Marie’s labor stretched from before dawn into the day as she grew steadily weaker, hardly moving except when wracked by contractions. Suzanne had heard that labor could sometimes take two days and couldn’t imagine how anyone endured it.
A raging thunderstorm struck, darkening the sky. As lightning flashed garishly outside, Lucas took Marie’s hand and said, “Marie, look at me. I’ve heard of a method that might aid you in giving birth, though I’ve never done it or seen it done. Suzanne and I would support you in a kneeling position and let gravity help the process along. Are you willing to try that?”
Despite her pain and exhaustion, Marie’s reply was a clearly whispered, “Yes, if you think that best.”
“Good girl.” Lucas gestured to Suzanne and between them they managed to raise Marie and move her onto her knees with her legs spread. Lucas took most of her weight while Suzanne kept her balanced.
Once she was stable, Suzanne held one hand and massaged Marie’s back until another contraction began. Lucas said firmly, “It’s time now, Marie. You’re tired and he’s ready. Now push,push!”
Marie whimpered, head drooping and sweat-drenched blond hair falling tangled over her face. Her whole body strained for an agony of time. Until she cried out and her son was born in a rush of blood and fluids, feet first. He was a frightening bluish color.
“Well done, Marie! Now you can relax,” Lucas said, but his expression was grave. He and Suzanne helped Marie lie back on her mangled pillows. Then he held the tiny baby in his large hands, his eyes closed and his lips moving as he—prayed, perhaps?
Suzanne couldn’t breathe, couldn’t bear the thought that after all this pain and struggle, the child wouldn’t survive. She didn’t know if Marie could endure such a loss.
But as she stared at Lucas, she sensed a kind of heat radiating from his hands, invisible but powerful. The power flowed through his palms and into the infant.
Abruptly the baby started thrashing and howling indignantly and his skin began turning pink. It was the most beautiful sound Suzanne had ever heard.
Marie had looked unconscious but now her eyes opened and she reached for her child.“Please!”
Lucas tenderly gave the infant into his mother’s keeping. “Here he is, Marie, and a fine strong boy, just as Madame Maurice predicted.”
Suzanne could have sworn that she saw that mysterious power move through Lucas and the baby into Marie like a wave of healing love. Marie’s eyes closed and she wept as she whispered prayers of gratitude and cuddled her son skin to skin.
Looking ready to collapse, Lucas went to work cleaning Marie and preparing to cut the cord. “Suzanne, thanks so much for your help. You did a splendid job.”
Suzanne whispered, “Lucas, what just happened? What did I see?”
He smiled at her, exhausted but at peace. “Sometimes God smiles.”
* * *
Dripping from the rain, Simon returned after full darkness fell, his expression grim. As he entered the house, he saw his cousin in the drawing room, his lean body stretched out in a chair. He held a brandy glass in one hand and looked as if he never wanted to move again.
Hearing Simon, he glanced up and smiled. “Marie and her son are resting and well. She’s going to name him Simon Lucas.”
Simon’s throat tightened. “I am honored.”
“As am I.” Lucas raised his brandy glass in a toast. “May he have a long and happy life with fewer wars than our times have known.”
“Amen to that.” Simon desperately needed to see Suzanne, but he also needed to talk to Lucas. Tobewith Lucas. He sank into the chair opposite. “I was very worried. It looked like a difficult birth.”
“It was, very. But when Suzanne’s time comes, she won’t have the same problems.”
“Why do you say that?” Simon asked quizzically.
Lucas grinned, looking like the brother Simon had missed so much. “If I tell you, you’ll hit me.”
“Why?”
“She has the most magnificent hips.”
Simon grinned back. “She does, and if you’re noticing, it’s fortunate that you’ve given up the celibate life.” His face sobered. “Suzanne fears that she is barren.”
“The past doesn’t always predict the future. Wait and see.” Lucas finished the brandy in his glass with one long swallow. “Sometimes God sends miracles. This brandy comes close to one, by the way. You have a most excellent cellar.”
“Credit goes to the gentleman who owns the house and to his people who care for it and for us while we are guests here.” Simon stood. “Where is Suzanne?”
