“She does not wish to be in the bed,” Fortuity said while holding her sister’s other arm. “Walking has given her some ease.”
Both the accoucheur and the nurse glared at her as if shocked she had contradicted them.
Blessing yanked her arm free of the nurse’s hold and patted Fortuity. “Go to your task, pet. I can handle these two.”
“Are you certain?” Fortuity eyed the gentleman and his nurse, ready to defend her sister’s wants if need be. That was the way of sisters. They picked and fussed at each other, but if an outsider threatened one of them, they banded together until the bitter end.
Through another strained groan, Blessing managed a graceful nod and an evil wink.
“Very well, then,” Fortuity told her as she made her way to the door. “I shall attend to my business and wait for the delightful announcement of your precious Starpeeper’s arrival.”
“Starpeeper?” the stern-faced nurse repeated. “Is that to be the child’s name?”
“If I wish it,” Blessing said with a warning growl as she returned to waddling around the room.
Fortuity held her breath to keep from laughing as she went into the hallway. The accoucheur and his nurse had no idea whom they were dealing with. But then a somber thought about the dangerous task ahead made her turn back, open the door, and call out, “I love you, Essie.”
“I love you, Tutie.” Blessing blew her a kiss and waved her onward.
Fortuity softly closed the door, then bowed her head while still holding tightly to the latch. “Please keep her and the babe safe,” she quietly prayed. Then she stepped away and hurried down the hallway, meeting an army of maids bearing extra linens, steaming kettles, and additional basins.
As she descended the stairs, she dodged innumerable cats and wondered how they would get along with the newest addition to the family. Thorne’s mother—little Starpeeper’s soon-to-be grandmother, Lady Roslynn—loved her kitties and had fostered a deep adoration of them in Blessing as well. Fortuity laughed softly, and now four former Knightwood felines resided at Ravenglass. It appeared that Lady Roslynn and her ever-expanding cat army were taking over the world—or, at the very least, London.
When she reached the bottom of the stairs, Fortuity noticed Cadwick standing beside the front door, peering out the tall, narrow window beside it.
“Is he still out there?” she asked the butler.
The poor man jumped and faced her with a startled clearing of his throat. “Lord Ravenglass appears to be waiting on the other side of the street, my lady.”
“Very good. I shall fetch him.”
“Do you require your parasol or hat, my lady? Or perhaps a shawl?”
“No, thank you. I will be returning with him posthaste.”
The butler bowed, then opened the door for her.
Not giving a whit that she’d not donned her gloves or any of the socially expected accessories when one stepped outside the house, Fortuity caught up her skirts and darted down the steps and across the street as if she were a young girl running through a field of wildflowers.
Matthew stared at her with his mouth ajar and his dark brows ratcheting ever higher. “Fortuity?”
After a quick glance to ensure they were alone on the street, she faked a smile just in case someone watched from the windows and hooked her arm through his. “You must come inside this instant. What in heaven’s name do you think you are doing out here?”
He remained rooted to the spot with the strength of the cantankerous mule that had lived at the Broadmere country manor when she was a child. “I intend to sit out here until you come home.”
“Come inside,” she said through clenched teeth, the forced smile making her cheeks ache. “And we shall discuss it.” Thankfully, that got him moving, but his stormy expression remained. “And the baby is coming. So, we shall be here until little Starpeeper arrives.”
“I noticed the gentleman and a rather somber woman had arrived, and prayed nothing was wrong.”
“I hope nothing goes wrong.” Fortuity kept hold of his arm as they climbed the front steps and entered the wide front door together. “Babies are a joy, but it is a dangerous time for both the mother and the child.”
She led him into the parlor, then released him. “Thorne has yet to return from wherever his meetings were held, but I am sure once he arrives, he will be most grateful to find you here for support.”
“I am here for you.” His steely gaze captured her, making her catch her breath. “I cannot bear Ravenglass Townhouse without you in it, and I am not the only one. When I left, Ignatius was howling, and two of those infernal cats were roaming the hauls caterwauling at the top of their lungs.”
After a yank of the bellpull, she nervously paced closer to the door to watch for Cadwick. “It sounds as if the only reason you wish me to return is for peace and quiet.”
“You know better than that.”
