door to be shut. “What is it?” he asked.
Wheatley closed the door, and his valet pursed his lips, then handed a note to Christian. “It’s from Willa. She says Lady Meriwether needs you now.”
“Is she all right? Do you know what has happened?” Christian asked as he took the note. A burst of nervous energy accompanied by a thrum of unease overtook him. Much like what he experienced when he was about to lead his men into battle.
Morgan shook his head. “Willa’s note is very vague. I took the liberty of ordering your carriage.”
“That’ll take too much time. I can walk there before they even have the horses completely harnessed.”
“I’ll accompany you,” Morgan offered.
Christian nodded. On the way out, he refused the great coat that Wheatley held out to him. Once he reached the street, he turned left and started toward Katherine’s town house. After two steps, he cursed, then started to run.
He couldn’t have cared less when two of society’s most influential matrons dropped their jaws and halted their walk as they saw him running at full speed through the streets of London. Having his one-eyed valet beside him keeping pace probably added to their shock.
They’d have fainted on the spot if they’d seen him in battle. Nothing kept him from protecting his men.
Now, nothing would keep him from protecting Katherine.
He only slowed down once he reached her front walk. The two blocks shouldn’t have been too strenuous, but he was breathing heavily as his heart had already been pounding in alarm when he left Rand House. Morgan tried to catch his breath as he knocked on the door. Immediately, Beth opened it and waved them inside.
“What’s happened? Is it Katherine?” Christian’s heart was ready to burst through his ribs.
“No, it’s Constance.” She closed the door.
He and Morgan followed her into the sitting room where he’d first met the wives.
“Katherine.” As soon as her name escaped Christian’s lips, she turned and ran to him. He held out his arms to embrace her, but instead, she took one of his hands in hers and squeezed.
Of course, they were back to formal appearances in front of others.
She dipped a deep curtsey. “Your Grace, thank you for coming.”
A week ago, he would have accepted it as a proper greeting, but after yesterday, this formal air between them could not continue. Obviously, something had upset her since the normal brightness in her eyes had dulled.
Morgan nodded at the ladies, then turned to Katherine. “My lady, shall I find Willa?”
“Thank you, Mr. Morgan,” she said gently. “Willa has had little sleep and some added chores this morning. I’m afraid she’s tiring. Any help you could give her would be a favor to me.”
Morgan nodded, then stepped toward the kitchens.
“Is Constance all right? The baby?” he asked in rapid succession. Things had to be dire with Constance if both Katherine and Beth were away from work.
“Constance may be having the baby.” Lines of worry marred Katherine’s eyes. “I thought you needed to be here.”
“You did the right thing,” he said.
Katherine turned to the stranger. “Your Grace, may I present Mrs. Love? She’s a midwife I’ve hired to help.”
The woman dipped a curtsey.
“Mrs. Love.” Christian nodded.
The midwife didn’t bat an eye his way as her attention turned to Kat and Beth. “As I was saying, I’m not certain the baby will be born yet, but each birth is different.” Her lips turned down in a slight frown. “However, I don’t like the way the babe is resting. It’s too early for it to have dropped so low in Miss Lysander’s belly. That’s what makes me think she could possibly deliver within the week.”
“Too early,” Katherine repeated, as if trying to get the words to sink in. “Is there anything we can do to help her?”
The midwife nodded. “She should stay in bed until the babe decides to make his appearance in the world.”
“You think it’s a boy?” Christian asked.
“I’ve never seen a baby girl anxious to escape its mother’s womb. It’s always the baby boys.” She grinned. “We have to keep the mother-to-be comfortable and nourished.”
“We’ll keep her in bed,” Kat promised.
“Willa and Venetia can stay with her during the day and make certain she eats. I can stay with her at night,” Beth declared.
“You know where to find me if there’s trouble.” The midwife put on her hat and coat. “The pains she’s having might be real, or they might be an exercise for the body to prepare itself for the birth.”
Both Katherine and Beth