happen. Surely, the roads will be clear before the holiday.”
Kitty said with a grin. “I’ll see to the invitation.” She handed him the beribboned ball.
“Lots of berries on this particular mistletoe,” he taunted as he looked down upon her.
“What shall you do with the berries, Thorne?” she asked in a breathy response. Suddenly, the man’s presence towered over Kitty in ways having nothing to do with the ladder.
“As is traditional, I’ll find a pretty girl lurking beneath the mistletoe. Then I’ll steal a berry and claim my kiss.”
Even over the noise of the common room, Darcy recognized Elizabeth’s light tread on the stairs. He had anticipated her joining him for over an hour. The men’s posturing had quickly grown old, and he desperately needed a few minutes alone with his wife. With Elizabeth, Darcy had realized that he could be more than an echo of his father, and he no longer searched for what these men didn’t know. He had earned the love of a remarkable woman — a woman of exceptional strength. Darcy needed only her for his happiness.
Then he saw her. Elizabeth swayed on the steps, her face pale with worry, and Darcy was immediately on his feet and moving in her direction. He caught her just as she lurched forward. “I have you,” he whispered close to her ear, and she sank into his embrace. “What is it?” He braced her stance with his body.
“I cannot do it,” she rasped.
“Do what?” he demanded. Elizabeth buried her face in his chest. “Tell me,” he said authoritatively.
Elizabeth looked at him, and Darcy recognized her fear. “Mrs. Joseph’s baby… I cannot deliver her baby.”
“Of course not,” Darcy began, but then what his wife really meant became clearer. “Do you mean to say that Mrs. Joseph is…?” He couldn’t say the words.
“Yes.” Elizabeth disengaged herself from his embrace.“I was in the room with Jane, but I know nothing beyond comforting my sister.”
Darcy took a deep breath. “First, let’s send Joseph to sit with his wife, and then you and I will speak to the Washingtons. Surely, there’s someone in the area who can serve as a midwife.”
“Do you think so?”
Elizabeth’s voice asked for reassurance, but Darcy held his own doubts. The nearest village was some fifteen miles away. “One thing at a time. Mrs. Joseph needs her husband. Stay here, and let me bring the man to us.”
Darcy left her on the steps and returned to the common room. No one below could observe her at the bend in the stairs. Leaning over Mr. Joseph, Darcy whispered, “Come with me.”
Joseph looked up in surprise.“Is something astray?” the man hissed.
“Just come,” Darcy insisted and turned to leave. He didn’t look back to see Joseph scramble to his feet.
Darcy returned to where Elizabeth waited. Turning, he braced her as Mr. Joseph joined them. “What has happened? Where is Mary?” Joseph demanded.
“You should go to her,” Elizabeth said softly. “Your child shall make an appearance in a few hours.”
Joseph looked like he might faint, but he bolted up the stairs, taking the last six steps two at a time.
“Southland, just the man I wanted to find,” Edward declared as he entered the library. Neither of them addressed their previous conversation. The colonel knew the man would act professionally. He didn’t have to guard against Southland’s maneuverings.
The lieutenant scrambled to his feet and came to attention. “I apologize, Sir. I should’ve informed you of my whereabouts.”
“We’re not on the front, Lieutenant,” Edward assured. “I simply require your assistance in arranging an entertainment.”
“I’m at your disposal, Sir.” The man remained in formal stance.
Edward’s eyebrow rose in amusement. “Then I can count on you to coordinate filling the bird bath.”
Southland flustered, “If that… if that’s what you require, Sir.”
Edward fought the desire to smile. “We should recruit Mr. Manneville to our efforts.”
“I assure you, Colonel, I need no assistance in filling a birdbath.”
Edward laughed easily. “Wait until you see it, Southland. You may have second thoughts.
“That cannot be,” Darcy protested.
“We’re fifteen miles south of Harrogate. Not close to Skipton or Bradford — at least, not under these conditions,” Mr. Washington explained. “The few area farms depend on each other for these needs.”
Elizabeth’s concern rose quickly. “What is Mrs. Joseph to do? Surely, someone in the neighborhood could assist us.”
“We’ve had no need of such services,” Mrs. Washington admitted sheepishly. “God never saw fit to bless Mr. Washington and me with our own children, and Nan be too young to be having her own brood. The girl need be taking a husband first.”
“But you know something of what a woman must go through. You can assist Mrs. Joseph with the delivery?” Elizabeth pleaded.
“I’m afraid not, Mrs. Darcy. I know nothing of birthing babies.”
Chapter 8
“So this is the birdbath.” Manneville smirked.
Edward laughed lightly. “Does it not resemble one? A gigantic birdbath?”
Southland looked on from the structure’s edge. “What the hell is it?”
Inspecting for any damage, Edward strolled leisurely about the circle. “When Darcy and I were boys, we believed it had been left behind by an ancient civilization — like the monoliths. As a young lad, my cousin envisioned it the creation of some visitor from the stars. It was Darcy’s mother who gave it the affectionate name of ‘The Birdbath.’ It’s made for great adventures,” he said in reminiscence. “Yet, in truth, no one knows for sure. The area is perfectly round and lined with flat rocks. Darcy’s father brought in engineers and covered the area with Parker’s cement. In the summer, the rain creates a shady place for a cooling splash. In the winter, we supplement the rain with water from the well over there.” He pointed to a small, bricked structure. “Then we let nature take its course. The birdbath makes a wonderful skating pond. Notice how the rain from the last two days has formed a solid base.” He gestured to the frozen surface. “We could add a coating or two today, and tomorrow we could skate upon the bowl.”
Southland analyzed the situation. “We should add a few buckets at a time. The surface would refreeze faster that way.”
“An apt evaluation,” the colonel summarized. “That means you would need to come out here every few hours to check on its progress. Can I entrust this project to you, Southland?”
The lieutenant bowed. “It’s a way to repay the Darcys for their generous welcome. It would be my honor, Sir.”
Manneville groaned. “I’m not looking forward to the cold, but I’m not afraid of a bit of hard labor. I’ll join you, Southland. Especially, if it’s a debt of honor.”
“Thank you, Gentlemen. I’ll send some footmen to help carry the water. We need another three to four inches of ice.”
