Page 67 of Bride Takes a Laird
Magnus sat on the bedside and cupped her face with both his hands. He brushed his lips on hers, lightly touching hers with affectionate kisses. “I wanted to come to ye when I found out ye had left. I was sorry to hear of the passing of your da and wanted to be here to ease your mourning.”
Kendra lowered her chin and huffed as agonized pain seemed to paralyze her. She couldn’t speak but only moan. As much as she tried not to scream, her throat grew louder with each groan. The pains were stronger than she’d thought they’d be and she realized she might not be as courageous as she’d hoped to be.
“Easy, sweetheart. Take slow breaths. Grip my hand if ye need to.” Magnus continued to hold her and when the pain eased and her breathimproved, he pulled back his head and gazed at her. “If I could take your pain, I would.”
She smiled at him and brushed his hair aside from his face. “I will bear it. It is my duty.”
His thumb grazed her cheek but his face remained serious. “Ye are a brave lass.”
Linet bustled into the chamber with Mistress Agnes following in her footsteps. The midwife appeared ready to take on the world. She smiled at her and gave a nod before setting her satchel on a nearby chair.
“My Lady Kendra, you be a little bit early but let us see where we are.” She approached the bed. “You, sir, must leave at once. Be gone.”
Kendra’s heart tensed. She wanted Magnus to stay and was about to say so, but when the midwife grumbled at her objection to him being there, she kept quiet.
Agnes stood on the other side of the bed and shook her head. “This is no place for a man. You must leave. Go on. She’s in safe hands with me. I have delivered many a baby.”
“Don’t leave, Magnus. Please, stay at least until I have the baby.” She drew a deep breath and moaned when another wave of pain returned.
“I am not leaving,” Magnus said in a gruff tone. “I’ll await in the hall. Linet, send for me the moment I’m able to return.” He leaned close and whispered in her ear, “Be strong, be brave, my love.” With a light kiss to her face, he rose, turned, and left the bedchamber.
Kendra wiped at the tears in her eyes. Magnus had come and that alone made her weepy. She pressed back against the mattress when an intense pain forced her to yell. After it had passed, she whispered, “Linet, if I die…”
“You will not die.” Linet sidled to the bed and grabbed her hand. She clasped it and Kendra squeezed it with force. “Speak no such nonsense. Now hold on, my friend, and we shall see this throughtogether. Let Agnes see what’s what.”
Agnes bade Linet to help her remove her nightdress. Kendra lay back and continued to moan. She clutched the bedding so tightly that her fingers dug into her palms. “I cannot do this because I am a coward. Please…” She moaned with such force that it turned into a growl.
Linet shifted her face so she would look at her. Kendra groaned louder and tried to breathe, but it was difficult. “You are not a coward, Kendra. Mistress Agnes will tell you what to do and you will listen to her direction.”
Kendra hastily wiped the tears that fell over her eyelashes. “I shall try… Aye, I will.”
“Your baby does not want to wait. It shouldn’t be too long now for he is coming fast.” Agnes remained at the end of the bed and rolled two blankets and shifted them beneath her knees. “This will help ease your back pain.”
“I cannot breathe. Open the window, Linet. I need air.” Kendra tried not to scream when the next pain came, so she gritted her teeth and groaned furiously.
“Nay, do not open that window,” Agnes said when she looked up. “We cannot risk evil spirits coming inside the chamber when the baby is born for it could enter the child.”
“I do not believe such nonsense,” Kendra said and tilted her head for Linet to open the window. “Open it, please, just for a moment or two. I need air.”
“’Tis cold out,” Linet said as a gush of cold air rushed through the window when she opened the shutter. “That’s enough for now.” She quickly closed it and went to the basin. When she returned to her, Linet put a cool cloth on her forehead. “That’s it. You’re doing well. Is she not a brave woman, Agnes?”
Agnes kept her focus between her legs and didn’t respond to Linet’s question. “I can see the baby’s head. When you wish to, push,My Lady, push with all your might.”
Kendra gripped the bedcovers, Linet’s hand, and squeezed her eyes shut. She bore down and pushed with all her strength. Rumbling in her throat rose and her breath hitched. She forced her mouth closed and squeezed her eyes shut. A moment later, she heard the sound of a wail and she opened her eyes.
“Oho, a little lad, My Lady. He appears to be healthy.” Agnes swooped the baby into her arms and wrapped him in a cover. “Lay still until I return to you and then we’ll get you cleaned up.” She took the baby and appeared to be cleaning him. She wiped his skin and smiled. “’Tis a handsome fellow, My Lady. You did well.”
Kendra’s eyes widened as she waited to see her baby. But then another pain came and she huffed. “Something is wrong… I feel it.”
Linet hurried to Agnes and took the baby from her. She cooed at the baby and gently rocked him. “What is happening? Why is she still having pains?”
Kendra flailed her legs until Agnes rushed back to her and lifted the bedcover. She pushed her legs apart and held her still. Kendra thought something terrible was happening and that she might succumb to the pain. She felt weakened and gasped for breath.
Agnes’s eyes rose and she pursed her lips before speaking. “Oho, there is another babe. I can see the head breaching you, My Lady. Take easy breaths and when you are ready, bear down.”
Kendra thought she’d expire from the pain but she did as the midwife instructed and took slow breaths, almost panting from her exertion. She felt the intensity of the pain building and when it became unbearable, she pushed, grunting with all her effort. Agnes stayed seated with her head practically between her knees.
“I cannot do this,” she said and huffed. “Make it cease.” Kendra moaned and didn’t think she could continue to push. Fear lodged in her throat and it overtook her will. She eased back and raised her chin. With her gaze on the ceiling, a sob caught in her throat. She cried andwept with a moan, knowing she’d failed. Exhaustion overrode her ability to heed the midwife and even so, she thrashed about the bed when the pains swarmed her lower back and legs.