Page 71 of The Earl Next Door
“What do you know about birthing a babe?” he asked. “You’ve never had one.”
Cordelia gave him a mocking smile. “Neither has anyone else in this room. Which is my point. We don’t need to be barging in when we don’t know how to help. Lady Kitson said she would come for us after the babe was born, and she will.”
“Marksworth, come sit back down,” Helen said in her sweet, calming voice, patting the cushion beside her. “Your bluster is worrying everyone.”
“Well, it should,” he said, pacing in front of Lyon. “I’ve been through this before. It’s been too long. We should have heard a wee little cry by now or at least Adeline yelling out in pain.” He walked over to Lyon. “Aren’t you worried?”
Very.
He’d wanted to be with her, but her insistence there were reasons husbands were kept out of the room had to be honored. He would only get in the way, she’d said. She was probably right about that. Besides, the last thing he wanted was to see her in pain, even if the pain was from bringing his child into the world. This was delicate enough without him adding to her worry by insisting he be with her. When they’d married, he’d promised to always be sensitive to her wishes, and he would.
Even at stressful times as this.
So he waited. Just as he’d waited for her to come to him in love, and ready for marriage. He smiled. Thenatural order of things. Love, marriage, and then a baby. He needed nothing more to please him.
“Adeline has said not every woman screams during birth,” he said to his father. “I’m not concerned.” Over much. “This is the way she wanted it and we’ll—”
A door shut above. Lyon’s gaze flew around the room. Everyone was riveted. For a heartbeat. Lyon rose and took off running out of the drawing room. He heard the shuffling of feet right behind him.
By the time he made it to the vestibule, Julia had gotten to the bottom of the stairs.
“Is she all right?” he asked.
Julia smiled. “Yes, yes. She and the babe are fine.”
“Is it a boy?” Marksworth asked excitedly.
“That’s not my news to tell.” Julia looked at Lyon. “She wants to see you.”
Lyon took the stairs two at a time. He opened the door and rushed into the room. Adeline was sitting up in bed looking glorious with her honey gold hair framing her shoulders and holding a small bundle of blankets against her breasts. He smiled, laughed, and sat down easily on the bed beside her. He brushed a strand of damp hair away from her face. “Are you all right?”
“Of course,” she smiled. “I am fine.”
He pressed a quick kiss to her lips. “It took so long. I was worried.”
“Not that long, really. Aren’t you going to ask about your child?”
“Yes, but I don’t have to. I can see all is well in your face. I didn’t know how you would look after your—your labor, but you are beautiful.”
“Is it a boy?” Marksworth asked, bursting throughthe doorway. Cordelia, Helen, and Brina entered right behind him.
“Come see for yourself.”
Everyone crowded around the bed. Adeline folded back the layers of blankets one at a time and then turned the pink, wrinkled, kicking, and naked little babe so that all could see him.
“I knew it!” Marksworth shouted. “And a fine boy he is.”
The baby jumped and started crying. Happy wishes echoed around the room.
“Now look what you’ve done,” Lyon said. “You’ve scared him.”
“What can you do to quiet him?” Brina asked, distress marking her features. “I don’t want him to cry.”
“It won’t hurt him, Brina,” Adeline said with a smile. “It’s good and will help strengthen his lungs.”
“I do hope you will consider naming him Paston after your dear mother’s surname,” Cordelia said as she peered down at the little one.
“What kind of name is that for a son?” Marksworth argued.
