B006DTZ3FY EBOK (30 page)

The strange little procession, rumbling along at a snail
’
s pace, would have made an interesting sight had anyone seen it. They did not encounter a soul, however, until actually approaching Oldham Park. Derek pointed with his whip at a shiny black gig being led toward the stable yard.

“I
s that the surgeon
’
s gig, Lady Hannah?
”

She barely had time to crane her neck and reply,
“I
believe so,
”
when two stableboys came flying toward them, followed by the head groom. The massive doors to the ducal palace were thrown open, as well, and Cummings emerged, two stout footmen with him. All was bustle and confusion for a few moments as Hannah was unloaded and carefully carried up the steps and into the front hall,
Cynthia
was handed down and the animals and equipage were transferred to the stable hands. Mr. Ellsworth stayed at Hannah
’
s side, hovering and exclaiming and warning the footmen at every step. She heard his voice recede into the distance
—
“T
ake care! Do not jostle her. Mind the furniture!
”
—
as the footmen carried Hannah into the library.

Cynthia
was the last to climb the steps to the entrance. As she entered the hall, stripping off her gloves, she saw Cummings pull Derek aside and whisper something to him that made his face go taut with excitement and tension. Derek immediately left Cummings and came to her. She could not help noticing, with a pang compounded of joy and regret, that his instinct was to include her in whatever was important to him.

“T
hat
was
the surgeon
’
s gig,
”
he told her in a lowered tone.
“B
ut he did not come for Lady Hannah. He was already on his way when I sent for him
—
and he
has brought the midwife
.
”

“O
h! I am so glad. Lady Malcolm
’
s time has come upon her?
”

Derek nodded, then gave a short laugh.
“I’
m glad as well, if it means her ordeal will soon be over. Can
’
t help feeling a bit anxious, though.
”

“O
f course. But I
’
m sure all will be well. Will the surgeon have an opportunity to look at Hannah, too?
”

“O
h, aye, babies take a great deal of time
—
from what I hear
—
and, of course, the midwife will be with Natalie. Malcolm, too.
”

Cynthia
was startled.
“L
ord Malcolm! Oh, you must be mistaken. No man would stay with his wife at such a time.
”

Derek laughed, shaking his head.
“Y
ou don
’
t know Malcolm. He
’
ll refuse to leave her side. When Pippa was born, he was nearly as exhausted as Natalie by the end of it.
”

“I’
ve never heard of such a thing.
”
Cynthia
stared at him, amazed.
“M
ost men won
’
t stay in the same house while their children are being born, let alone in the same room. And I imagine most wives would prefer they go off to their clubs or their stables or wherever they go, rather than hang about. Why does the surgeon permit it? I would think a husband would be very much in the way.
”

“N
ot Malcolm. He evidently makes himself useful. Talking to Natalie, rooting her on and so forth. Wiping her face. Fanning her. Whatever she needs.
”

“G
racious.
”
Cynthia
bit her lip. She could not imagine wanting her husband near her during the ordeal of childbirth. From what she understood, which was not much, a woman neither looked nor felt her best at such a time. And everything she knew about men
—
which, again, was probably not much
—
had led her to believe that, to them, a woman
’
s appearance and demeanor were so important, it would be impossible for a man
’
s love to survive the sight of his wife in labor.

But as the day wore on, she found herself wondering if this was yet another long-held belief she must question. The list, she reflected bitterly, was growing rather long.

An expectant hush permeated Oldham Park, punctuated with the occasional sound of running feet and doors slamming overhead. Housemaids carrying towels and basins hurried up and down the stairs, their young faces shining with a sense of their own importance. The surgeon did come in to take a look at Hannah
’
s knee, in company with Lady Grafton, but his examination was fairly perfunctory and neither he nor Hannah
’
s mother stayed long. He recommended elevation, which was already being done, and cold cloths
—“
ice, if you have it; fifteen minutes on, then fifteen minutes off
”
—
to take down the swelling. He promised to look at her again in twenty-four hours or so, but apologetically bowed himself out in record time. Mr. Ellsworth was indignant at the surgeon
’
s evident haste, but Hannah seemed relieved. She confessed that she had been terrified that he would recommend cupping, a procedure she dreaded.

Cynthia
remained with Hannah and Mr. Ellsworth in the library, making sporadic conversation and feeling herself very much a third wheel. Derek had, understandably, disappeared for the afternoon. He came down to the library near teatime, looking drawn and rather pale.

