After ten more minutes of pushing, the room was filled with the cries of the newborn. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
“You did it, Lady Williams,” the midwife said. “He’s rather small, but you have a fine son.”
“A son? Where’s Peter?” Cecily asked, collapsing back against the pillows.
“I’m right here, my love,” Peter said, rushing into the room and over to his wife’s side when he heard the newborn cry.
“Peter, darling, we have a son.”
“A son?”
“Yes,” she said as the midwife finished cleaning the child and wrapped him in a soft blanket before handing him to Peter.
The look of wonder on Peter’s face made Bett’s heart ache. She was thrilled for Peter and Cecily, but her thoughts wereconflicted. The birth of their healthy child only served to remind her how she’d lost her own babe.
After holding the baby for a minute, Peter handed the child to his wife. “My darling, look at what we’ve created. He’s perfect.”
Cecily smiled through her exhaustion as she gazed at her son. He had a fuzz of light-brown hair and looked at her with bright blue eyes. “Hello, little one. We’ve waited a long time to meet you.”
The baby started to cry, and Cecily looked up with panicked eyes. “What’s wrong with him?”
The midwife came over to her side. “My lady, the child needs to eat. Let me show you how to position him on your breast.”
After showing Cecily how to feed the child, the midwife called Peter over to the side of the room. “Lord Williams, your wife has labored a long time and will need a lot of rest to regain her strength. In my opinion, it would be best if you hired a wet nurse to feed the child while your wife recovers.”
“Thank you. Is there anything else I should know?”
She shook her head. “No. Everything with the birth went well. Contact me immediately if your wife develops a fever. Do not be alarmed if she sleeps a long while. She’s been through quite an ordeal.”
The midwife went back to Cecily and encouraged her to feed the child from both breasts. Bett was amazed at how aggressively the baby suckled.
Cecily looked at her with a contented smile. “Isn’t he beautiful, Bett?”
“Indeed he is. You did well, Cecily. I’m so proud of you.”
Peter joined them at his wife’s bedside. “My darling, the midwife recommends hiring a wet nurse for the babe so you may recover more easily.”
Cecily shook her head. “No. That will not do. I shall nurse my own child.”
Bett had never heard Cecily contradict Peter before. She was proud of her for sticking up for what she wanted.
“Are you sure? I don’t want you to exhaust yourself. You’ll need every ounce of your strength to recover from the birth.”
“Peter, darling, please don’t worry. All will be well with little Stephen James.”
“Stephen? You’re naming him Stephen?” Bett asked with tears in her eyes. It was such a lovely tribute to her late husband, Peter’s brother.
“I hope you’re pleased,” Cecily said.
“It’s a lovely gesture. Thank you for honoring his memory. Now I shall leave you both to enjoy your son,” Bett said.
Cecily held out her hand. “Thank you, Bett. Your presence here made this experience so much more bearable. I don’t know what I’d do without your support.”
Bett kissed Cecily’s cheek. “It was my pleasure. Enjoy your child. I’ll see you again later when you feel up for company,” she said before leaving.
When Bett walked into the family parlor, an overwhelming sadness hit her. That happy family scene should have been hers. