'See how fair and kind our king is?' Geoffrey remarked. 'There was never anything to fear, was there?'
'Fear? I was never afraid!'
Geoffrey laughed at Elizabeth 's obvious lie and reached for her. He wasn't a second too soon and caught her just in time. His strong and courageous wife fainted in his arms.
'You are sure?'
'I am most sure.'
Elizabeth was snuggled against Geoffrey late that night. They had just made love, and Geoffrey was about to fall asleep when Elizabeth decided to tell him about the baby. 'You are pleased?'
'I am,' Geoffrey stated. He placed his hand on Elizabeth 's stomach and kissed her again. 'I am the luckiest man in the world,' he said. 'Soon I will have a warrior to train. He will be healthy and strong and the image of his father.'
'You are most humble,' Elizabeth teased, smiling.
'We will take our time going home,' Geoffrey remarked. 'You must take every care, wife. Do not concern yourself with Belwain,' he added.
'I will not,' Elizabeth agreed. 'I know that you will deal with him when the time is right. He already suffers, losing what he most wanted,' she said. 'Montwright and Thomas are both safe from him.'
'I will worry while you carry this child. If anything should happen to you…'
'Do not concern yourself,' Elizabeth soothed. 'All will be well. When the time comes, I will be just like you, Geoffrey. I will be strong and courageous and will do my duty. I will give birth with honor and will not make a sound of protest.'
She screamed like a banshee. Geoffrey held her hand during the long hours of labor, echoing her distress with greater shouts of his own, until he was forced from their bedroom by a disgusted midwife.
Elslow observed it all and remarked to Roger that it was without a doubt the loudest birth ever recorded in history.
Elizabeth finally produced the child and gave Geoffrey his warrior. Geoffrey was overwhelmed with pleasure and gratitude.
The warrior was perfect. They named her Mary, in memory of Elizabeth 's mother.
