Page 297 of Wicked Highland Heroes

“Your lady wife is well enough,” Rhoslyn said. “St. Claire, ye know nothing about birthing babies. He will come when he is ready. Some come quickly.” She stiffened and groaned with another contraction. When the pain passed, she said, “Some take their time.”

This child took another four hours. But at last Rhoslyn could no longer resist the urge to push, and Diana told her it was time.

What seemed eons later, Diana cried, “I see the head.”

Talbot jerked his gaze in her direction and froze at sight of his son’s dark hair peeking out from the sheets that covered Rhoslyn’s midsection and thighs.

“Push again, my lady,” Diana ordered.

Rhoslyn’s jaw tightened.

“Harder,” Diana cried.

Rhoslyn groaned with effort. In the next instant, the baby came free with a wail that brought a tightening in Talbot’s chest as Rhoslyn collapsed back onto the pillows.

“Well, well,” Diana said. “It seems ye have a daughter, laird.”

Talbot broke from the spell. “What?”

Diana held up the baby. “A daughter.”

A daughter.

Diana cleaned the baby, then wrapped her in a small blanket and lay her in Rhoslyn’s arm. “Ye must feed her.”

Talbot sat on the bed beside Rhoslyn. He watched transfixed as Rhoslyn guided their daughter’s mouth to her nipple. The babe fumbled for an instant, then latched on as if starving.

Diana laughed. “There is a lass who knows what she wants.”

A few minutes later, Talbot became aware of Diana cleaning up the bedding and cloths. He lifted Rhoslyn and the babe and held them while she spread clean bedding. His chest tightened when Rhoslyn leaned into him and fell asleep with the baby at her breast.

A daughter. He had expected a son. It only made sense they would have daughters, but he had been so sure their first child would be a son. What did a man do with a daughter? Would she always be so...fragile?

Diana finished and he gently laid Rhoslyn and their daughter back on the mattress.

Rhoslyn woke and looked at him. “I know ye wanted a son, St. Claire.”

He tore his gaze from the small bundle and sat on the mattress beside her. Had she been reading his mind? Nay, he never thought he didn’t want a daughter. What in God’s name did a man do with a daughter?

He shook his head. “I wanted our child. Nothing more.”

“But ye talked of nothing but a son.”

“As did you,” he said.

Rhoslyn shifted and held the baby out toward him. He didn’t move.

“Ye should hold your daughter,” she said.

Suddenly, his heart quaked and it seemed every fiber of his being shook. He allowed Rhoslyn to cradle the baby against him, the small head resting in the crook of his arm. He didn’t move.

The women laughed.

“She willna’ break,” Diana said.

“She is so tiny.” He smoothed a tiny lock of hair away from her face. “She has my father’s dark hair.” He looked at Rhoslyn and was startled to see tears in her eyes. “What is amiss?” He sat on the bed beside her, then stood again and looked around for Diana.

Diana rolled her eyes. “Sit beside your wife.” She gave him a gentle shove and he sat down.