He took his eyes off the path just long enough to glance down at Miss Davies and see her shoulders shaking, her eyes squeezed shut, and her lips parted in a wide smile as laughter flowed out of her.
Owen had never seen her so carefree. The image and sound immediately burned themselves into his memory. He wished he could race forever if it would keep her spirits so high.
He tugged on the reins and the horse slowed. Miss Davies still laughed but now the sound was quiet, hidden behind her hand.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been that fast in a carriage,” she said breathlessly. “I do hope you’ll forgive my noisy outburst. How unladylike of me.”
She unlooped her arm from Owen’s, adjusted her bonnet, and smoothed out her coat and skirts. The red was back in her face. Owen could not tell if it was from the cold or the excitement.
“You should know I don’t give a toss about that. You can laugh all you like in my presence. I don’t know why you ladies must pretend as if the function is foreign to you.”
Owen huffed, pondering some of the stranger aspects of his society. Miss Davies, being a maid, need not hold herself to as high standards of behavior as well-born and well-married women. But her actions reflected upon her mistress and Owen knew she would never purposely do anything to bring censure upon the beloved lady.
Still, Owen did not regret getting her to laugh so freely even if just for a moment. The sound still tinkled in his ears.
“Are you surprised to see that a soldier can have fun? We’re not all doom and danger and ‘yes, sir,’ ‘no, sir,’ at least not all the time.”
Owen smirked at the sad image. Yet many people seemed to think that soldiers must be very serious and stoic men, all business and no pleasure. And they were when they needed to be. But at least in Owen’s regiment, they usually found time for jokes and games and pranks. And now that the war was over, Owen dreaded any business that approached the semblance of seriousness.
Miss Davies smiled up at him, her teeth gleaming against the red of her cheeks. “In truth, captain, since I’ve come to know you I can hardly imagine you being so dour. I think if anyone knows how to have fun it would be you.”
Owen smiled back with a surprised chuckle. It seemed she knew him better than he thought.
“But in any case,” she continued, her expression growing contemplative. “I should hope that you and your fellow men-at-arms can have some fun. Fun and joy should be held onto even in the darkest times. How else can anyone be expected to survive?”
Owen couldn’t help staring at her as he contemplated her wise words but before he could respond they heard an annoyed shout coming from behind them.
They turned around to see Davies waving at them and yelling for them to slow down. The poor footman behind them struggled to push the wheelchair faster over the gravel walkway.
Owen and Miss Davies turned to face each other at the same time and as soon as they locked eyes, they both filled the air with their laughter and giggles.
“I suppose we should go back and collect him,” Owen said through his chuckle. He gave the horse another tug and they were soon turned around and walking back toward the lieutenant.
But Owen took his time, allowing the horse to pull them along at a very relaxed walk. He didn’t want his time with Miss Davies to end though he knew it must at some point.
He certainly hadn’t expected to have such a grand time when he asked her on this ride. He would have been happy with some light conversation and personal anecdotes. But he’d gotten so much more.
Miss Davies now sat silently by his side, shaking her head slightly as she saw the exaggerated annoyance on her brother’s face. She smiled fondly as she gave him a small wave.
Owen smiled, too, as his chest swelled with such an unexpected happiness. He’d learned so much more about Miss Davies in this one ride than he had in the past month.
He had always noticed her intelligence and perception, but he greatly enjoyed seeing them in action for an extended period of time. Though she often deferred to her humble position as a maid, she had so many opinions on every subject when given the chance to express them.
He appreciated Lady Neil for not crushing the young woman’s free thinking, but he knew that Miss Davies still felt it necessary to hold herself back in her mistress’s presence. There could be no doubt that they were close, much closer than a lady and her maid usually were, but there still existed the barrier of class and circumstance between them.
And despite her insistence that she was nothing more than a maid, Owen saw her to be so much more. Miss Davies could clearly enjoy life if only she allowed herself to let go. Owen had seen that spark in her today. He wished he could find some way to keep that spark going and perhaps even help it grow.
