Page 41

Lonsdale House

London

T he entry was still and dark.

That wasn’t its usual state. Normally, there were children playing about, attacking anyone who entered the manse, even attacking the servants going about their duties.

Poor Marcellus had endured the brunt of the lively de Lohr children, and there were many—Christopher, the eldest, also known as Christie, followed by Kurtis, twins Bingham and Blakeney, Myles, and little Tevin.

The youngest child, Abigail, was still an infant and rarely out of her mother’s sight, but the boys—all six of them between the ages of three and nine—ruled Lonsdale House.

But today, there was no laughter of children inside.

In fact, there hadn’t been in almost two months, ever since the arrival of the lovely but ill pregnant woman from St. Blitha’s.

Morgen’s wife and mother to the gang of ruffians, Kirra St. Hever de Lohr, had chased her children outside with their nurse to keep the house quiet, and outside was where they remained.

It had become their kingdom, much to the dismay of the de Lohr soldiers.

Instead of fighting enemies, they were fighting off their lord’s six little boys, all of whom were wily, smart, and cunning.

Purses were stolen, daggers swiped, but Marcellus had been given permission to take a firmer hand with the boys, so there was some order.

But not much.

Not enough.

However, the manse was quiet, and that was all Kirra was concerned with.

She had a very sickly young woman on her hands.

Her husband had told her that the woman was a distant cousin, from an unfamiliar branch of the family, and Kirra was to treat her with all due care and respect.

Not that Kirra wouldn’t have, had she known who the young woman really was…

Because she did.

After Morgen told her about the woman, she had overheard her husband speaking to a knight, the same knight who brought the young woman to Lonsdale.

Kirra hadn’t meant to eavesdrop, but it was clear the young woman had something of a past, and, for some reason, Morgen was trying to cover for her.

Kirra didn’t know why he should do that, but it didn’t matter.

Her husband wanted the poor lady to be tended to, and that was exactly what Kirra did.

Whatever the woman’s past was made no difference. Kirra was kind to her regardless.

Kindness was something Delaina had greatly appreciated, though in the de Lohr household, she was called Lady Violet.

That had been established the night Denys brought her to Lonsdale, and she went with it because that was what the Earl of Hereford and Worcester had introduced her as.

The countess had been with her daily, as had a physic from London who actually seemed to believe in sunlight and good food, and treated her weakness with things like eggs and meat and broth made from boiled bones.

Every so often, he’d put a powder in her boiled wine that made her feel relaxed and happy.

Since coming to Lonsdale, Delaina had felt distinctly better.

Like this morning. The house was silent when she awoke, feeling rested, but she could hear the distant sounds of children as the earl’s brood played outside.

In fact, they seemed closer today than they usually did, and Delaina was able to rise from the bed without pain and waddle over to the window, seeing that they were playing down by the river even though it was quite chilly on this early summer day.

She could see them chasing each other with sticks, smiling when the rambunctious twins went after one another and someone began screaming.

They really were great entertainment as she stood by the window and watched.

But down in her belly, something was stirring.

Though Delaina had never given birth before, she suspected the time was upon her because a dull ache had started in her back last night.

This morning, it seemed to radiate around to her belly and down her thighs.

It came and went, not particularly strong, but she had a feeling her child was coming very soon.

She was positively enormous, something even the physic commented on, and he’d once asked her about the size of the child’s father.

Big, was all Delaina had said.

For all the physic and the countess knew, Delaina’s husband was away on business for the king.

That was what the earl had told them, and they hadn’t asked any more than that.

Big didn’t really cover the size of Magnus de Wolfe.

He was so much more than brawn and breadth and bone.

Every day, she ached for him, wondering if he’d received the missive the earl had sent him.

That had been two months ago, the day she arrived, and she knew that it would take time for Magnus to receive it, far in the north as he was.

But that didn’t stop her from hoping, every single day, that he would make an appearance.

If he wanted to come, of course.

