“The babe is coming.”
~ / ~
As soon as Miss Darcy left the room, Elizabeth got out of the bed and started pacing again. Each time a contraction hit she leant over the bed and swayed her hips from side to side.
“Ye are a natural at this, dearie. Keep listenin’ to yer body.” Mrs Hobbs bustled back in, accompanied by another maid. They carried a stack of towelling, a bowl and a pitcher of warm water.
She washed her hands and asked Elizabeth if she could examine her. “Lay down, dearie and let’s see if we can see the head.”
“Dear lady, I have not been able to see my toes for three months. I most assuredly will not be able to see a head,” Elizabeth chuckled.
“La!” Mrs Hobbs said to the maid, “We’ve a sharp one here.” They all shared a laugh. “Come now, let’s lay ye down.”
Lying down on the towelling the maid had spread over the mattress, Elizabeth continued, “Where would we be without humour to raise our spirits from time to time?”
Mrs Hobbs lifted the hem of her shift long enough to check the situation. “It ’as begun, but I can see there is still a ways to go. Do ye think ye might rest or do ye feel the need to walk again?”
“I will try to rest.” Elizabeth rolled onto her side.
Mrs Hobbs straightened the labouring woman’s garment and pulled the sheet over her. “Tha’ be a good idea. Rest up. Ye’ll be needin’ it later.”
The sound of heavy breathing filled the room, and no one spoke until the young lady inhaled and let it out slowly, “That did not feel as bad as the last ones. Might it be stopping?”
“Nay, dearie. They’ll be back. Yer openin’ has widened, there’s no stoppin’ it now. Rest if ye can.” With one last pat to Elizabeth’s arm, she exited the room, leaving the maid seated in the chair to keep watch.
Elizabeth smiled at her, her eyes heavy with fatigue. “What is your name?”
“Mary, ma’am.”
“I have a sister named Mary. Thank you for your assistance, Mary.”
The young maid blushed.
With a large yawn, Elizabeth closed her eyes and within minutes, she slept.
~ /~
A pain tore through her, waking her from a short slumber. “Ahhhh…” The cry ripped from her, both from the pain and the shock of it.
“There, now. You’re awake and it musta’ been a strong one. So, let’s see where we’re at.” Lifting the shift again, “Good, the openin’ is wider. Tha’s very good.”
“How much longer?”
“Never can tell with babes. Each one is different.”
Elizabeth rose from the bed, feeling the need for movement.
“Keep hold of the missus in case she falls,” Mrs Hobbs told Mary.
“I shall not fall,” Elizabeth huffed in offense.
“Harder to get ye up from the floor should a pain fell ye, dearie.” Mrs Hobbs was curious and wanted to make conversation to distract the young lady. “Yer Ma did’na want ta be with ye now?”
“My mother passed three years ago. My aunt Gardiner was to be with me for my lying-in. It would appear, that is not to be.”
“Man plans an’ God ’as ’is laugh at us in return,” Mrs Hobbs tutted.
Elizabeth gripped her hand. “My courage always rises at every attempt to intimidate me. However, I do believe this is more than even I imagined.”
