“Lucinda…” Yvette took a hurried step toward her.
“I am fine,” Lucinda assured her, although her breathing was suddenly heavy. “Just a cramp. I have been having them all evening.”
“Are you certain?”
Lucinda snorted. “She asks while having no idea herself…” She side-eyed Yvette, who came in beside her. “Although, maybe one day that will change.” She raised a questioning eyebrow.
“Perhaps…”
Yvette looked away, praying that Lucinda would not ask any follow-up questions. It was funny that she had managed to avoid speaking of pregnancy for much of her life, only to suddenly have the topic thrust upon her everywhere that she turned.
“So, are you going to tell me?” Lucinda’s breathing was still heavy but at least she was no longer wincing.
Yvette grimaced and looked away, her heart thumping. “Tell you what…”
“Why you are awake, of course!”
“Oh.” Yvette breathed a sigh of relief. “That.”
“Yes, that,” Lucinda laughed. “I thought I was the only one crazy enough to be up at this hour.”
Feeling tremendous relief, Yvette shared with Lucinda the story of her twisted ankle. She hoisted up her shift, showing off the swelling, happy to laugh at herself for attending her first-ever ball, only to make a fool of herself almost immediately.
“Oh, I am sure it was not that bad.”
“No?” She scoffed. “Picture this. His Grace, having to carry me in his arms from the ballroom as half the guests watched on.”
“Carried you…” Her eyebrows rose above her forehead. “That sounds… romantic.”
Yvette looked at her flatly. “Do not even go there.”
Lucinda grinned. “So, I take it you are after something to stop the swelling?”
“Just some tea,” Yvette said. “I thought it might help me sleep.”
“Say no more!” Lucinda slapped her thighs and went to stand.
“What are you doing?” Yvette took hold of the woman’s shoulders and pushed her back down.
“My job, is what…” She tried to wiggle free, but Yvette refused to let her.
“I am perfectly capable of making my own tea, thank you.”
“As am I!” she protested, albeit with little effort. She was acting strangely, and Yvette could see the way she constantly tried to hide how much pain she was in. She claimed it was just cramps… but Yvette sensed something was wrong. “I am pregnant, not an invalid. Now, let me go…” She shrugged Yvette back.
“Lucinda, please,” Yvette begged. “You do not need –”
“I do.”
“I can –”
“As can I!”
The two women glared at one another… and then burst into laughter. With that, the feigned tension was dispelled, and they agreed that they could help one another make tea.
“I will miss it here,” Lucinda said as she waddled across the kitchen in search of tea leaves. Again, her breathing was a little too heavy to not be noticed…
“What do you mean?”
