came to him. “Is—is it alive?”
Debra Kay Leland Page 27