Page 39 of A Fine Scottish Spell (The Magical Matchmakers of Seven Cairns #2)

“I am bigger than your biggest Highland cow,” Emily said through clenched teeth. She waddled around the solar, rubbing the sides of her enormous belly. “If I don’t have these two soon, I am going to split open like an over-ripe watermelon.”

All Gryffe could do was smile because, in his opinion, she was absolutely exquisite in every way. “Ye are the most glorious woman I have ever seen, my own. Yer beauty is beyond compare.”

She stopped pacing long enough to throw a pillow at him. “Stop patronizing me! I am not a child!”

No. She was not a child, because children weren’t nearly so dangerous when their tantrums overtook them. Most children didn’t accidentally set fire to their surroundings because their anger caused their magic to spark and flare without being summoned.

He fell in step beside her. “What can I do to help ye, my own?”

“You can never have sex with me again!”

While he wasn’t about to agree to that, instinct advised he best choose a reply with care. “What might I do to ease yer misery at this particular moment?”

She threw herself into his arms and crumpled into tears as she had done throughout the pregnancy after being uncontrollably surly. “I’m sorry to be such a bitch. I feel so much worse today. My belly keeps spasming into a rock hard pyramid, and my lower back is killing me.”

“Spasming?” He was no expert on women giving birth, but he’d tended many a prized Highland cow, and their sides sometimes did as she described when they were trying to bring forth a calf. “Describe yer spasming, my love.”

“Here.” She grabbed his hand and pressed it atop her rounded middle. “It’s doing it now. Feel it? One of the babies must be stretching—either that or building a brick wall.”

Excitement building, he struggled to keep his tone even, in case he was wrong. “Have ye spoken to Tayda about this? Since old Grennove took to her bed and Breenoa is so damned flighty, she intends to help ye bring the babies into this world. She’s been training with the Weavers for months now.”

“I thought Mairwen was going to come.” Emily groaned and doubled over. “On second thought, whoever is coming needs to get here. I don’t care if this does turn out to be gas or false labor.”

Holding her tightly, Gryffe aimed his roaring bellow at the door. “Mrs. Thistlebran!”

Emily sidled such a disbelieving look of disgust at him that he almost laughed, but knew he didn’t dare. “The bell would work better, you know.”

“I canna reach the bell at present because I am not letting go of ye. Shall we walk to the bedchamber now?”

“Probably so. But I don’t want to make a mess of the bed when my waters break, so I’m not getting into it until after that happens.”

“I feel certain Inalfi and Tayda will have that well in hand. The two have been preparing for this grand day for a while now.”

“I was going to crochet another pair of blankets for the cradles.” She halted and doubled over again, holding onto him so tightly that her fingernails dug into his hand. He didn’t care. She could shred him to bits if need be.

“While they sleep, ye can crochet more.” He carefully walked her down the hallway, shortening his steps to match hers. “Mrs. Thistlebran!”

“I am here, my chieftain!” The housekeeper huffed and puffed as she toddled around the corner at a remarkable speed. “Oh dear. Time to fetch the Weaver, aye? And alert Lady Tayda?”

“Aye. Now!”

“And send word to Nicnevin,” Emily said through another groan. “She wanted to be here during labor rather than waiting till after.”

“Feckin’ hell,” Gryffe muttered.

“If I have to be miserable,” Emily said, “so do you.” She halted and leaned against the doorpost. “Wait. I have to rest here a minute. I feel like the babies are hanging down to my knees.”

“What?” Alarmed, Gryffe yanked up her skirts. Thankfully, his bairns weren’t dangling downward like wee bats.

She smacked his hands away. “I said it felt like it. You really think I’d be this calm if the babies were coming out right here in the hall?”

“Probably not.”

“Thank you.”

“Why in the name of all the realms have ye got her standing here in the hallway?” Tayda demanded as she came around the same corner Mrs. Thistlebran had just vacated. “We must get her changed into her birthing shift and as comfortable as possible in the bed.”

“I dinna rush my wife,” Gryffe answered with a warning growl. “When she asks me to wait and let her catch her breath, I do so. And might I remind ye to whom ye’re speaking?”

Tayda immediately bowed her head. “Forgive me, my prince. I was overcome with the excitement of the situation. Might I please take over now and help our lady bring the precious bairns into the world?”

“Absolutely.” Gryffe started to step away but Emily clutched him tighter.

“Don’t leave me!”

“But…”

The fear and pleading in her eyes undid him.

“I swear not to leave until ye send me away,” he promised as he helped her through the door.

“I’m afraid,” she whispered. “I keep remembering last time, even though this time is so much different.”

