Sally grunted, her heels digging into the mattress.
“Can you push a bit harder?” Sweat glazed Rosie’s brow. “The shoulders seem to be stuck…”
Sally gnashed her teeth and bore down. Without warning, the babe popped out on a wave of liquid. With a shriek of surprise, Rosie caught the little body. Heart thumping, she stared at the breathing, tiny human she held in her hands.
“Is it…?”
The babe let out a high-pitched wail.
“A girl.” Rosie placed the babe in Sally’s arms, taking care not to tangle the purplish cord that still connected the two. “Oh, Sally, you have a beautiful daughter.”
“She is a sight, ain’t she?” Sally breathed.
“Sally, are you all right? I heard…”
Rosie whirled around to see Andrew rushing into the room. He stopped short as Sally, sweaty and beaming with pride, announced, “I ’ave a daughter, Mr. Corbett.”
He blinked. “I see that.”
“And I’m going to name ’er Rose—after Miss Rosie ’ere who brought ’er into the world,” Sally added.
Andrew’s gaze went to Rosie. His brows inched upward.
“I helped a little.” Modestly, Rosie looked down at her hands.
Which was a mistake.
She saw the blood—andotherbodily secretions—covering her skin. Her stomach lurched as she also became aware of the slime oozing between her fingers and the smells...
A buffle-headed feeling stole over her, and the floor rushed up.
Chapter Thirty-Five
“Rise and shine, sleepyhead,” Andrew murmured.
“Mmm grmph.”
Smiling at Primrose’s grumbled reply, he swept her golden tresses back and kissed her shoulder. They were in her bed, her back nestled against his front, the same position they’d fallen asleep in. Helovedsleeping with her. His body craved the closeness of hers during slumber, and if she moved during the night, even asleep, he pulled her back into his arms. He found it a singular joy to wake up entangled with her.
He traced a finger down her arm, and her sleepy shiver hit him straight in the groin. He was already hard, his morning cockstand nestled between the plush curves of her derriere. He hadn’t made love to her last night; they’d arrived back at her house just before dawn, both of them exhausted. After a quick wash, they’d gone straight to bed.
Although he hadn’t slept more than a few hours, he felt invigorated. A burden had eased. True, he still had Todd to deal with—and, make no mistake, he would have his retribution—but all three wenches had delivered their babes safely last night.
And Primrose had played an unexpected role in that.
While he’d always known that she was brave and strong, her actions last night had surpassed even his expectations. She’d allowed her brightness and natural warmth to shine. Sally couldn’t stop singing her praises, and even Fanny expressed grudging respect.
Primrose had awed him. And she’d made him laugh.
He’d caught her when she swooned. The episode hadn’t lasted more than a minute, but her chagrin had been bloody adorable. He’d teased her for faintingafterthe fact.
Her pout had been priceless.
Even more precious was the fact that she’d gone to the Nursery House because she’d wanted to help him. She’d made it clear that she wanted him to share his mind, body, and spirit with her. Was it possible that this was more than an affair to her—that she might one day return his feelings?
The thought filled him with hope.
It also made him randier than the devil.
