Evening Star (Star Quartet 1)

“Spare my blushes, Mrs. Saxton, since your husband certainly won’t. The man can’t keep his hands off you, particularly your stomach.”

“Oh, Delaney, I feel like such a cow.”

“Alex told me you were no longer dashing about like a racehorse. But a cow? Really, my dear girl.”

Giana suddenly stopped in her tracks. She pressed her hands over her belly and raised shocked eyes to Delaney’s face.

“What’s the matter?”

“It’s a month too soon.”

“What do you mean?” Delaney asked, not really wanting to hear the answer.

“My water just broke. Dr. Davidson told me that it happens when labor starts.”

Delaney stared down at her, appalled. He knew absolutely nothing about babies and less about having them. “Home,” he said. “Yes, we must get you home.”

Giana felt a sudden tightening in her belly, followed by a wrenching contraction. She yelped, more in fright than in pain, and raised panicked eyes. “The baby.”

“No, don’t say it,” Delaney said. He hoisted her up into his arms and loped across the green, the eyes of the Seventh Regiment watching his progress. To his heady relief, Alex was at home. He took in the situation at a glance.

“How close are the pains, Delaney?”

“I have no idea, Alex.” He gingerly placed Giana in his brother’s outstretched arms.

Giana winced and clung to Alex’s neck. He bellowed orders as he strode up the stairs, Giana in his arms. He nearly dropped her when she suddenly twisted in pain. “I’m sorry,” she panted when the contraction eased.

“Don’t be a fool. Birthing a child hurts dreadfully.”

“Alex.” His name was a wisp of a sound. “I am so afraid. It is too soon.”

“How the hell can you be afraid? You’re with me, remember?”

He fairly ripped the clothes off her, cursing at the knotted ribbon on her chemise. He wondered if he looked as frantic as the ashen-faced Herbert, who had moved with amazing speed to fetch Dr. Davidson.

Alex stayed beside her, mopping the sweat from her face. He winced at the fear in her eyes, suddenly hating himself for planting his seed in her womb, for bringing her this pain. “Hang on, love,” he said to her. “Elvan will be here soon. Hold my hand.”

He almost instantly regretted it, for she dug her fingers like claws into his flesh. When Elvan, red-faced, suddenly appeared in the doorway, Alex swore to double his fee.

There were no blushes on Elvan’s pleasant face. “How close are her pains?” he asked calmly, pulling off his coat and rolling up his sleeves.

“Continuous, for about ten minutes now.”

Elvan nodded, then ignored Alex. He whipped back the sheet and quickly examined her.

“She’s a month early,” Alex said.

“It’s just as well,” Elvan said, not looking up. “ Another month and I would have been worried.”

“What can I do?”

“Get out and send me Mrs. Carruthers,” Elvan snapped. “Join your brother downstairs. From the look of both of you, you could use some brandy.”

“No,” Giana yelled. “Don’t leave. Please don’t leave me.”

Alex saw the terror in her eyes, and shook his head at Elvan.

“Very well, then,” Elvan said. “No, Mrs. Saxton, don’t press down, not yet. Take short breaths. Remember what I told you.”