Ned put on his cheeriest demeanor and enjoyed a cup of tea with her. She was an actress of some renown and she almost convinced him she was doing well.
He took a moment to listen to the baby, his ear against Kate’s belly. There was movement, but Kate did not look uncomfortable to him, no matter what her husband feared. This baby was going to be a big one and that, too, could be very hard on the mother.
“Do you think she’ll come soon?” Kate asked.
“She?” Ned gently teased.
“I feel she’s a girl.” Kate rubbed her belly.
Ned sat back. “Well, you are starting to sounddesperate and as if you’ve had enough of this. That is usually a good sign something will happen.”
“Mary Conroy said her midwife told her to walk backward for at least an hour a day. That it would make the birth go easier.”
Here was a prime example of the sort of nonsense Ned fought. Instead of barking out his protest, he kept his voice calm. “Does that even make sense, Kate?”
“But wouldn’t women know?”
Did he have an answer for that?
“I have never heard of a cure that included walking backward.”
“Yes, you are right. It doesn’t make sense. I wrote a letter to my sisters asking about it. I posted it today. They all have multiple children. Please tell me they won’t think I’m foolish.”
“Since they have experienced what it means to be in confinement, I’m certain they will understand.”
She nodded and lowered her voice, even though they were alone. “I don’t want to lose this baby, Ned. I fear I’m too old. This is our one chance. I’m afraid.”
“Don’t be, Kate.” At least once a week they had this conversation.
“You’ll see me through this?”
“I will be right beside you.”
“Thank you.” The response didn’t come from Kate but Balfour, who had come to the doorway. The man loved his wife, and Ned was a bit in awe of his devotion to her.
Would he someday have strong feelings for Clarissa? Perhaps if she carried his child?
Actually, he couldn’t picture himself as a father. He’d not been around families very much. He’d been shipped away to school the moment he was in the way and spent most of his holidays there—alone.
That was one of the reasons he felt such loyalty to his friends and the Logical Men’s Society. They were his family. It was as if his life hadn’t really begun until he’d met Mars and Balfour.
“Forget about walking backward,” Ned advised. “Walk forward, take the air. When you are done, soak your feet, and have your maid massage your legs several times a day with a heavy cream. And be ready. It won’t be much longer. Maybe a month. Perhaps weeks.”
“How about days?”
Ned laughed. “Hours?”
“Oh, no, that might be too soon. I’m notthatready yet.”
“The babe will come on its own time, Kate. Patience has never been one of my virtues, either, so I can empathize.”
Kate reached for his hand. “Thank you.”
“You are welcome, and please, both of you, don’t listen to stories. Women have birthing tales that would frighten a hussar. I believe many are embellished.”
“I just wish I was younger. Then it would be easier.”
“Everything is easier when we are younger,”he responded, and all three of them laughed at the truth of the statement.