After all this time, she wouldn’t blame him if he didn’t.

“Good morn, my lady.”

The door to the chamber abruptly opened and Kirra entered, followed by servants with food and drink and water for washing.

Delaina turned from the window, smiling at a woman she genuinely liked.

She was blonde and lovely and cheery, but she also had a no-nonsense manner about her.

When Lady Worcester gave a command, men jumped.

“Good morn,” Delaina greeted her. “I was watching your children play by the river.”

Kirra came over to the window and peered through it. “Good heavens,” she said. “I hope no one falls in.”

Delaina grinned as she watched the twins wrestling one another. “There are several soldiers with them and their nurse,” she said. “Surely someone will fish them out if they fall in.”

Kirra was directing the servants to set the food and water down. “One would hope so,” she said. “Did I ever tell you that Christie and Kurtis and the twins built a raft once?”

Christie was what she called her eldest son, and Delaina laughed softly. “I am almost afraid to ask what happened.”

Kirra cast her a sidelong glance. “You jest, but you should ask that question seriously,” she said.

“Somehow, they managed to lash several small logs together. I have no idea where they got them, and they would never say, but I have long suspected that one of the soldiers helped them build it. They took it down to the river, and when they saw that it floated, they jumped onto it.”

Delaina was giggling, hand over her mouth. “Did they get very far?”

Kirra nodded. “Far, indeed,” she said. “They made it down to the next bend, where the Wellesbourne town home is located. Thank God that someone saw them struggling down the river, along the shore, and pulled them all in and marched them home to face my wrath. I have never been so angry in my life.”

Delaina couldn’t stop laughing. “Did they say where they were going?”

“Aye,” Kirra said, clearly agitated. “They were going to Cornwall to become pirates.”

Delaina thought that was positively delightful. “Thank God that they did not make it,” she said. “Coming to know them as I have, they would make excellent pirates, but Cornwall has enough of them. They would have competition.”

Kirra looked up from the meal she was removing from the tray. “Oh?” she said. “You know Cornwall?”

“I was born there.”

Kirra waggled her eyebrows. “Then you are far from home, my lady,” she said. “Now, sit and eat. The porridge is lovely and hot.”

Delaina’s smile faded somewhat. “It looks delicious,” she said, watching the servants filter out. When they were gone and the door shut, she made no move to eat. “My lady… may I ask you a question?”

“Of course.”

Delaina rubbed her big belly. “When you gave birth to your children, how did you know when…” She paused and started again. “ When it was time for them to be born. How did you know?”

Kirra snorted softly. “Trust me,” she said. “You will know. The pain will tell you that it is time.”

“Is the pain in your belly?”

“It can be,” Kirra said. “With Christie and Kurtis, it was mostly the same. Low in my belly, but with the twins, it was in my back. I always thought it was so strange that the pain was mostly in my back, but the midwife said it was because of the way the twins were situated in my womb.”

“Was there pain in your legs?”

“Very much,” Kirra said. Then she suddenly paused and peered strangely at Delaina. “Why are you asking? Are you having pain in your legs?”

Delaina nodded reluctantly. “Aye,” she said. “Also in my back and a little in my belly, but not much at all. Do you think it might be time?”

Kirra went to her and put her hands on Delaina’s belly. She stood there a moment, feeling the solid tightness of it. “Has there been any blood?”

“A little, but that has been constant.”

“Nothing more? No rush of waters?”

“Nay.”

Kirra removed her hands. “I would wager to say that your body is preparing itself for the birth,” she said. “And remember what the physic has told you—there is no need to fear. He does not see any reason why you should not survive the birth.”

“But I have been—”

Kirra cut her off, but not harshly. “The physic who saw you at St. Blitha’s was not a good physic,” she said.

“He was a fool, my dear. Our physic is quite competent, and he will bring his wife, the midwife, when it is time. They have delivered my last three children, and I can assure you that they know what they are doing. I do not want you to worry.”