to my wishes?”
“Naturally.”
“The envelope, is in the drawer, will you take it? Once the child is born, will you send for the Walkers? Mr Belfroy assures me they are a nice couple. They plan to travel to New Zealand and start afresh.”
Nicola opened the drawer and took out the pale envelope. “I’ll do everything as you wish for it to be done.”
“Thank you.”
Florence hurried into the room carrying towels and a large bowl of water. “Doctor Armitage’s gig just turned into the drive, Miss Douglas. All will be well now.”
Nicola patted Penny’s hand in relief. “There now, that is good news. I’ll go and change my dress and will return shortly.” Standing, she slipped the envelope into her skirt pocket. As she left the room, she couldn’t dispel the grief weighing on her. A baby’s birth should be a joyous occasion, but not this time. Anger replaced the sadness when she thought of all the unmarried women who were taken advantage of and who would bear children they didn’t want, while the fathers continued their lives untouched.
* * *
Nicola put her hand up to shade the baby’s face from the dawn’s first rays of light that streamed in through the bedroom window. Behind her, Penny slept an exhausted sleep. Gazing at the baby boy she held, Nicola felt a strong urge to never let him go. His tiny face, newly washed, was a soft rose pink colour. She noted every detail; his closed eyes showed the fine fan of eyelashes, his nose nothing but a delicate bud, the purse of his little lips. Quite simply she was in awe of him. A baby. Not just any baby, but one she’d seen fight his way into the world. She had watched his chest expand with his first breath, heard his first cry. The miracle that was birth left her speechless and teary. While Dr Armitage and Florence took care of Penny, the baby had been thrust into her hands and she’d been responsible for wrapping him and keeping him warm.
“Miss Douglas,” Florence whispered at her shoulder.
“Yes?”
“I’m heading off to bed for an hour or two. You should do the same. He’ll be fine in the basket.”
“I’ll stay with him for a bit longer, but you go and rest.” She smiled at Florence, who covered her mouth as she yawned.
Florence glanced down at the baby, moving the blanket aside to see him better. “He’s a good looking little chap, isn’t he?”
“Yes.” Nicola couldn’t help but feel proud of him, as though he was her son. ‘shall I take the basket into my room?”
“Might as well. Miss Rogers wants nothing to do with him.” Florence picked up the basket and together they left the sleeping mother and crossed the hallway to Nicola’s room.
“Thank you, Florence, but go to bed now. I’ll see to this little one.” Nicola shooed her out the door and once alone, went to sit on the bed. Gently she placed the baby down and instinctively laid along side of him. Bringing him closer into the curve of her body, she sighed and closed her eyes.
“Nicola. Wake up.”
Nicola opened her eyes, blinked, and stared at Frances. “Oh. Frances.”
“What on earth are you doing?”
Lifting her head, she looked at the tiny fellow, who was now stirring awake. “Don’t raise your voice.”
“Raise my voice?” Frances stood, hands on hips, her usual scowl in place. “I nearly had a heart attack when I walked in. Miss Barker said for me to come up, but she gave me no inkling of what I’d find.”
“It’s a baby, not a gargoyle.” Carefully, Nicola rose and gathered him into her arms.
“What are you doing with a baby?”
“He was born early this morning, to Miss Rogers.”
“So why is he sleeping with you?”
The baby cried as Nicola climbed from the bed. “His mother doesn’t want him.”
Frances’s eyes widened. “Please don’t tell me you are to have him?”
“No, how could I?” She tutted, though something inside her wished she could. “He’s to be adopted.”
“Good.”
“No, it’s not good. He should be with his mother. Is it his fault that his father is a blackguard?”
“Stop being naive, Nicola, for heaven’s sake. You know how the world works. You should do, you’ve seen enough evidence of it.”
Pacing the room didn’t help soothe the baby who now was wailing lustily. “He must be hungry.”
“Have you a wet nurse?”
“No. I’m not sure if Miss Rogers arranged for one…” Nicola winced as the baby’s cries became piercing. She didn’t hear the knock, but was thankful when