Page 68 of A Rogue's Reckoning
“Our child will wait until you are home. I promise.”
Frances then went up on her toes to kiss him but stilled and gasped.
“What is it?” he asked anxiously.
Frances smiled weakly and stepped away from Seth then looked down at the water on the ground. “Perhaps we should have one of the servants go into Laswell for the doctor.”
“You said only your lower back pained you,” he said. “Were you having any other pains?” Seth demanded.
Frances put a hand against her belly and winced. “Not until this very moment.”
“I will see you inside, then have a servant go for a doctor, and another to Forester Park to alert my family that I will not be present when the boats arrive,” he said as he placed an arm around her waist in order to offer support. “Come along, Rupert.”
The little boy looked up then scrambled to his feet, his legs covered in mud.
Once inside, Seth nearly barked instructions as a maid took Frances off to their chamber and another promised to see Rupert bathed, and then he waited.
Eight hours later, just as the boats were expected to arrive with illegal cargo, Seth paced in the corridor outside of his wife’s chamber. With each scream he grew more anxious, afraid for both wife and child, and then he heard the babe cry and nearly dropped to his knees with relief. Moments later, the door was opened by a maid and he was ushered into the room where Frances rested against pillows, the babe in her arms.
Seth leaned forward and placed a kiss on her forehead, his heart swelling with more love than he thought it was possible to hold.
“Was I right or was I wrong?” he asked.
“You were right.” She grinned. “Now to decide what we will call her.”
Seth glanced down into the blue eyes right before they drifted shut and was in awe that they had created this creature who had grown in his wife’s body. It had been the same sensation when Frances had delivered their son. Truly a miracle.
“I can think of no name for such a perfect child.”
“I can,” Frances whispered. “Amelia.”
