Deceived

Cally. This child will soon be born, early though he may be, and you will be a mother! How wonderful! I cannot wait until St. John and I produce.'

Cally wrinkled her nose. 'You will feel different when you are at my stage of life,' she said. Then she brightened. 'If the baby comes early, I shall be able to be back in London for Christmas. Perhaps it is all to the good. Ahhhhhhh! Nasty little beast! You don't think being born early will harm it, do you, Aurora?'

'Now, what would your sister, and her a maiden still, know about such things, your grace?' Martha said, and then she smiled at Cally. 'Plenty of babies come early, and none the worse for it. Besides, 'taint that early. You had only a few more weeks to go.'

Cally looked a bit more reassured, but then she said piteously, 'Aurora, do not leave me. Please! I am so afraid.'

'I won't leave you, little sister,' Aurora said softly, and she sat down on the bed next to Calandra. 'Do you know that in all the months you have carried your child, you have never once said what you would call him. What name do you favor?'

'I suppose they will want to call him after his father,' Cally said glumly. ' 'Tis tradition to call the Hawkesworth heir James or Charles. Valerian is the duke's middle name. His first is James, like his grandfather. I don't really care.'

'But if you did,' Aurora persisted gently, 'what would you name this baby if the choice was all yours?'

'Robert, after Papa,' Cally said.

'And if it is a little girl?'

'God forbid!' Cally cried, and then, 'Ahhhhh! Why does it hurt so much? I did not know it would hurt so!'

Aurora took a cool cloth that Martha handed her and lay it on her sister's head. 'I am certain it is a boy, but if it were a girl? The poor little mite must have a name, and it cannot be Robert.'

'Charlotte, after the queen,' Cally murmured, ever mindful of the social consequences of naming a daughter after the king's bride.

The bedchamber door opened and the duke entered, coming over to the bed. 'Is she in labor?' he asked Aurora.

'I think so, your grace,' Martha answered him. 'Miss Aurora couldn't know the answer to such a thing. She has never been around a woman in this condition. I have. It's early, but not too early.'

'Dr. Michaels has been sent for,' Aurora said reassuringly.

'Should you be here?' he asked her gently.

'No, she shouldn't,' Martha said firmly.

'Cally wants me here,' Aurora replied. 'Just until the doctor comes? Please, Valerian. Cally is frightened. It cannot be good for her, or for the baby, if she is in terror.' She placed a pleading hand upon the sleeve of his dressing gown, her look importuning him to acquiesce.

'Ahhh!' Cally moaned, and she began to cry. 'It hurts so!'

He nodded. 'Until the doctor says you must go,' he told her. 'I will await him downstairs.' He leaned over and told Cally, 'You are being very brave, my dear, and I thank you.' Then he kissed her on the forehead and left the room.

'I hate him!' Cally exclaimed.

'Do not say it, I pray you,' Aurora answered her sister.

I do! If it were not for him, I should not be in such pain. I didn't want a child. I just wanted to be the Duchess of Farminster, and live in London, and give exquisite parties. I did not know I should have to do this. Ahhhhh!' She looked accusingly at her sister. 'It is all your fault, Aurora! You did not tell me it would be like this!'

'Keep your voice down,' Aurora warned Cally. 'I did not tell you it would be like anything. I didn't know what it would be like to be the Duchess of Farminster. I just knew I didn't want to marry a stranger. You, however, were willing to do just that in order to be a duchess, Cally. I will share the blame, if there is any blame, but I will most certainly not take full responsibility for your actions!'

Calandra turned her head away from Aurora's gaze. They waited now in silence as the minutes ticked by, the laboring woman crying out when the pains overtook her, but there was little they could do until Dr. Michaels arrived. A kettle was brought from the kitchens, filled with water, and set in the coals of the fireplace to heat. Several stacks of clean cloths and clean linens were placed conveniently. The ducal cradle was positioned by the fireplace in readiness for its occupant.

Downstairs, the duke paced back and forth, nervously awaiting the arrival of Dr. Michaels. He was surprised when a total stranger was escorted into the house by one of his grooms. He was a tall, well-set gentleman with a ruddy complexion.

'Your grace? I am William Carstairs, doctor of medicine. I am Edward Michaels's cousin, and his new partner. Dr. Michaels has gone to York to see his ailing father. I was given to understand that her grace was not due to deliver until the end of next month, or possibly the middle of the following month.'

'We do not even know if Calandra is in labor, but she is in pain,' the duke said, holding out his hand and shaking that of the doctor. 'Thank you for coming. It is our first child, and no one in the house except my elderly grandmother really knows about childbirth. We chose not to awaken the dowager, as she has had an active day with my brother-in-law's wedding to Miss Bowen. We had intended calling you in tomorrow at any rate, as Calandra has not looked particularly herself of late.'

The doctor nodded. 'Let us go upstairs, then,' he said.

As he entered Cally's bedchamber, Martha's eyes grew wide with recognition. 'Dr. Carstairs,' she said, surprised.

'Martha? Martha Jones? What on earth are you doing here?' Then his eye spied Aurora. 'And Miss Aurora?'

Aurora arose from her place upon the bed. 'It is Cally, Dr. Carstairs. She is in terrible pain with this child.'

The doctor nodded, and then said to the duke, 'Take Miss Aurora from the room while I examine her sister.'

Cally weakly protested, but was scarcely heard as the doctor turned his full attention to her.

'How do you know Dr. Carstairs?' the duke asked Aurora as he escorted her from the bedroom.

'He came from Jamaica with us when Mama married Papa. My father didn't want to lose another wife in childbirth for lack of proper medical attention,' she explained. 'He was with us for ten years, and in that time taught several of the more intelligent slaves and bondsmen the art of doctoring so we would always have someone to attend to our needs should there be illness or injury among us. Where is Dr. Michaels? Why didn't he come?'

The duke explained, and Aurora nodded. They stood silently for several minutes, and then the doctor joined them.

'Your wife is indeed in labor, your grace,' he announced. 'It is, however, a difficult labor, and the child is not quite turned properly, so I expect it will be some hours before she delivers.' He turned to Aurora. 'Go to bed, child. This is not the place for you now, although remembering your bravery, I know you would remain if I let you, Miss Aurora. I will not, however. Cally will be fine in my company, and I will keep Martha and Sally with me to help. We will send you word of your sister's progress as it develops.'

'Let me say good night to her at least,' Aurora begged, and the doctor nodded, escorting her back into the bedchamber.