Cynthia
rose to her feet, wishing she could smooth the worry from his brow.
“M
r. Whittaker, we are so glad to see you. Is there any news?
”

He shook his head ruefully and took the cup of tea she handed him.
“T
hanks very much,
”
he said absently, sinking onto a chair.
“N
o, no real news. I
’
m told that Natalie
’
s pains began near daybreak, but she said nothing until she was certain
—
and by then, you know, we had left for the moor.
”

“I
t does seem to take a frightful amount of time,
”
said Hannah sympathetically.
“B
ut, as I suppose you are aware, that
’
s not unusual.
”

“R
ight.
”
He stared down at the teacup in his hands. He did not drink it.
“I’
ve been hanging about in the second floor passage
—
near her room, you know, but not too near.
”
He gave a short, mirthless laugh.
“I
t
’
s bad enough, even at a distance.
”

Mr. Ellsworth looked horrified.
“I
should think so, dear chap. A frightful business! Why not wait here, with us? Daresay they
’
ll send up a shout the instant the child is born.
”

He shook his head.
“I
must be there. In case Natalie needs me.
”

“P
ho!
”
snorted Ellsworth, looking simultaneously sympathetic and nauseated.
“N
othing you can do, Whittaker. You
’
re only her brother, you know.
”

“I
know.
”
Derek
’
s lips tightened. He set his tea down, untasted, and rose to his feet.
“I’
ve no appetite, I
’
m afraid. Sorry. I
’
ll come back when I
’
m feeling more human.
”
He gave
Cynthia
a strained smile, sketched a brief bow, and was gone.

Ellsworth folded his arms across his chest.
“B
less me, what good does it do for Whittaker to lurk about in the passage?
”
he exclaimed.
“H
e
’
ll drive himself
distracted
.
”

For a moment,
Cynthia
itched to tell Mr. Ellsworth what a booberkin he was. She folded her hands in her lap instead, and forced herself to speak politely.
“H
e did not like to say it, Mr. Ellsworth, but you know that Lady Malcolm sent for him because she has been feeling poorly. It would be a sad thing indeed, were he to miss the chance to tell her goodbye.
”

Mr. Ellsworth looked shocked and Hannah gasped, then covered her mouth with her hands.
Cynthia
blushed.
“I
should not have said it aloud, perhaps,
”
she admitted.
“A
nd naturally one assumes that the danger is slight. But I think that is why he is hovering as near her door as he can bear.
”

“O
h, poor Mr. Whittaker.
”
Hannah
’
s eyes filled with quick tears.
“W
hat a terrible thought. Do women still die in childbirth? One would think, with all the advances of modern science
—”

“D
o not distress yourself, my dear Hannah,
”
said Ellsworth earnestly.
“A
s Lady
Cynthia
has said, the danger is doubtless very slight. And whatever becomes of Lady Malcolm, you must devote your energies to getting well.
”

“I
am perfectly well,
”
declared Hannah, waving her hand dismissively.
“A
sore knee is merely a trifle. Poor Aunt Natalie! I can think of nothing else.
”

This was doubtless a noble sentiment, but
Cynthia
had to turn away to hide her smile. It did seem that Hannah
’
s mind was fully occupied, but not in thinking of her aunt
’
s travails. Despite her lingering discomfort, she visibly glowed as she basked in John Ellsworth
’
s undivided attention.

Hannah
’
s helplessness had evidently made her an object of interest. Mr. Ellsworth sat at her right hand, in a chair drawn very close to the sofa where she lay, and scarcely took his eyes from her.
Cynthia
was amused to see how intently his gaze fastened on Hannah
’
s face, and how alive he seemed to be to her every need as he waited on her, hand and foot. Was the ice making her cold? He jumped up and stirred the fire. Was she too warm now? He removed the rug that covered her legs. Cold again? Back came the rug. The sun, traveling across the sky, eventually slanted through the windows and struck her face. He hurried to the window embrasure and drew the draperies to her precise requirements
—
enough light, but not too much. And every quarter of an hour, like clockwork, he alternately took the cold cloths from her or handed her fresh ones, to make sure the surgeon
’
s orders were followed to the letter.

It was really a remarkable performance.
Cynthia
remembered what Hannah had told her earlier, of his assiduous attentions when she was a child with measles, and had to stifle a laugh. If illness and injury brought out the best in John Ellsworth, he
’
d turn Hannah into an imaginary invalid within a decade.

If, of course, he married her. That thought ran a chill of depression down
Cynthia
’
s spine. If Mr. Ellsworth continued to dance attendance on Hannah, Mama would eventually notice it
—
and she would be beside herself with anger.

There was not a doubt in
Cynthia
’
s mind that her mother would blame her for this turn of events. Mama was utterly convinced that all
Cynthia
need do to attract any man alive was crook her little finger, and whoever he was, he would come running. No amount of evidence to the contrary seemed able to shake this belief; Mama was supremely confident of
Cynthia
’
s superiority to every other marriageable female. She supposed it was a mark of her mother
’
s love for her, in a way
... but these unrealistic expectations were wreaking havoc.