Historical Romance – The Best Of The Year. Кэрол Мортимер

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СКАЧАТЬ is in her room and Mrs Rainault is with her. Doctor Bolton has been called.’

      Gideon felt a cold hand clutching at his insides.

      ‘Something is wrong?’

      ‘No, no, only it is her first time and that makes one anxious. Go up and see her, if you like, and then you can wait with Papa, who is so nervous he cannot sit still.’

      ‘That is not surprising,’ muttered Gideon, ‘when you think of Mama—’

      Gwen gave him a little shake.

      ‘Dominique is not Mama, Gideon. Doctor Bolton has every expectation that all will be well.’

      Gideon took the stairs two at a time as he ran up to Nicky’s bedchamber, where he found her pacing the floor. Her dark hair tumbled over her shoulders and she was very pale, almost ethereal in her white nightgown, but she smiled when she saw him.

      ‘I was praying you would be here.’

      ‘So the baby is coming?’

      She put her hands around her belly and nodded.

      ‘Mama says it may be some time yet.’

      He had not noticed Mrs Rainault, sitting by the fire with her embroidery in her lap, and he belatedly made a bow towards her. His first impressions had been of a rather absent-minded woman, pins falling from her hair and quite careless of her appearance, but since coming to Rotham she seemed to have become much more sensible and was now quietly devoted to her daughter’s well-being. He was somewhat reassured by her calm tone when she addressed him.

      ‘This first stage might go on for hours.’

      ‘Then I shall stay and keep you company.’

      Nicky took his hands. ‘I would rather you dined with Lord Rotham. He is so anxious I fear he will not eat anything if he is alone.’

      He pulled her into his arms and rested his head against her dusky curls. It felt so natural, so right, that he wondered why he had not done so more often.

      ‘I am more anxious about you.’

      ‘Thank you, but you need not be.’ She relaxed against him and he could feel the hard swell of her belly pressing against him until she pushed herself free, saying with a little smile, ‘Go now and look after your father. I have Mama here and the doctor is on his way. I shall do very well.’

      It took some time to persuade him, but at last Gideon went off, promising to come back as soon as he had dined. He found Gwen and the viscount in the drawing room, sitting on each side of the fire. Lord Rotham looked up as he entered.

      ‘Well?’

      He said, as cheerfully as he could, ‘I am told there may be no news for hours, perhaps nothing until the morning. My wife is anxious that we should eat.’

      ‘Of course you should,’ said Gwen, rising and drawing on her gloves. ‘You may be keeping this vigil all night and it will do you no good to go hungry.’

      ‘You are not staying?’

      ‘I must go back to Fairlawns.’ Gideon’s brows rose and she added in an airy tone, ‘Not that Anthony will be anxious for me, of course, but he will want to know how things go on here. Send word as soon as there is news, or if you have need of me.’ She kissed her father’s cheek, adjured Gideon not to worry and sailed out just as Colne appeared to announce dinner.

      * * *

      They sat down at the table in the oak parlour, Gideon commenting that the chamber was so much more comfortable in the winter than the cavernous dining room.

      ‘One of your wife’s many suggestions.’ The viscount gave a little smile. ‘She has transformed Rotham, Gideon. She made me see how reclusive I had become.’ He looked at his plate. ‘I do not like to eat while she is...’

      Gideon, too, was anxious, but he helped himself from the dishes before him and pushed one of them towards his father.

      ‘Try a little chicken, sir. It could be a long night.’

      With a shrug the viscount took a few slices on to his plate, but he ate sparingly.

      ‘Childbirth is a dangerous time, my son. I cannot help but worry.’

      ‘Doctor Bolton is a good man. He delivered Gwen’s children quite safely.’ Gideon tried to calm his own fears but Nicky was so small and delicate that it was not easy.

      * * *

      After dinner Gideon and his father retired to the drawing room. They were informed that Dr Bolton was even now with his patient, so there was nothing they could do but wait. They indulged in a half-hearted game of backgammon and were just setting up the board for another game when the doctor came in.

      ‘Everything looks to be as it should,’ he announced cheerfully, accepting a glass of brandy from Gideon. ‘Mrs Albury would not have the month nurse here earlier, but I have brought her now. Mrs Moss is very experienced in these matters and Mrs Albury also has her mother to look after her. There is nothing for me to do at present, so I will call again in the morning.’ He drained his glass and set it down. ‘I suggest that you both get some sleep. The child will come in its own time.’

      ‘May I see her?’ asked Gideon.

      The doctor shrugged.

      ‘Of course, but do not expect a warm welcome—the birthing chamber is the women’s domain.’

      Gideon went immediately to his wife’s room. She had been persuaded to lie down and, despite the nurse’s less-than-friendly look, Nicky held her hand out to him.

      ‘The pains come and go,’ she told him. ‘It is quite natural, isn’t it, Mrs Moss?’

      The nurse had retreated to a chair by the fire and was sucking contentedly on her pipe.

      ‘Aye, lass, you’ve nothing to fret about, particularly with your mother and me to look after you.’

      Gideon sat with Nicky until her eyelids began to droop. When he was sure she was asleep he returned to the drawing room, where he found his father sitting in his chair, his eyes on the dancing flames of the fire.

      ‘Father, why do you not go to bed? You can do no good here.’

      The viscount raised his eyes to meet Gideon’s.

      ‘Are you going to retire?’

      ‘Er, no.’

      ‘Then I shall keep the vigil with you, if I may?’

      ‘Of course.’ Gideon took the chair opposite. ‘I shall be glad of your company.’

      Nodding, the viscount rang for another bottle of brandy to help them through the long night.

      ‘I did not anticipate I should approve your wife, Gideon, given her birth and the circumstances of your marriage, but I do. In fact, I have grown extremely СКАЧАТЬ