Love Sneaked In (Montgomery Family Trilogy) (33 page)

Matthew was extraordinarily nervous. He wanted to make tonight special. It would be the first time they’d made love since he’d told her he loved her. Making sure he gave her fifteen minutes, he went to his room, took a quick wash, got undressed, and put on his dressing gown. Once he was at Helen’s door, he took a deep breath and walked into her room. Helen was sitting by the hearth, and the firelight created a halo around her glorious hair. He walked over to her and knelt before her.

He gently kissed her hand and gazed up at her. “Helen, you look so beautiful tonight. Your skin just glows in the candlelight.” He leaned forward and stroked the soft skin of her face, and then put his arms around her and gently pulled her close. Breathing in her luscious rose scent, he kissed her with reverence. “Helen, I’ve missed touching you and smelling your rose-scented skin so much.”

Leaning forward, he kissed her again. As she responded to his kiss, he deepened it, sliding his tongue across her lips. When she parted them, he slid his tongue into the depths of her mouth. Matthew gently cupped her breast, and Helen gasped with pleasure. He slowly stood up and pulled Helen with him. He swept her up into his arms and carried her over to the bed.

Once they were lying down, he softly stroked her cheek. “Helen, I’m desperately in love with you. When I came into your room tonight, your beauty took my breath away. I want tonight to be for you. Let me love you softly and tenderly.”

Matthew rained kisses all over her face, ran his hands over her belly, and then parted her pretty thighs and stroked her core. Kissing his way down her body, he trailed kisses over her firm belly, gently rounded with his child. He glanced up at her, and with a smoldering look he licked her navel. He nibbled his way down to her gorgeous red-gold curls. He licked her little pearl as he breathed deeply of her unique musky scent.

Her breathing grew faster, and she gave a soft moan as he slid his tongue into her tight sheath. Writhing and twisting, she pulled his head tightly against her sweet spot. He licked and nibbled her as he stroked his finger in and out. Then as she came apart, her high, keening scream told him she’d found her release.

Matthew crawled up her delectable body. He rolled her onto her side and slid into her tight sheath from behind as he put his arm around her and pulled her tightly against him. The feelings were so intense that he almost climaxed right then, but he fought to gain control as he began to slide in and out of her. He started moving slowly but intensely as he took his hand and stroked her sweet little bud of desire. Feeling her muscles clinch around his shaft, he knew she was nearing her peak again. Just as she splintered apart in her release, he surged into her and flooded her passage with his essence. Gently pulling out of her, Matthew turned her over so she was again facing him.

Her face glowed from the pleasure she had experienced, and he tenderly kissed her. They lay there in each other’s arms for a long time, just enjoying the peace they found in each other’s arms. Matthew watched as Helen drifted off to sleep and knew in his heart that he had to gain her love. He could understand how his father felt when his mother died. He knew that if something were to happen to Helen, a part of him would go with her.

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When Helen woke up the next morning, Matthew was gone from her bed. She lay there thinking about how Matthew had made love to her. It was the most incredible and tender experience of her life. She knew she would love Matthew forever. He’d been so gentle and tender that she’d had to fight the tears to keep them from falling. There was a completeness to their lovemaking that hadn’t been there before. Helen knew that Matthew loved her deeply, and she knew she needed to tell him she’d fallen in love with him, but still she hesitated.

Helen wasn’t sure why she didn’t want to tell him, but for some reason she just wasn’t ready. She guessed there was still a small part of her that hadn’t completely let go of the hurt. It all came back to what had happened with the Duke of Somerset. That experience made her afraid to let go. This was something she needed to think about, because she didn’t want to give power to Hanford, and that was what she was doing. She knew she needed to move on from the pain of what he had done to her. It wasn’t fair to Matthew to hold on to past hurts.

Yes, this was definitely something she needed to ponder.

Well, this wasn’t going to get anything accomplished.

It was time to get up so she could start her day.

That afternoon, she spent several hours playing with the girls and listening to them read. It really was astonishing how well they were doing. She was proud of what she had accomplished. Christina and Catherine were excited about the new baby. Of course, they wanted a sister, but she wanted to give Matthew a son. It was so important to him. He needed an heir so he didn’t have to worry about Gregory inheriting if something happened to him, God forbid.

They fell into a pattern after the night of his birthday. Matthew came to her bed every night, and most nights he made love to her, but sometimes he would just hold her as she slept. When he felt the baby move, he would gently stroke and rain kisses all over her belly. Matthew told her how excited he was about having the child. He felt as if he was fulfilling his father’s dying wish, and it meant the world to him.

Her pregnancy was progressing along nicely, and she was getting anxious to have her baby. She was eight months along, and it was beginning to get a little uncomfortable. It was no longer even possible for her to see her feet when she was standing up. This troubled Helen, because she looked as big as Melody had at the very end of her pregnancy with Magnus. This baby must be very large, and she hoped she would not have a hard time delivering it.

It was getting much more difficult to play with the girls, but they were so sweet and patient with her. Most of the time she either played tea with them, or they took short walks in the garden. Her heart felt such joy when they called her mama. Whenever she thought about what her life would be like if she hadn’t married Matthew, she thanked God for bringing him into her life. Helen realized that she was more content than she’d ever been in her life.

