On waking, a blinding headache split my head and my stomach roiled. My only bit of comfort was the bedclothes were light and my gown as well. I presumed I was still Mrs. Wentworth.
"How is she?" The voice was Frederick’s. I silently thanked God. Tears slipped from my eyes and through my hair.
"She sleeps quietly, sir," the maid answered.
"I will sit with her. You may leave and I shall call when she wakes." The sound of a chair scraped as he brought it close to the bed. I wiped my face, hoping he did not notice my movement. Hearing his voice was all the relief I needed. He took my hand and kissed it.
I reached up and lightly brushed his cheek. "I am awake."
He took both hands and smiled. "You look much better, my girl."
"And you have a lot of experience with swooning females?"
He raised his brow, amused with my jest. "I have just enough experience with swooning females to say as much." His expression faded into his own thoughts.
"And what of our visitor?" This brought him to full attention. His face hardening as I had never seen before.
"He left soon after you came upstairs."
I did ask if William came around often.
"Too often to suit me." The answer did not satisfy and he added, "Only twice in the past year."
"You tried to warn me away. Does Anne not see him?"
"No. She makes herself scarce. I deal with him. As you no doubt observed, we are neither of us terribly concerned with good manners."
"I think you showed a great deal of restraint. He had no right to refer to our private lives in any way."
He finally found something to smile about. Leaning close enough for me to feel his breath on my face, he said. "I am not ashamed of his knowing what we've been up to." He touched my belly, sending a thrill through my limbs. "Is something the matter?" He pulled his hand away.
"No. Nothing." I found his hand and restored it. "I am just a bit surprised by your lack of shyness. Most husbands are discomfited by the whole business, or at least ignore it."
"Birth is a natural part of life." He stroked my swollen stomach and looked away. "To know you are willing to bear such pain for my sake, it humbles me." His normally strong voice was little more than a whisper. "There is something you must know." He looked tired.
"Tell me."
