It had only been three quarters of an hour since he had been ejected from the bed chamber. It seemed far longer.
An ear splitting yell halted him and he rushed to the door. Nobody was going to keep him away from her not when she was in such distress. Bursting in without knocking he was rocked back on his heels at what he saw.
A wriggling, red smeared object still attached to Isobel, was resting on her stomach. Ignoring the shocked exclamations of the nanny and housekeeper he surged forward.
“Alexander, you should not be here, but I’m glad you are. See, we have a daughter, isn’t she beautiful?”
He took Isobel’s sweaty hand and kissed the palm. “Not as beautiful as her mother. How are you? I heard you scream, I thought things had gone wrong.”
“My lord, it isn’t seemly for you to be in here. I must insist you leave at once and allow us to complete the delivery.”
“Please, my love, come back later when everything is clean and tidy.”
He found himself all but bundled from the room. As the door closed firmly behind him he realised he had not looked at his daughter, had been more concerned for his wife than his child. Would his omission have been noticed?
Isobel watched him leave with a heavy heart. He had wanted a son and was obviously bitterly disappointed they had a daughter instead for he’d scarcely glanced at her, given her no more attention than a new born kitten.
“Lucinda Rose, that’s what I shall call you, little one. I think you’re a beautiful little girl but maybe I’m a trifle biased.”
“Shall I take Lady Lucinda and give her a nice bath, your grace?” Nanny Cooper beamed down at both of them. She could see how lovely the new arrival was even if her papa could not.
“Is she a good size, Nanny? She’s almost four weeks early you know.” The baby was gently removed from her arms and wrapped in a warm towel. Mary was still hovering at the end of the bed her work not quite done.
“Lady Lucinda is a perfect baby, no smaller than many I’ve delivered that are full term. I should think she will weigh about six pounds or perhaps a little more.”
Isobel flopped back on the pillows whilst Mary dealt with the arrival of the afterbirth. Thankfully this was less painful than producing Lucinda. “I should dearly like a warm bath, is that allowed so soon after giving birth?”
Mary smiled. “You must do as you please, my lady. I should think a lovely soak would do you a power of good. I shall arrange for the water to be brought up, then whilst I assist you with your ablutions, the girls can tidy up in here.”
No one referred to the fact that Alexander had burst in when he was not wanted or that he had not admired his new daughter. “Nanny, when do I get to feed my daughter?”
“As soon as you’re both clean and tidy I shall return with your baby, my lady.”
“Mary, I think I had better remove myself to the bathroom before Dr Jamieson arrives. He’s a mite old- fashioned and will probably expect me to remain in my bed for the next three weeks. Apart from being a little sore and fatigued I am remarkably well, the experience was not half as bad as I’d been led to believe.”
“That’s because it was all over in a flash, next time you might not be so lucky.”
“I wonder why Lucinda arrived three and a half weeks early when she isn’t a particularly large baby.”
“You were so big because you carried excessive amounts of fluid, with your next pregnancy everything might be different.”
This was the second time Mary had referred to another child - although it was imperative she produced a son eventually -, at the moment the thought of another nine months increasing filled her with horror. She was eager to get back to riding every morning. Until Alexander could assure her his attentions would not result in a baby she was going to make him remain in his old chambers.
They had already agreed that during her lying in they would sleep apart. One thing was certain; as soon as they were sharing a bed he would want to make love to her. She had no wish to carry another child for at least a year but she would not be incapable of refusing him.
Dr Jamieson arrived when she was safely back in her bed with Lucinda suckling contentedly. Alexander had not reappeared even though word had been sent to him that both she and the baby were ready to be visited. Where was he? Why didn’t he come?
“My lady, I don’t believe there is any need to examine either you or the baby. I can see immediately you’re both in excellent health. However, if you’ll forgive me, it is better to be safe than sorry and I shall just give you a cursory look over.”
After enduring the indignities of childbirth his examination was as nothing. He declared she was a perfect mother and should be able to produce any amount of children without difficulty. She was getting decidedly tired of being told to reproduce as often as possible. When he left dawn had broken and the birds were singing as if in celebration of the new arrival.
Nanny had taken the infant to the nursery insisting a new mother must sleep. She had promised to return when Lucinda needed her next feed. Still
Fifteen minutes trickled past before her abigail returned. “My lady, we have searched the house as best we can and can’t discover him anywhere. Should we make enquiries in the stable yard?”
“No, Ellie, you get to your bed— no doubt everything will be made clear in the morning.”
Instead of falling into a satisfied slumber Isobel curled up and buried her face in the pillows fighting back her tears. This should have been a wonderful time, a shared experience. Why had he abandoned them now?
Alexander stared at the closed door tempted to knock, to insist he be allowed in to hold his baby but he knew this would be unpopular. Men were not wanted when babies were born. He must find something to occupy his time until his two darlings were ready to receive him.
Taking a candlestick he wandered downstairs and into his study. It would be dawn soon, he would open the shutters and the French doors and stretch out on the day bed and listen to the birds. When the sun came up he would rouse Duncan, get himself shaved and return to Isobel and his daughter.
He should have found himself some clothes before he left. He could hardly be discovered dozing downstairs with nothing on but his bed-robe. All his garments were now installed in the closets at the rear of the house and he couldn’t go back there for the moment. Devil take it! However, there were still some items in the guest rooms he’d occupied in the east wing.
Exiting via the doors that lead onto the terrace he headed for the east side of the house. By the time he found a window he could prise up his feet were sore and he was more than a little irritated. All the rooms were under covers whilst the workmen improved the kitchens, installed bathing rooms, and repaired the roof.
Several times he trod on something sharp and his cursing echoed through the empty building. When he reached his destination he lit several candles before searching the closet. He was delighted to discover all the necessary undergarments, a pair of decent breeches and a shirt. However, the only footwear that had been abandoned here were evening slippers which looked decidedly odd but were better than continuing with bare feet.
There was still an hour before full light; he would catch up on his missed sleep. There was plenty of time before he could present himself at Isobel’s door. As he relaxed his eyes misted. He was the luckiest man in England. Six months ago he had been in despair, now he had a wife and daughter and the rest of his life to look forward to.
The sound of banging and hammering woke him. He jolted awake. Dammit to hell! He’d overslept—Isobel must wonder what had become of him. As he raced back through the house workmen scattered in all directions, buckets were dropped, ladders toppled over but he ignored the chaos. Would the feeble explanation that he’d fallen asleep be enough to make up for his disastrous lack of attention to his new daughter and wife?
“There you are, little one, I don’t think you could take another morsel even if you tried.” Isobel rested the baby on her shoulder and rubbed her back as Nanny Cooper had shown her. It would seem infants needed to bring up their wind before they could settle back to sleep.
