Storm Ravaged (Storm Damages 2) (Storm Legacy) (27 page)

Chapter 37

______________

Elizabeth

FEBRUARY 13, we’re on our way to a party thrown by Gabriel’s godmother. I’ve been experiencing back pains on and off most of the day, but haven’t told Gabriel. If I did, he would probably chain me to our bed, and I’ve had enough of being housebound. I’m eager to get out and talk to people.

The weather’s quite frigid, with rain and sleet spitting against the windows of the Benz. I’m bundled up in the heavy Vicu
ñ
a wrap Gabriel gave to me for Christmas, and the car’s nice and toasty. At his godmother’s townhouse, a covered walkway keeps the ice off the outside steps, but the walk up is enough to chill me to the bone.

Inside, Gabriel takes my wrap and hands it to a servant which leaves me in a long-sleeved black maternity gown. Its ankle length is not enough to keep me warm. Taking my hand, Gabriel leads me to the drawing room, where I greet his godmother, Lady Margaret Payne.

Bri’s all ready there so we gravitate toward her. Jake’s watching her back, much as Samuel’s watching ours. “Hello, ducks.” She greets us with smooches on the cheeks. “How’s my nephew?”

“Kicking up a storm.”

She laughs. When I realize what I just said, I join in her laughter.

“Ainsley! Glad you’re here.” An old codger dressed in an old-fashioned jacket with a pocket square calls out. “If we may have a word. A political issue to discuss.” He nods toward a group of men, conversing at one edge of the room.

“I’ll join you in a moment,” Gabriel responds, and the old codger drifts off to rejoin his chums.

“Who are they?” I ask.

“Political cronies of my father. They’re hoping I’ll go along with some of their less progressive ideas. I’m afraid I’ll have to talk to them. Do you mind?”

“Of course not. You do what you have to do.”

“I’ll keep her company, don’t worry,” Brianna says.

“Thanks, Bri.” And he’s off to join the politicos.

A passing waiter drifts by, and I request water. After he returns with the glass, Bri links arms with me and walks me through the room. Although she nods at the occasional person, we don’t stop to talk to anyone.

“Oh, bloody hell, Sebastian’s here.” She murmurs.

“Who?”

“Four o’clock. Dark-haired. Golden eyes. Can’t miss him.”

The man’s dressed in a dark, perfectly-tailored suit. Custom-made, unless I miss my guess. His gaze darts around the room, searching for something, anything to keep the boredom away. He certainly has no interest in the rail-thin woman at his elbow.

“Wonder what he’s doing here.”

“Why do you say that?”

“He fell out of favor with his aunt.”

“Our hostess is his aunt?”

“Yes. They must have repaired their tiff.”

“What happened?”

“Don’t know. But they didn’t talk to each other for years.”

His roaming gaze finds us and a smile lights upon his lips. With a quick word to the woman, he abandons her and joins us. “Brianna. Lovely as ever.”

She makes a face. “Sebastian. What a pleasure.” By the way she sounds, it’s nothing of the sort. But as courtesy dictates, she offers her hand which he kisses before turning to me. “Introduce us.”

“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Brianna asks.

He looks over his shoulder toward Gabriel who’s staring holes into his back. “And miss an opportunity to rile Ainsley?”

“You’re playing with fire, Sebastian.”

“Wouldn’t be the first time. Introduce us,” he says again.

“This is my sister-in-law, Elizabeth Storm, Lady Ainsley. Elizabeth meet Sebastian Payne, the—.”

But he interrupts before she can finish. “
Enchante
.” He bows over my hand, kisses it.

In the background, Gabriel glowers. Whatever lies between these two men, it isn’t friendship.

“Surprised to see you here, Sebastian,” Brianna says. “Thought you were
persona non grata
with your aunt.”

“I got back in her good graces.”

“Bollocks.” This from Brianna.

“What happened?” I ask her.