At the same time, she had ignited a spark in him, too. As they made their way back to the lieutenant and Owen watched Miss Davies send teasing expressions and gestures to her brother, he wondered what life might be like if he took her words to heart.
What could be so wrong with Owen accepting joy in his life? Why couldn’t he spend his days with a thoughtful, clever, caring, pretty woman? If life was short, should he not take advantage of the fun and joy and companionship he could find while it lasted?
When he looked down at Miss Davies and she met his gaze with a smile, Owen couldn’t help wondering if that wouldn’t be so bad after all.
Chapter 9
Violet’s eyes snapped open, instantly alert as the bell in her room jangled. She could sense the urgency from the sound. Her room was still bathed in darkness. If Lady Neil called for her in the dead of night, Violet knew she must need her desperately. Violet knew in the pounding of her heart that the baby was on its way.
She wasted no time, not even bothering to light a candle. She dressed by the thin stream of faltering moonlight from her small window, not overly concerned if her appearance was perfect. Emergencies superseded perfection.
Violet reached Lady Neil’s bedchamber in the blink of an eye, thankful that her room was so close to her mistress’s. She did not even offer a courtesy knock but pushed the door open immediately and ran into the room.
Lady Neil writhed in her bed, low moans and high screeches following on each other’s heels. Sweat already gathered on her forehead, turning her golden blonde hair almost as dark brown as Violet’s.
Lord Neil sat on the edge of her bed, dabbing at her face with a handkerchief and whispering soothing words to his wife. They both seemed oblivious to Violet’s presence, so immersed were they in their own missions—hers to bring the baby forth and his to comfort and encourage.
After taking stock of the situation quickly, Violet rushed to the bed. Lord Neil heard her footsteps approach and he turned to look at her, such a helpless expression on her face that Violet feared the man might faint from stress at any moment.
The look so surprised Violet that she nearly stumbled over her own feet. She had seen the baron in many moods and situations. Mostly content, many times in deep love with his wife, sometimes nervous and awkward, occasionally frustrated or annoyed. But never scared.
“Please,” he begged. “What must I do?”
Violet swallowed the fear that threatened to constrict her throat. She of course had never been in such a situation before. Her knowledge of pregnancy and childbirth seemed all the scarcer at a time like this. She had only been taught the absolute necessities that any woman must know.
But if she knew next to nothing, Lord Neil knew less than nothing.
“You, my lord, must step aside so I can assess Her Ladyship and sort out what needs to be done next.” She stepped forward, her voice firm. She needed to take control. Her mistress’s life and her child’s life were at stake.
Lord Neil nodded weakly and stood up, casting one last panic-stricken look at his wife before letting go of her hand.
Violet took his place on the edge of the bed. Lady Neil immediately grasped her hand, squeezing so tightly that Violet bit her lip. But her pain did not matter now.
> She picked up the handkerchief the baron had left on the bedside table and continued to wipe away at the sweat that dripped down her face.
“My lady, can you speak?”
Lady Neil groaned through her teeth as another wave of labor passed through her. “Y-Yes. Barely.”
“How long has this been happening?” Violet forced herself to keep her voice as calm as possible despite the fear that surged through her.
“A few hours.... They woke me...but they weren’t as painful then.... Suddenly, they became awful. I fear...the baby is coming too fast,” she mumbled between moans and shallow breaths.
Violet nodded to herself. “I’ll fetch Mrs. Baird and she’ll put you right. Hang on, my lady.”
Violet extracted Lady Neil’s hand from her own and instructed Lord Neil to resume his place.
“I’ll bring Mrs. Baird here. She'll know better than anyone what to do. It may be difficult to see this but remain by her side whatever happens, my lord.”
“Of course.” A solemn determination replaced the quivering panic in Lord Neil’s voice.
They exchanged firm nods as Violet flew from the room and made a mad dash for Mrs. Baird’s quarters.
