Chapter Twenty-Three
“I wish you could stay longer,” said Cressida the following morning.
“As do I,” said Hecate, gently giving her as much of a hug as she could, around the protrusion of babies. “It won’t be long now, dear. And all will be well.” She put her hands on the bulge. “They’re healthy, growing and almost ready to be born.”
“Oh God,” whispered Cressida. “I’m scared.”
“Don’t be,” soothed Hecate. “You’re as healthy as can be, and it will be an easy birthing. Believe me.”
Cressy hung onto Hecate’s hands. “I want to believe you. You have no idea how much I want to believe you,” she confessed.
“Richard will stand by you, love. Let him be there. Let him see his children take their first breaths. It’s important, you know.”
“Really?” Cressy raised her eyebrows. “I thought men were supposed to pace and drink brandy and do other manly things during their wives’ childbirth.”
“Nonsense,” grinned Hecate. “All men should watch the moment their child opens its eyes for the first time. Such an experience will also gain the mother a lot more respect.”
“I’ll tell him that.”
“Do. And remember, allwillbe well. I know it.”
“When she says that, I have to confess to feeling a lot better about it all,” said Richard, overhearing Hecate’s words. “She’s always right, damn her.” He hugged his sister hard. “I could wish you were able to stay as well, but I understand.”
Finn came back up the steps. “The carriage is ready. Thanks for the help in getting it here so quickly, Richard.”
“Don’t mention it,” he answered.
“All right. I won’t.” Finn grinned.
“I think we should leave, otherwise these two will be at it again,” said Hecate turning to descend the steps.
“This way, my Lady.” Finn held out his arm. It had rained overnight and the marble slabs were slippery.
Sure enough, Hecate’s boot caught on the top step, but before she could topple, Finn swept her off her feet and hurried down the last of the steps. He plopped her down inside the carriage with little fanfare, then glanced back at Richard and Cressida who were wide-eyed on the top step.
“See? You can trust her to me, Richard. I will always catch her…”
“Make sure you do, old chap. God speed, and let us know what happens in town.”
Finn jumped in to the carriage. “We will.”
Waves were exchanged as the carriage pulled away, beginning the next leg of their journey which would take them to Ridlington.
“I think they’re pleased with us,” said Finn, settling back against the squabs with a satisfied grin on his face.
“I think so too.” Hecate rearranged her skirts and pulled off her gloves, making herself as comfortable as possible. “There’ll be an increase in the residents before too long. I doubt Cressida has more than two or three weeks to go before the babes arrive.”
Finn blinked. “But I thought they said another month? Right around Christmas?”
“They did. Which is all well and good but has nothing to do with what the babes themselves decide.”
“Oh.”
She leaned over and rubbed her hand on his. “Don’t worry about it, Finn. All will be well for them. Cressida is going to be a wonderful mother and Richard will spoil them to bits.”
“No troubles then? Giving birth to two?”
“None.” Hecate smiled confidently. “The Ridlington family might have been one of the most complicated and neglected group of misfit siblings, suffering under the abysmally despotic hand of our father, but we’re survivors. We make our own happiness, it seems. Find our own way to a new life. And we’re pretty strong too. Richard will be there for Cressy every step of the way, and she’s a strong woman in her own right. It will be painful, but within moments of those first cries—the pain fades into a distant memory.”