“My strap’s coming loose.” She’s wearing a chain strap, mid-calf dress which like everything else she owns looks smashing on her. But the chain links which hold up the bodice appear quite delicate. And the last thing she’d want would be to flash her world-class boobs in the middle of this gathering. It would cause quite a stir. “I need to dash off to the loo to repair it. Are you going to be all right?” She tilts her head toward Sebastian Payne.

“Of course.” Honestly, why does everybody think I need somebody to watch over me. We’re in the middle of a cocktail party with nothing but upstanding citizens all around me.

Sebastian’s eyes sparkle with a bit of mischief. “I’ll keep Mrs. Storm company.”

“Watch him.” She whispers to me before dashing off.

He nips a flute of champagne from a passing waiter and takes a sip. “You’re quite beautiful, Mrs. Storm.”

I scrunch my eyes at him. “Flattery will get you nowhere.”

“Umm.” he sips from his glass. “It’s a wonder the old ball and chain left you alone. Why did he?”

“He got dragooned into a discussion about politics. Are you friends?”

“Quite the contrary.” When he holds up his glass in a salute to Gabriel, my husband’s brows hunch in disapproval.

“You can’t be enemies.”

“More like rivals. He once took something I wanted very badly.”

A sharp pain stabs at me. “A woman?” I ask, once I catch my breath.

“No. He never cared enough about any female to fight for her, but from the fearsome glances he’s shooting over here, I’d say that has changed.” His gaze laser beams on me. “You’re valuable to him.”

I rest a hand over my blimp-sized belly. “I’m carrying his child.”

“And you think that’s the only reason?”

“Of course not. I’m his wife as well.”

He glances once more toward where Gabriel stands, who’s looking positively murderous by now. “I think it’s more than that. A lot more. Wonder what it would feel like to take you from him.”

Another pain hits. Wincing, I ignore it. “What makes you think I’d let you?”

“Passion as well as beauty. I’m beginning to understand what he sees in you.”

I fiddle with my clutch purse. “Can we change the conversation, please? I’d rather not talk about my marriage.”

“Certainly. So I read in the papers you’re studying to become a lawyer?”

“Yes, I am. I’ve taken a break until after the baby’s born. But I’ve applied to a dual degree program in King’s College and my school back home. If I’m accepted I’ll be able to sit for the bar in both countries.”

“Heaven knows, I’m not a marrying man, but I’m beginning to envy the old boy.”

For a second I bask in the light of admiration in his eyes, but then another pain hits, sharper than the on and off ones I’ve been experiencing all day. “Oh.”

“What’s wrong?”

“The baby kicked. I think.”

“You think?” His attention is fully on me. “You’re perspiring, Lady Ainsley.”

“Am I? It’s rather warm in here with all the people. And please call me Elizabeth. I’m not fond of that title.”

“Here. Grab my arm. We’ll just take a walk to that nice settee over there.” He juts his chin toward a white unoccupied two seater.

Holding on to him, I take mincing steps, about all I can handle at the moment.

“The child. When is it due?” He barks out military style, all his indolent charm vanishing.

“In two weeks.”

“I think he’s about to make an early appearance.”

“But he can’t. I’m not ready to give birth yet.”

“Trust me, Elizabeth. I’ve seen women out in the jungle giving birth, and you have that exact same look. Are you in pain?”

“Back pain. Off and on.”

“How long?”

“All day.”

He curses.

As we finally gain the settee, everything happens at once. Brianna returns from fixing her dress. Gabriel converges on us.“What’s wrong?” he asks.

“I think—” Another pain hits, making it hard to breathe.

“Baby’s coming, old chum,” Sebastian says.

“Now?”

“Very soon.” He glances at his watch. “Pains seem to be about two minutes apart. Apparently, she’s been having contractions all day.”

“All day? Why didn’t you tell me?” Gabriel demands of me.

“I didn’t know,” I say in my defense.

By now we’ve drawn quite a crowd. Somebody pipes up with. “I say, Ainsley, it would seem bad form to yell at your wife right at the moment.”

