Excitement building, he struggled to keep his tone even, in case he was wrong. “Have ye spoken to Tayda about this? Since old Grennove took to her bed and Breenoa is so damned flighty, she intends to help ye bring the babies into this world. She’s been training with the Weavers for months now.”
“I thought Mairwen was going to come.” Emily groaned and doubled over. “On second thought, whoever is coming needs to get here. I don’t care if this does turn out to be gas or false labor.”
Holding her tightly, Gryffe aimed his roaring bellow at the door. “Mrs. Thistlebran!”
Emily sidled such a disbelieving look of disgust at him that he almost laughed, but knew he didn’t dare. “The bell would work better, you know.”
“I canna reach the bell at present because I am not letting go of ye. Shall we walk to the bedchamber now?”
“Probably so. But I don’t want to make a mess of the bed when my waters break, so I’m not getting into it until after that happens.”
“I feel certain Inalfi and Tayda will have that well in hand. The two have been preparing for this grand day for a while now.”
“I was going to crochet another pair of blankets for the cradles.” She halted and doubled over again, holding onto him so tightly that her fingernails dug into his hand. He didn’t care. She could shred him to bits if need be.
“While they sleep, ye can crochet more.” He carefully walked her down the hallway, shortening his steps to match hers. “Mrs. Thistlebran!”
“I am here, my chieftain!” The housekeeper huffed and puffed as she toddled around the corner at a remarkable speed. “Oh dear. Time to fetch the Weaver, aye? And alert Lady Tayda?”
“Aye. Now!”
“And send word to Nicnevin,” Emily said through another groan. “She wanted to be here during labor rather than waiting till after.”
“Feckin’ hell,” Gryffe muttered.
“If I have to be miserable,” Emily said, “so do you.” She halted and leaned against the doorpost. “Wait. I have to rest here a minute. I feel like the babies are hanging down to my knees.”
“What?” Alarmed, Gryffe yanked up her skirts. Thankfully, his bairns weren’t dangling downward like wee bats.
She smacked his hands away. “I said it felt like it. You really think I’d be this calm if the babies were coming out right here in the hall?”
“Probably not.”
“Thank you.”
“Why in the name of all the realms have ye got her standing here in the hallway?” Tayda demanded as she came around the same corner Mrs. Thistlebran had just vacated. “We must get her changed into her birthing shift and as comfortable as possible in the bed.”
“I dinna rush my wife,” Gryffe answered with a warning growl. “When she asks me to wait and let her catch her breath, I do so. And might I remind ye to whom ye’re speaking?”
Tayda immediately bowed her head. “Forgive me, my prince. I was overcome with the excitement of the situation. Might I please take over now and help our lady bring the precious bairns into the world?”
“Absolutely.” Gryffe started to step away but Emily clutched him tighter.
“Don’t leave me!”
“But…”
The fear and pleading in her eyes undid him.
“I swear not to leave until ye send me away,” he promised as he helped her through the door.
“I’m afraid,” she whispered. “I keep remembering last time, even though this time is so much different.”
That very reason had caused him to try to convince her to return to her time and have the babies there in the safety of one of her hospitals. But she had adamantly refused, since he could never set foot past the boundaries of Seven Cairns. While it honored him that she had made such a choice, it worried him as well. Her safety and the safety of the wee ones were so much more important than anything else in creation. But he couldn’t tell her any of that. Not now. Now she needed reassurance.
“Yer blessed Cara is smiling down on ye,” he said. “She’ll keep our wee ones safe through this and yerself as well.”
“I so want to believe that. It doesn’t matter if I die, I just want them to live.”