As housekeeper, Mrs. Baird had her own private room on the highest floor where the other female staff slept in shared rooms. Every stair felt like a wasted moment to Violet. Anxiety tore through her as she wondered what might be happening to Lady Neil at this very second.
But she ran with all the speed she could muster to Mrs. Baird’s room and threw the door open with such a clatter that the older woman sat bolt upright in her bed, eyes wide but instantly alert.
Violet stood in the doorway breathing heavily but Mrs. Baird needed to take only one look at her to understand the urgency in her eyes.
“It’s time,” Mrs. Baird announced with a calm matter-of-fact voice. Violet only nodded, still dragging air into her lungs.
The two women rushed back downstairs to the family wing. Mrs. Baird instructed Violet to go straight back to Lady Neil’s room and fetch fresh water in her bowl while she stopped at a linen closet to fetch fresh towels.
Violet did as she was bid without hesitation. She burst back into the room to find Lord Neil still in his spot, his ministrations of soothing words sounding less soothing and more dismayed by the second. Lady Neil gritted her teeth as another wave of pain carried her away. The baron remained oblivious as Violet readied what she could in the room and Mrs. Baird arrived with a bundle of towels in her arms.
“Take His Lordship away from here,” Mrs. Baird whispered urgently to Violet. “This is no sight for a man. If he faints I can only attend to one of them at a time and Her Ladyship takes priority now.”
“I’ll see to it that he has distraction.”
Violet hurried out of the room and straight to the guest wing on the opposite side of the house.
“Curse these massive homes,” she muttered under her breath as she dashed down corridors and hallways. She wished Frank had stayed downstairs in the sitting room for a few more nights as it would have been faster for her to get to him there, but Dr. Slaterly had given him approval to move back to his guest room with the help of a crutch just a couple days before.
Finally she made it to Frank’s door. She curled her hand into a fist and pounded on the door as loudly as she could. All her courtesy fled her when she did not receive an instantaneous answer and she allowed herself into her brother's room.
“Frank!” She cried out as she ran to her brother’s bedside and tapped his shoulder.
“Good heaven, what’s all this about?!” He snorted and rubbed at his eyes. “Violet, what the devil are you doing here?”
“The baby is coming. You and Captain Jessup must keep Lord Neil away from that room and distract him as best you can,” Violet explained breathlessly as she pulled Frank out of bed.
“Is everything alright? Can I help?”
A tired but concerned voice came from the doorway and Violet turned to see the captain in his robe, blinking the sleep away.
Violet blushed fiercely at seeing him in such a vulnerable state and blushed even deeper when, despite the severity of the current situation, she found herself longing to see his drowsy expression again.
“Yes, Captain,” she responded as soon as she forced those thoughts away. “Please help Frank dress and ready yourself as well. The baby will be here soon and Lord Neil needs to be distracted. He’s in a terrible state.”
“Goodness! Poor man. I can’t say I blame him in the least. Birth must be a nasty business. Miraculous, but terrifying. I can imagine it must be so anxiety inducing to be in the room while my precious wife suffered so greatly and I could do nothing but watch. Leave the baron to us. We’ll wait in the drawing room.” Captain Jessup immediately straightened up, ready to take the lead.
His words swirled around Violet’s head for a dizzying moment. My precious wife...
Violet chided herself to keep her wits about her. Surely she must be overwhelmed from the situation and not thinking clearly.
“No, the library,” Violet insisted. “It’s his favorite room in the house save for his study but I do not think he will like guests there. It may bring him some calm. Wait for us there and I will bring His Lordship to you.”
Violet did not wait for an answer and quickly quit the room. She could not wait for an answer. She could not stand to be there for another moment. She needed to get the captain’s words and his sweet sleepy face out of her mind. She needed to focus. Lady Neil needed her now more than ever.
She flew through the house to her mistress’s room. She could hear the baroness’s moans and cries of anguish from the hall now.
“My lord!” Violet called as soon as she opened the door, spying the baron in the far corner of the room. “Let us go to the library for now. Captain Jessup and Lieutenant Davies are waiting for you there.”
