“How are you doing?”Wethe asked, placing her satchel on a table.
“Fine, all’s well,” Amari said.
“When did the pains start?”
Amari laughed.“I woke early, with a craving for pickled onions.The twins roused, but Orval was fast asleep.I gave Lara and Dalan a quick cuddle, and they went back to sleep.Felt the first pain after I sat down to eat, so I decided to start the bread, since I was up anyway.”She paused, wincing, hand on her belly.“After the second rise, I shaped and covered the loaves and sent Old Petro for you.”She turned again and waddled a few steps.“Bread’s probably ready for the oven.Rosalind, could you check—” Amari winced and gave a soft gasp.
“I will,” Rosalind said, heading for the door.“And on Orval.”
“Try to get him to eat something,” Amari called after her.
Wethe gestured her to the bed.“Poor man looks terrified.You’d think he’s never done this before.”
“He’s out of sorts with me,” Amari rushed to explain.“I didn’t let him know what was happening until after I made the bread.”She grunted as she settled into the bed.“I thought it was more important that he be well rested.He is going to need his strength.”
“Well, let’s check you then.See how much progress this wee one has made.”
Wethe folded back the nightgown.“Oh, it’s crowning,” she said with a smile.“Seems this one is in a hurry.”
“Really,” Amari lay back.“I didn’t think I was that far alonnnnnnngggg…” She clutched at her belly.“Orval wants to be here when—”
“Fine, but he had best not faint,” Wethe grumbled.“Was he this bad the last time?”
Amari hesitated.
Huh, most mothers would be falling all over themselves to tell her the tale.Amari just looked blank for a moment, then grimaced as another pain hit.
Wethe took another look, pulled the woman’s nightgown down, and made for the door.
“Best get the Lord in here,” she called down the hall.“Seems the babe is coming fast.”She heard the clatter of a stool, then Orval was limping her way.Looking grey and queasy, and opening his mouth to ask all manner of questions.
“Fine, all fine,” Wethe said, guiding him to the chair next to the head of the bed.“Now you sit here and help Amari as best you can.”
“How can I help,” Orval demanded as he sat down, withered leg stretched out.“What do you need, my love?”
“Just you,” Amari smiled, and held out her hand, which Orval took just as she gasped and heaved back on the bed.
“Oh, elements,” Orval gasped.
“Remember to breathe, both of you,” Wethe commanded, as Rosalind entered.“All right, Amari, start pushing.”
Orval swallowed hard and nodded.Poor man looked awful.
It didn’t take long after that, and with a minimum of fuss to Wethe’s way of thinking.The babe slid out as easy as any could ask for.
“A girl,” Wethe announced as the child’s cry split the air.“A healthy, strong girl.”She handed the babe to Rosalind as the Lord and Lady wept and kissed each other with joy and tears.
Rosalind set the babe in Amari’s outstretched arms, skin to skin, as Wethe saw to the rest.
Best not to let Orval see any of the details.
No fear, the Lord High Baron was too busy marveling at the baby’s tiny toes.“She’s perfect,” he breathed in utter delight.“Such a perfect, precious jewel.”
“Just the one,” Wethe said, after checking matters.“Let’s give you a few minutes with her before we get you all cleaned up and then the others can come in,” she said as Rosalind gathered up the dirty linens.“What will you name her?”
“We hadn’t decided,” Orval started, but Amari laughed, a low, tired chuckle.
“I think my Hearth Father just named her,” she said as the babe latched onto her nipple.Amari was stroking the tiny cheek clean with her finger.“Jewel is ‘Misalyn’ in my language.It was my mother’s name.”
