Reckless Viscount (40 page)

Abbigael had to wonder if Leif expected her to try to leave again.

He obviously had no idea she had already realized she had nowhere else to go. For better or worse, Dunwood Park had become home to her.

Entering the house, she turned to the stairs to make her way up to the bedroom she had used when she had first come to Sussex. The master suite had been fully refinished and refurbished, but Leif had not asked her to share the rooms with him. And though she could have exerted her claim to the mistress’s quarters, she refused to pretend to an association that did not exist.

In her bedroom, she undressed to her underclothes and crawled into bed. Usually she needed a bit to eat before taking her midday rest, but her stomach had been uneasy all day and she felt more tired than she had in a long time. She curled onto her side and fell into sleep as soon as the covers were pulled to her chin.

Not much later, she was awakened by a sharp pain spreading across her belly. The sensation was so intense and surprising that she could only wrap her arms around her middle as she tried to remember to breathe. Just when she started to fear that the gripping pain would not recede, it slid away and left her feeling just as she had before.

She rolled to her back and stared wide-eyed at the ceiling. The afternoon sun slanted through the windows, and for a moment she wondered if she had imagined or dreamed the incident. But when the pain started again just a few brief minutes later, she clenched her teeth and arched her neck in an effort to keep the moan of fear and agony from escaping her throat.

Panic started to set in as she realized what was happening. There was no denying it. The baby was coming now. Tears pricked behind her tightly squeezed eyelids and she tensed for another wave of the intense pain to grip her body.

She wasn’t ready for this. The baby wasn’t due to arrive for a few weeks more.

By the time the fourth contraction claimed her, she understood things were moving far faster than she had expected. And she was still alone with no one aware of what was happening. How far was the doctor? Would he make it in time?

Oh God, would she even be able to notify anyone that the doctor was needed?

Abbigael realized with a shock of stark awareness that followed one of the waves of pain that if she did not do something she would end up delivering the baby alone. Fear galvanized her and she gathered her strength in the brief period between contractions to rise from the bed and go to the bell pull. She rang the thing furiously as another contraction rose within her. She had already learned to recognize the rising tension that told her what was coming and managed to lower herself to the ground just as the pain weakened her legs and sapped her strength.

Each wave was sharper, more powerful and lasted longer than the one previous. And then her bag of waters broke, and though she wouldn’t have believed the experience could get any more intense, it did. The pains seemed to be doubling on top of each other, giving her barely any chance to catch her breath in between. Abbigael curled onto her side right there on the floor and prayed for someone to come soon.

When a soft knock sounded at the door, she could only manage a desperate call of distress. She barely registered the young maid who peeked into the room and squeaked in shock at the sight of her mistress clutching her belly on the floor.

It could have been seconds or hours later when Abbigael heard Leif whispering softly at her ear as his strong arms scooped her up and carried her swiftly back to her bed. He settled her gently against her pillows just as she was claimed another wave of racking pain. His voice was low as he rambled on in nonsense words and soothing tones.

Relief crowded past her fear as Abbigael tried to focus in on the details of her husband’s presence. She allowed the sound of his voice to cradle her during the short moments of rest. And when she began to tense in preparation for the next contraction, he ran his hand down her back and over her arms while he murmured calming words that managed to relax her even though their meanings could not permeate the thick, hazy wall that crowded her awareness.

Chapter Thirty-Five

Leif had never been more terrified in his life.

He rarely ventured to the wing containing Abbigael’s bedroom. He wanted to respect the fact that she wanted nothing to do with him and give her the space she desired, though it nearly killed him to do so. Some days, he was tempted to drink himself into a stupor as a means of forgetting she was so near but completely out of reach. He wasn’t sure what kept him from indulging, except maybe the thought that he might miss an unexpected opportunity while incapacitated. He needed his full faculties if he were ever to resolve the issues between himself and Abbigael. If he could just figure out exactly what those issues were.

Earlier in the day, Mrs. Helmstead had reported a strange sound coming from the walls in the servants’ stair and he insisted on investigating the issue himself. He was just hoping they weren’t dealing with a mice infestation when the new maid streaked past him with a frenzied look of panic in her eyes.

He barely managed to stop her, she was so intent on racing down the hall, but once she noticed him, she released a rattled breath.

“My lord, thank heavens! It’s the lady, her pains have started.”

Leif stared at her in confusion. Then the meaning of her words sank into his thick brain like a weighted stone in a weedy pond.

Her pains.

The baby.

His heart stopped and his stomach gave a dreadful twist. Without realizing it, he reached out and gripped the maid’s wrist as if he were afraid she would run off before she could explain everything to him.

“Wait. Are you certain? She isn’t due for a few weeks yet.”

The maid bobbed her head furiously. “I know the look, my lord. I’ve seen my mum go through it eleven times. There’s no doubt the babe is coming, and right quickly.”

Leif wasn’t sure how long he stood frozen in shock, but then all of a sudden his brain clicked back on and he felt a rush of energy.

“Go quickly and tell the first person you see to call for the doctor, then fetch Mrs. Helmstead, tell her what is happening.”

“Yes, my lord.” The young maid bobbed a quick curtsy as he finally released her wrist.

“Go. Now!”

She spun around and ran down the hall, but Leif didn’t wait to see her go.

When he opened the door to his wife’s bedroom for the first time since her return, he looked first to the bed. Finding it empty, his steps stuttered as he wondered if maybe he’d misunderstood what the maid had said. Then again, she never said Abbigael was in her bedroom, he had just assumed. He almost turned to leave when he heard the labored breathing of someone in physical distress. Striding into the room, he followed the sound around the bed and saw his wife curled into a ball on the floor. Her pale hair was a tangled mess around her shoulders and over her face. She was dressed only in her underclothes and they had been soaked through with sweat and the release of her water.