That very reason had caused him to try to convince her to return to her time and have the babies there in the safety of one of her hospitals.

But she had adamantly refused, since he could never set foot past the boundaries of Seven Cairns.

While it honored him that she had made such a choice, it worried him as well.

Her safety and the safety of the wee ones were so much more important than anything else in creation.

But he couldn’t tell her any of that. Not now. Now she needed reassurance.

“Yer blessed Cara is smiling down on ye,” he said. “She’ll keep our wee ones safe through this and yerself as well.”

“I so want to believe that. It doesn’t matter if I die, I just want them to live.”

Her words struck terror into his heart, making him halt and lift her face to his. “Ye willna die and leave me. I refuse to allow it. Do ye ken what I am telling ye?”

“But the goddesses said?—”

“I dinna give a feckin’ damn what those three said. Ye know how they lie.” He swept her unwieldy self into his arms and carried her the rest of the way to the bed. “Swear to me now. Ye believe ye shall live and be the mother our beloved wee ones need. Swear it, I say!”

“I swear,” she said, but still sounded afraid. She caught hold of him with both hands. “Stay with me and keep me safe.”

“I am here and here I shall stay.” He sat on the bed and pulled her back against him as she curled into herself with another contraction.

“Lift her, my chieftain,” Inalfi said as she and Tayda rushed forward with heavier linens. “We must spread the cloths to shield the bed for when her waters break.”

“We’ll start on this side and bring the coverings over to spread beneath her,” Tayda said. “Lift her when we say.”

“Where is Mairwen?” Emily asked. “I want her here to help with the babies.”

“Mrs. Thistebran told Ferris to message her with the Defender’s way. I am sure she’ll be here quicker than quick.” Tayda nodded at Gryffe. “Lift our lady now, chieftain.”

He cradled her in his arms once more, holding her as easily as a wee babe.

“How can you hoist me up with no effort at all when I’m this size? You’re going to throw out your back.” With her forehead peppered with sweat and her curls a mess, Emily had never looked more beautiful. He couldn’t resist stealing a kiss.

“Ye are perfect as always, my love.” He accepted a cool cloth from Inalfi and wiped Emily’s face. “Absolute perfection, and I’m nay just talking out me arse like some fool intent on impressing ye. I am simply stating that which is true.”

She sniffed and more tears overflowed. “I love you so much.” She curled tighter and groaned again.

“And I love ye more than ye will ever know.” He noticed Tayda and Inalfi standing close by with more linens and a simple chemise that would be a great deal more comfortable than the dress his dear one currently wore. “Are ye able to let them help get ye changed? It might bring ye a little comfort.”

“I’ll take all the comfort I can get.” She patted his arm. “I guess I can let you go for a minute or two.”

“I shall be right here,” he promised.

“Good.”

“Ye intend to stay in here for the birth?” his mother asked from behind him.

He turned and bared his teeth at her. “Stop entering my bedchamber unannounced, ye ken?”

“Mrs. Thistebran summoned me,” Nicnevin said with a warning hiss. “I assumed that meant I was expected.”

“Don’t fight,” Emily ordered. “Not today. Only good and positive ju ju in this room to welcome my babies.”

“ Ju ju ?” Nicnevin mouthed at Gryffe.

He shrugged, not knowing what it was either. But if it mattered to Emily, it mattered to him. “We only fight for ye, my love, and for the wee bairns to hurry and join us.”

“Absolutely,” Nicnevin said. “I see the cradles are ready and waiting. My artisans are so proud to be the first for many an age to provide such special furniture for the royal family.”

“Many an age?” Emily asked, back in bed now and propped among dozens of pillows. She fixed Gryffe with a curious look. “How old are you?”

“Why, he is in his prime, dear daughter,” Nicnevin said before Gryffe could answer. “He’s but a mere three hundred and forty mortal years.”

The way Emily’s eyelids fluttered sent a surge of panic through him. He dove to her side. “Emily!”

“Three hundred and forty years?” she repeated slowly while appearing to struggle to draw deep breaths.

“Aye.”

“And you never thought to tell me that before now?”

“I nay thought it mattered.”

“You nay thought it mattered ? Are you insane? I am thirty-two years old, and if I’m lucky, I’ll live until I’m well into my eighties or maybe even nineties. That doesn’t concern you?”

“Nay, my love,” he said. “Because as long as ye remain in this realm with me, ye will age the same as I.”

She stared at him. “Are you serious?”

“Aye.”

“What else have you not told me?”

“If we ever decide to reside in the Dark Kingdom, we will live even longer.”

“Even longer than what?”