All the Sweet Tomorrows

helped Skye up onto a table that had been prepared with a mattress and clean linens. Eibhlin washed her hands thoroughly, and then began a gentle examination of her patient. Skye was but half dilated as the nun slipped a hand within her sister's body. Scarcely breathing, Eibhlin reached out and found what she had been expecting. A soft Celtic curse escaped her as she withdrew her hand.

'What is it?' Skye was instantly alert.

Eibhlin washed her hands again. 'The babe is turned the wrong way,' she said. 'Tis breach.'

'Will it right itself?'

'Perhaps. The situation is not yet acute, and so I think we can wait a bit.'

Skye was helped from the table, and with grim concentration she began to pace back and forth, Adam walking with her. Knowing what was to come, Gaby and Eibhlin both took the opportunity to sit down and rest.

The pains began to come with greater regularity now, and finally after several hours Eibhlin felt she must examine her sister once more. This time Skye was fully dilated, but the baby had still not turned itself correctly. It was well past midnight, and now May 1st.

“I’ll have to try and turn the child myself,' Eibhlin told her sister.

'Can you do it?' Skye returned.

'I’ve done it successfully many times,' was her answer. 'Don't worry, Skye. It will be all right.'

Skye tried to keep her mind off what her sister was doing while Adam sat by her head and sought to comfort her by talking. She had not wanted this bastard child, but suddenly, now that the babe was in danger, Skye's maternal instincts all rushed forward as she silently prayed all would be well.

“There!' Eibhlin said triumphantly. 'Now, sister, bear down so we may get this child quickly into the world!'

“The infant is turned?' Gaby sounded anxious.

'Yes, Madame la Comtesse, the child is properly positioned now to be born. Look! You can even see its head.'

A mighty pain tore through Skye, forcing a cry from between her lips. Instinct took over and she pushed hard to force the child from her body. Adam mopped her steaming brow with a cool cloth, and she saw that he was white about the lips. She was suddenly reminded of Geoffrey Southwood, who had helped her to birth their son in a barge on the Thames. If only Adam could stay by her as Geoffrey once had, she thought. She knew that, like Geoffrey, Adam was a man of great sensitivity who would treasure the memory of the birth.

Another pain cut into her, and she heard Gaby cry, 'Ah, ma fille, the child is being born!'

'We've got the head and shoulders, sister,' Eibhlin said. 'Just a little more, dearest!'

Skye felt the proximity of victory, and it showed in her face, for Adam said, 'I want to see the baby coming from your body, sweetheart.'

'Yes! Yes!' she said urgently through gritted teeth, and he stood up and went to stay by Eibhlin. She watched him with an almost pagan joy, for the look on his face was one of both wonder and amazement. Then he caught her gaze with his own for a quick minute, and the love and admiration that flowed from him gave her new and incredible strength. At the next pain she bore down as hard as she could, and she actually felt the baby sliding from her body. There was a tiny hiccough, and then a small cry of outrage as the infant was born and took its first breath.

''Tis a little girl,' Eibhlin said with a smile. 'A perfect little girl!'

'Give her to me,' Gaby said, holding out her hands for the baby. 'I will clean her off so she may be properly presented to her mama and papa.' She took the baby from Eibhlin, and Skye laughed with delight as Adam's eyes widened with pleasure at the sight of the baby. She was, she decided, going to love the child no matter the manner in which it was conceived, and more important, Adam loved it. Another pain knifed through her, and Skye worked to rid herself of the afterbirth.

Eibhlin worked swiftly and efficiently to finish with Skye the job of the birthing. As Mignon carried off the basin holding the afterbirth the nun cleaned away all traces of Skye's travail. 'You've been torn a bit,' she said, 'by the size of the child. She is a big girl. Chew on this herb, sister, for I shall have to stitch you up.' She handed Skye a piece of something green, and Skye obediently put the green herb in her mouth and grimaced, for it was bitter in taste.

Within Skye's sight, Gaby, watched by Adam, worked to make the baby fresh and pretty for its parents. Suddenly Adam's mother gave a startled little cry. 'Mon Dieu! How can this be, but it is!' She turned to her big son, commanding, 'Adam, fetch Isabeau and Clarice at once! Vite! Vite!'

'Maman, it is the middle of the night,' he protested, 'and as proud as I am of the child, it can wait until morning to tell them of it.'

'Do as I say!' Gaby commanded again. 'Please, Adam, do not argue with me! Vite?”

With a shake of his head Adam stumbled from his apartments to fetch his sisters, Isabeau and Clarice, who had come to stay at Archambault at the news that Skye was in labor. Walking through the chilly halls of the chateau he found their rooms and, banging upon each door, called to them. The doors were opened by sleepy tiring women, who eyed Adam balefully when he told them to fetch their mistresses.

'What is it, Adam?' Isabeau came to her door, pulling a quilted velvet gown about her.

“The child is born, and Maman insists that you and Clarice come immediately.'

'Is Skye all right?' demanded Clarice, who had now come to her door.

'Both she and the child seem fine, but Maman has suddenly gone mad, I think.'

The two sisters looked at one another, and then pushing past their brother, they hurried down the hallway. Adam quickly followed them, and they re-entered the apartments shared by the de Mariscos.

'Maman, what is it?' Isabeau cried.

'Maman, are you all right?' Clarice echoed.

'Yes, mes filles, I am fine, but I need you both here because there has been a miracle, and both of you can help me prove the existence of that miracle.' Gaby picked up the newly born infant, which she had wrapped in a soft blanket. Carrying it over to Skye, she said, 'Ma