Seeing her, Leif was instantly awash in so many emotions that his knees nearly buckled under the weight of his own feelings. But he refused to allow himself to falter. Abbigael needed him.

He focused on that thought and rushed toward her.

He touched her forehead as her body drew tight and taut with pain. Her skin was flushed with the heat of exertion. It took all of his willpower not to draw her into his arms as she clenched her teeth against the gripping contraction, but some instinct told him to wait. Once he saw her muscles start to release, he slid his arms beneath her form, which in spite of the rounded belly seemed slight and far too fragile to endure the rigors of childbirth. He felt a strange stab of fear in his gut but forced it away as soon as it arose.

He barely managed to get her settled on the bed before another pain claimed her.

He spoke to her, telling her to relax when her limbs turned rigid, urging her to breathe when her teeth clamped tight. He knew pain was easier to handle when one didn’t resist it and he encouraged her to stop fighting, to allow the pain to come. He didn’t know if he was making any sense or if he was helping her, but he thought she seemed to be more comfortable as the contractions came and went.

Unfortunately, as she relaxed, he grew more worried.

The pains came very rapidly, one on top of the other, and he knew without a doubt that the doctor would not make it in time. Part of him wanted to rush to the stables and grab a horse to go in search of the doctor himself, but he could not bring himself to draw away from Abbigael’s side for even the time it would take to pull the bell in the corner of the room. He had to trust his staff would do what was necessary and he held his position on the bed next to his wife, feeling decidedly inadequate as he tried to ease her suffering with words of encouragement and a gentle hand.

His relief was enormous when only a couple more minutes passed before Mrs. Helmstead swept into the room. She was followed by two maids whose arms were overloaded with clothes and bowls and numerous other things Leif did not care to identify. The housekeeper directed the maids to set their burdens down with a wave of her hand as she came directly to the bed.

“My lord, it is time for you to leave. This work is for women,” the elderly servant stated with surprising sternness and a degree of lucidity he hadn’t seen in her since he had hired her to his household.

“I’m not leaving,” he answered briskly, “so don’t waste your time trying to chase me off.”

Though the old woman narrowed her eyes, she did not argue.

Approaching Abbigael from the other side of the bed, Mrs. Helmstead tried to ask her some questions about the frequency and duration of her pains. But it immediately became apparent that Abbigael could answer nothing.

The old woman moved with amazing speed and agility for her age and matronly figure, climbing atop the bed and positioning herself to examine the progress of the labor more directly. The confident way she assured Abbigael with hushed words uttered in strong tones and her obvious familiarity with the process of labor helped to ease Leif’s rising concern. He turned his attention away from the servant and focused on his wife’s face.

She was flushed and her skin was moist with exertion. Her eyes were closed and her breath came in shallow puffs between her parted lips. Leif smoothed his hand back from her forehead, pushing the twisted and tangled locks of hair away from her face.

During a brief rest between contractions, she turned toward his touch and opened her eyes. They were glazed over and she seemed to be looking at him from a distant depth within herself. The pain he saw there alarmed him, but not nearly as much as the silent fear he saw swirling in the bright pools of her eyes.

She was scared.

Knowing that nearly broke him. His throat swelled with emotion and threatened to close off. He wished with a fervent desire that overwhelmed him that he could take away her pain and fear, but there was nothing he could do. Feeling helpless, he continued to murmur words of praise and confidence when her eyes clenched shut again as another contraction took over.

He watched her body grow taut and strained in the throes of agony. He had to wonder if such a heavy degree of suffering was typical. He couldn’t imagine why any woman would have more than one child.

Leif looked to Mrs. Helmstead, seeking some reassurance.

The older woman was directing the two maids with short clipped instructions. The younger women rushed about the room. One brought a stack of clean towels to the housekeeper’s side, the other wet a cloth and wiped Abbigael’s face to cool her.

The contractions continued to build until one of them caused Abbigael to give a strangled cry as she curved her entire body inward. She tucked her chin to her chest and drew her knees up against her body. Her breath seemed to get caught in her lungs.

Mrs. Helmstead looked up sharply and met Leif’s concerned gaze.

“Get behind her.”

“What?”

“Get behind her and cradle her between your legs. Her strength is slipping and she going to need your support.”

Leif hesitated. What help could he possibly be?

“Do it now!”

Shoving aside thought in favor of action, he slid his arm behind Abbigael’s shoulders and urged her forward as he maneuvered himself behind her. He did as Mrs. Helmstead said and propped his still-booted feet on the bed, bent his knees around his wife’s slight and weakened form, then brought Abbigael back against his chest so her head fell to his shoulder and her hot forehead rested against his jaw.

He just managed to get into position as the next pain came. He felt every muscle in Abbigael’s spine tense and he reached around her to link his fingers with hers.

“Now, Abby dear, it is time to use the strength of this pain to bring your child into this world.” Mrs. Helmstead’s words rang through the room with power and motivation. Her tone was filled with confidence and did not allow room for dissent, even if Abbigael had been of a mind to.

The next moments would forever be blurred in Leif’s mind. At first his attention shifted between his wife and the servant, hoping to catch some sort of clue that all was going as it was supposed to. But as time went on and Abbigael seemed to be losing strength with every breath, he focused his attention on her alone as he whispered words of encouragement and braced himself around her to provide a stable foundation for the physical effort that consumed her entire being. Finally, after what seemed to be ages and seconds at once, he heard the fierce and furious cry of an infant.