His head snapped up when Violet issued her command. She could see beads of sweat forming at his temples and his chest heaving with shallow breaths. But he did not move from his spot.
Violet crossed the room, skirting the large bed where Lady Neil writhed and Mrs. Baird consoled and coached.
“Come now, my lord,” Violet demanded. She could not believe that she was ordering her master around, but the man was clearly in no state to remain in this room.
“But Cecilia.... The baby....” He mumbled, his eyes pleading with Violet.
Violet softened at his concern. She knew he only wanted to ensure his wife’s and child’s safety. For a man usually so in control of his life—never having been required to yield to anyone or anything in his adult life unless it suited his fancy—bending to nature’s will must not have been an easy task. Especially when it concerned his loved ones.
“Lady Neil and the baby will receive the best care possible. The best way you can help them now is by distracting yourself with prayers in the library while Mrs. Baird and the doctor do what needs to be done.”
Violet stepped forward and placed a tentative hand on Lord Neil’s forearm. It felt exceedingly unusual and impertinent, but the baron was clearly at his wit’s end and needed a little comfort himself.
“Yes.” Lord Neil nodded numbly. “You must be right. I should hate to get in the way.”
With an encouraging smile, Violet turned and led the baron toward the door. He stopped at the bed first and Mrs. Baird stepped aside, joining Violet by the door to give the husband and wife a moment alone.
Violet immediately noticed the worry wafting off of the housekeeper. Of course, the situation was worrisome, but Violet sensed something else in Mrs. Baird’s expression.
Before she could ask, Mrs. Baird leaned down slightly to whisper as closely as possible into Violet’s ear.
Violet’s heart stopped and her veins flooded with ice.
“This cannot be...” she whispered, her voice barely audible above Lady Neil’s groans and pants for breath.
Mrs. Baird looked as sick as Violet felt. “Hurry now,” sh
e commanded with a tremble in her voice.
“Let us go now, my lord,” Violet called out to the baron once more. He gripped his wife’s hands in his and planted a soft kiss on her forehead. Lady Neil smiled with surprising strength as she patted her husband’s cheek.
The baron rejoined Violet and they began the long journey to the library. They did not speak as they walked down the cold halls and empty stairways. Violet had no idea what she could say at such a time that wouldn’t feel utterly trivial. Lord Neil did not seem eager to soothe his worries by speech either. Violet had learned early on that the baron was an introspective, quiet type especially when it came to troubling matters. Even Lady Neil often struggled to encourage him to share his burdens with her.
At long last they arrived at the library. Violet opened the door and followed Lord Neil inside. Thankfully Frank and Captain Jessup had already started the fire. They both turned when Violet and Lord Neil entered. Violet steered her master toward the warmth of the fireplace and sat him down in a nearby chair.
She took a step back and prepared to tell her brother and the captain the news. But before she could go far Lord Neil’s hand shot out and grabbed her own. Violet’s eyes widened at the unexpected gesture.
“Violet.” Lord Neil looked up into Violet’s face, his expression earnest. “Thank you for your help. For everything you do.”
“Of course, my lord,” Violet mumbled.
She knew that as a servant, her master was under no obligation to thank her for anything she did. And she did not personally interact with Lord Neil very often. His thanks, said with such fondness and sincerity, bolstered Violet and gave her a little helping of courage to face what would come next.
“The Neil family means very much to me. It is my honor to do everything I can for Your Lordship and Her Ladyship and the little one.” She smiled down at her master and said a silent prayer that he would not regret trusting her with his wife’s care, nor suffer any pain or heartache. He was a very good man, Violet knew. She would hate to see him heartbroken.
Lord Neil gave Violet’s hand a squeeze before releasing it to her. She turned away and fixed Frank and Captain Jessup with a pointed gaze, glancing back toward the door to indicate that they should follow her.
Healing the Captain's Heart: A Clean Regency Romance (Resolved In Love Book 2) Page 11