Autumn's Wild Heart (Seasons #4) - Laura Landon Page 0,42

Nella. But no words formed in her mind. Instead, her heart overflowed with pity.

“God be with you,” Nella whispered.

And in what seemed the same instant, Blanche’s breathing stilled, and James came crashing into the millinery shop.

“Nella!”

He rushed to her side and drew her away from the still figure on the floor.

“They said a woman was bleeding, and I thought…I was afraid…oh, Nella, I was so afraid.” He softened his crushing grip and leaned back.

“Are you all right?”

“Yes, my love, I’m all right.”

She leaned into him, and as the trembling began, blackness overtook her.

~■~

For the next three months James watched Nella constantly, knowing he was being overprotective and finding it impossible to behave any other way. He’d thought he loved her as much as any man could, but seeing her crumpled on the floor of the millinery, then watching her cuddle and coo over Blanche’s babe as they returned from Windermere had stolen his heart all over again.

Vicar Chancellor and his wife were thrilled to receive the baby they’d longed for, and James was satisfied that all in all, things had turned out for the best. Except for Blanche’s tragic accident.

But he couldn’t think of that now. All he could do was pace the room. From one side of his study to the other, he trod the floor like every expectant father before him had, praying for his own child to be safely delivered into this world.

“You’re going to wear the carpet out if you keep pacing like you’ve been,” Candleton said.

He and Pomeroy had arrived two weeks ago along with Nella’s best friends for the arrival of their babe. The doctor was secluded with Nella and her friends and it took every ounce of James’ willpower to remain in the library. He couldn’t understand why he wasn’t allowed above with her.

He walked the perimeter of the room, then walked from corner to corner and back again. Every few steps he would hear a cry of pain from upstairs and would stop and swipe his hand down his face.

Nella was having their baby.

Thankfully, Aunt Angela was with her along with the doctor and the nurse he’d brought with him.

James wanted to be with her, too, but he was chased out of the room as if he didn’t have a role to play in the baby’s birth. But he did. He’d been with her from the beginning and wanted to be with her now.

Nella was sure the babe was a boy, but James prayed it would be a little girl. A pretty, pudgy baby girl who looked exactly like her mother.

Another cry escaped the bedchamber. Aunt Angela had come down a few minutes earlier and informed him it was almost over—that the babe was nearly here. But it had seemed like hours ago. And there was still no babe. James didn’t know how much more he could take. He hated to think of his wife going through this alone.

Suddenly, he heard a pain-filled utterance, then a healthy baby’s cry.

James ran to the stairs and clutched the newel post. He wanted to run up the stairs, but his aunt said she would call him when his wife was ready to receive him.

He put one foot on the bottom step as if that would give him a head start when the time came. Finally, his Aunt Angela appeared at the top of the stairs. Her smile was broad and her eyes glimmered with excitement.

“Your babe has arrived, my lord. And is anxious to meet her father.”

“Her?” he said bounding up the stairs. “It’s a her? A girl?”

“Yes, dear boy,” Aunt Angela said as he ran past her. “It’s a girl.”

James raced through the bedchamber door and stopped short.

Nella sat propped on the pillows with a bundle in her arms. It was the most beautiful sight he’d ever seen. He walked to the bed on legs that felt weak beneath him. The sight of her blurred before him and he realized he had tears in his eyes.

“Oh, Nella,” he said, reaching for her one free hand. “My beautiful, beautiful Nella.” He leaned over and kissed her.

She returned his kiss and cupped her palm to his cheek. “Come and greet your daughter, my lord. She has been most anxious to meet you.”

Nella lifted the bundle in her arms and placed it in his.

The babe weighed nothing. Absolutely nothing, and he was suddenly terrified that she would break if he handled her wrong.

“Oh, James. Don’t worry. She’s not that fragile. She has a strong, substantial mother and