Ignoring the speaker, Gabriel tries to pick me up, but his leg gives out on him.

Sebastian elbows him out of the way and does what Gabriel can’t. “Go get the car. I’ll carry her down.”

“Thank you.” Gabriel’s gracious enough to say, even though he’s gnashing his teeth.

The next few minutes are a blur of activity. Before I know it I’m bundled up in my robe and Sebastian’s carrying me down the steps. Even though it’s still frigid outside, I’m not feeling the cold anymore. When the Benz pulls up, Sebastian gently slides me in while Gabriel climbs into the other side.

“Thank you.” I press Sebastian’s hand.

“My pleasure. We’ll need to continue our conversation another day.”

By the way, Gabriel grinds his teeth, I think he wouldn’t approve of a friendship between me and Sebastian Payne. And then all thoughts of Sebastian Payne desert me as a wrenching pain hits, and my water breaks.

Chapter 38

______________

Gabriel

ANDREW STEPHEN GERVAISE STORM rests in my arms after being born into this world during the early morning hours of St. Valentine’s Day. Exhausted after a fierce but mercifully brief delivery, Elizabeth sleeps while sounds drift in from the hospital corridor.

His mop of black hair comes from his mother; and his blue eyes and long legs from me. But other than that. I can’t tell who he resembles. Only time will tell.

“Hey.”

I glance up to find Elizabeth’s soft gaze on me.

“You’re awake.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this happy.” Like a benediction, her soft smile flows over me, easing the weeks of strife between us.

“Thank you for my son.”

“You’re welcome.”

“How are you feeling?”

She makes a face as she tries to sit up. “Sore.”

I don’t doubt it.

The baby stirs in my arms, stretching his legs, his face scrunching in displeasure.

“He’s awake?” she says like it’s a big surprise.

“The nurse said it would be good to feed him as soon as you woke up. Are you up to it?”

“I can try.” She unsnaps her hospital johnnie and bares a breast. We fumble the exchange of baby into her arms. She brings him to her, but he doesn’t quite get it. “How do I do this? I’ve never done this before.”

“I’m guessing most new mothers haven’t,” I say, trying to lighten the mood. But all I get is a frown in return. After a couple of tries, Andrew latches on to her nipple, and she jerks. When the baby suckles she settles back against the pillow, seemingly content. “He’s something else, isn’t he?”

“That he is.” I bend down and drop a kiss on his head and one on her lips.

A couple of days later, they’re home where Nanny McKay takes charge. She’s a stocky, no-nonsense woman who knows when we want her to take Andrew and when we’d rather be left alone with him.

Elizabeth insists on breastfeeding him, so whenever he needs to eat, he’s brought to her day and night. As family and friends drop by to see our newborn, she hovers around the baby just as much, if not more, than I do. She’s fanatical about guests washing their hands before they hold Andrew or come anywhere near him. It takes her a full five minutes to instruct Brianna on how to hold our child. She jumps at Andrew’s slightest whimper, and spends countless hours rocking him, allowing Nanny to get some much needed rest.

In the blink of an eye, it’s time for her six-week checkup, the one where she’ll get the go ahead to resume sexual relations. The dry spell of the last four months has been sheer torture. I’m like a stallion. One whiff of her, and I grow hard as stone. Cold showers don’t help, neither does wanking off. So I wait on pins and needles until she gets home.

When she doesn’t arrive by six o’clock, I text Samuel to find out the reason for the delay. His message is cryptic. “Mrs. Storm went shopping. B there soon.”

What the bloody blazes did she go shopping for? She has everything she needs right here at her fingertips. Fifteen minutes later, my question is answered when she breezes in through the door, holding a massive bouquet of flowers.

“Sorry I’m late. Is Andrew—?” Almost on cue, our babe’s cries wail from his room. “Oh, good. I need to feed him. Here.” She hands me the bouquet and hurries past me toward Andrew’s room, leaving a trail of her gardenia scent behind. She resumed wearing it after Andrew was born.