Page 73 of Black Hearted
She nodded. “Once your maid arrives, I’ll wheel them in after you.”
It took some effort to fit myself, the long table with the babies, and my lady’s maid, Flora, into the bathroom, but we managed. Flora washed my hair as I soaked in the tub. I was so weak that I couldn’t even hold my arms up long enough to do it myself.
“I’m sorry I’m so weak,” I murmured, ashamed. Flora wasn’t usually required to help me bathe.
“It’s perfectly fine, my lady. I’m just glad you and the babies are okay,” she replied with a warm smile.
I glanced over my shoulder and found her beaming at the quads,who lay peacefully in their bassinets with their eyes closed, their tiny mouths sucking at the air. Eowyn had told me they didn’t need food or water. While in the bubbles, they would take nourishment from me magically, just as they had in my belly.
“The entire realm is making their way to the castle gates, leaving flowers and gifts for the little lords and ladies,” Flora said, her voice filled with delight.
Her words made me smile. It felt as though the births were a bright spot in an otherwise dark time.
After helping me from the bath, Flora assisted me in dressing—a task I usually preferred to do on my own. She then braided my hair, adding a few small blue flowers that matched the pale blue dressing gown I wore.
“Where is my husband?” I finally asked.
“He’s having lunch with his brothers and their wives. Shall I fetch him?” Flora offered.
“No, thank you. I’d love a walk.” I was feeling a bit stronger after the bath.
Using the babies’ table for support, I leaned on it slightly, taking my time as I walked down the long corridor to the dining room. My legs wobbled occasionally, but the walk was good for me, so I moved slowly. Flora followed quietly behind me and opened the door when we reached the dining hall.
The moment the babies and I entered the room, Zander’s gaze found mine. “Dawn,” he exclaimed, leaping up and rushing over to help me. He pressed a soft kiss to my mouth when he reached me, his eyes full of unveiled love and devotion. I’m sure I was giving him the same look.
“Dawn, you should be lying down,” Isolde scolded as she came up next to us.
Aribella, Stryker, and Adrien chimed in, telling me I shouldn’t be up as well.
I waved them all off as Zander and Isolde led me to a seat at the table. Isolde returned to her spot next to Adrien, and Zander hovered over my shoulders near the babies. I could hear him coo softly at them, and it made my heart melt.
“I needed to stretch my legs,” I told them all. “Besides, I just slept sixteen hours. I’m famished.”
Without another word, Stryker handed me a huge turkey leg from his plate.
“Honey, she’s not going to want your—” Aribella began, but I grabbed it and took a huge bite, moaning in joy as the salty sweetness hit my tongue. It was coated in honey.
“Never mind,” Aribella chuckled as I devoured the leg.
“I’ll be right back,” Zander said, disappearing into the kitchen. He returned shortly with a heaping plate full of all my favorites.
He sat down next to me, and I, abandoning all decorum and princess manners, dug into the food like a starved dog.
“She hasn’t eaten in two days,” Zander explained, trying to justify my behavior. “They don’t let you eat during labor. Did you know that?”
Stryker must have felt bad for me because he slid his plate of chocolate cake onto my side of the table. I accepted it gratefully, taking four big bites.
“Oh, forget that. I’m not having kids if they starve you,” Isolde commented.
Adrien laughed. “Are you saying you wouldn’t sacrifice a few meals for one of those little bundles of joy?”
“Well, when you put it like that …” Isolde trailed off.
Adrien got up and walked over to the babies, making baby noises and scrunching his face to try to get them to laugh. I didn’t have the heart to tell him their eyes weren’t developed enough yet to make out his features.
I shared a grin with Isolde. “You’re next.” I winked at her.
She stuck her tongue out at me playfully.