Chapter 21

April 1821

April arrived, and the spring flowers were starting to bloom. Helen continued taking Christina and Catherine for walks in the garden every day. Helen knew they were anxious for her to have the baby so they could all work in the garden as they had last summer. Dr. Moore came to examine Helen and told her that the baby could be here as early as the third week of April, as the babe already seemed quite developed. He suspected that they were probably off a bit on when the baby was due, but Helen knew that couldn’t be possible, since she couldn’t have gotten pregnant before the twenty-sixth of July, which was the first time they had made love.

Matthew had shared with Helen that he was getting nervous, remembering how he’d lost his first wife. Of course, Helen knew she was a much healthier woman then Belinda had been.

By this time, she was extremely uncomfortable because she was carrying the baby low, and the child moved constantly. She prayed that the next few weeks went by quickly.

The morning of the fifth of April started out like any other day, but while Helen was taking her walk with the girls, she suddenly felt water run down her legs and a sharp pain in her belly. She sat down on the bench. She calmly smiled at Christina and Catherine. “Christina, I need you to go get your papa. I think your new baby brother or sister wants to be born. Catherine, why don’t you sit here with me while we wait for your papa, all right?” Helen tried to look calm so she didn’t frighten the girls, but it was difficult because she was terrified. It was three weeks before the baby was due.

Wonder if something went wrong?

Oh God, please keep my baby safe!

She watched as Christina went tearing across the garden and into the house, praying that Matthew would be in his study.

Christina ran into the house, yelling, “Papa…Papa, I need you right now! Where are you?”

Matthew heard Christina and walked out of his study. “Christina what is wrong? Why are you yelling?”

“Papa, you have to come quick! Something’s happened to Mama, and she needs you right away. She’s in the garden!”

“Sweetheart, calm down. I’m sure your mama is fine. Why don’t you take me to her, all right?” Matthew followed Christina out to the garden and saw Helen sitting on the bench. Her face was pale, and her eyes were filled with pain. He rushed over to her. “My darling, what’s wrong? Is it the baby?”

“Matthew, I think I’m in labor. I need you to help me to my room and get Dr. Moore. I’m so frightened. It’s too early for the baby to come. I’m not due for three more weeks. Please…Oh, that hurts.” Helen gasped from the pain, and Matthew scooped her up into his arms and raced into the house, yelling for Wells as he ran.

Wells came out of the back hall and immediately called for the footman, Malcolm, and told him to go get the doctor right away. Wells saw Christina and Catherine standing there crying, so he called for one of the downstairs maids. “Priscilla, please take Lady Christina and Lady Catherine to Miss Wilson.” Wells looked down at the girls and said reassuringly, “My ladies, everything is going to be fine. Please go along with Priscilla to the schoolroom, all right?”

Christina hiccupped as she asked, “B-but, what is w-wrong with M-mama, and why did P-papa carry her upstairs so q-quick?”

Wells knelt down in front of the girls and said as calmly as possible, “Your mama is having your new baby brother or sister. I promise everything will be fine. Now, go with Priscilla.” Christina looked as if she wanted to say more, but then she nodded her head and took Priscilla’s outstretched hand and went upstairs.

Matthew gently laid Helen down on her bed and rang for Sally. “Helen, Dr. Moore will be here soon. Let’s get you out of these wet clothes and into a dry night rail.”

As he searched her drawers for a clean gown, Sally showed up, and he gratefully let her finish helping Helen. He pulled a chair over to the bed and sat down as he took her hand in his. Helen’s hand was trembling and his was shaking, but he knew he had to get himself under control for Helen’s sake. She needed him to be strong so she wouldn’t be as frightened.

“Helen, it’s going to be just fine,” Matthew said in a calm, reassuring voice. “I’m sure the baby will be fine. Many women have babies early, and they come out healthy. Besides, it should make your delivery easier if the baby isn’t quite so large. Just take some deep, cleansing breaths and close your eyes so you can rest. I’ll be right here with you the entire time. I don’t care what Dr. Moore says, I’m not leaving your side.”

There was a knock on the door, and Dr. Moore came into the room. “Hello, Lady Collingswood. It looks like this little one is in a hurry to get here. Let me check you out, and we’ll see what is going on. My lord, you need to leave the room so I can examine your wife.”

With determination in his voice, Matthew said, “I’m not going anywhere. So go ahead and do your examination while I sit here and comfort my wife. I refuse to leave her side.”

With an appalled look on his face, Dr. Moore exclaimed, “My lord, this is highly unusual. I’m sure your wife would prefer it, if you left the room while I examine her.”

Looking serene, Helen replied, “It’s all right, Dr. Moore. I want him in here with me. The pain has stopped so maybe it’s just a false alarm anyway.”

Matthew knew he had married an amazing woman.

Dr. Moore just shook his head and proceeded with the examination. “Lady Collingswood, your water has broken, so the baby is definitely going to be born shortly. All we can do now is wait for your pains to start again. With a first child, it usually takes about twelve hours. It would have been better if your water hadn’t broken early, but we’ll deal with it.”

Helen’s pains began again about an hour later. At first they were mild, but as the afternoon progressed, the pains became stronger. Matthew stayed right by her side and let her grip his hand tightly with each contraction. The doctor would check her periodically and said everything was coming along as expected. Around eight o’clock that evening, the pains became much stronger and closer together, but the doctor said it was still too early for her to start pushing and told her she needed to resist the temptation. Around midnight, Helen was exhausted and in constant pain.