Arabella kissed their sister’s hand and then rushed across the room to Julia to embrace her. Vaughn went to his wife and began to softly speak to her.
“I’m so glad you’re here,” Arabella said. She smiled at Vaughn and Evie. He was letting her squeeze the life out of his hand and slowly counting as her body was wracked by obvious pain.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t here sooner,” Julia said. “I was…I was out.”
Arabella wrinkled her brow. “Out? It’s no problem. She’s doing wonderfully so far, though the pain is coming closer together. Come talk to her.”
When Julia approached, Vaughn moved aside and Evie reached for her. They hugged and when they pulled away, Julia cupped her sister’s gorgeous face.
“You’ll be a mama soon!” she whispered, and the tears began to flow.
“I know, I can’t believe it,” her sister said with a shake of her head. “I hope I’m ready.”
“You’re ready,” Vaughn said from across the room where he was leaning on the wall, watching her.
She smiled at him. “We’reready.”
“Mrs. Culvers, am I correct in assuming Lady Blackburn is still a while from birth?” he asked.
The midwife nodded. “I believe some time now, yes, based on how far apart the waves of pain are.”
“Then perhaps we can give her a moment with her sisters.” He looked at Evie again. “I can see they need it.”
“Yes.” Mrs. Culvers smiled at Evie. “You know how to breathe, my lady. And I will just be in the next room if you need anything before I return.”
“Thank you.” Before Vaughn left, Evie added, “I love you.”
He blew her a quiet kiss before he left and closed the doors behind them. Julia’s heart swelled. Her sister so deserved to be loved like she was. And it also put her to mind of what Alexander had said in the carriage after he proposed. That both her sisters had also overcome the same fears she had. Thatshedeserved devotion and a future.
She blinked as she tried to focus. This was about Evie, after all. Her dramas could wait.
Only it seemed Evie disagreed. “Why do you look so pale?”
“Are you speaking to me?” Julia asked with a start.
Arabella nodded. “Of course she is. You’re the one who looks like she’s swallowed a fish.”
“Oh, don’t say swallowed when I’m puffed up like a balloon,” Evie said, and then gripped Julia’s hand. She arched a little, breathing heavier.
“You’re doing wonderfully,” Arabella soothed. “Twenty, twenty-one, twenty-two…”
This lasted a few seconds more and then Evie relaxed.
“We shouldn’t talk about this right now,” Julia insisted. “You should focus on giving birth.”
“The last thing I want to focus on is that,” Evie said with a laugh. “So I would very much like to pass the time by botheringyou.”
Julia worried her lip and the truth bubbled up so that she almost couldn’t control it when she said, “I-I’m fucking him.”
Arabella’s head turned as if on a swivel and even Evie sat up a little.
“I assume thehimis Alexander Castleton,” Arabella said.
Julia nodded. “Yes. I was with him when I found out the news about your labor. He’s downstairs with Silas right now.”
“Oh good,” Arabella said with a little smile. “He’ll keep my husband busy digging for information that he’ll share with me later.”
Julia glared at her. “Don’t be flippant about this.”
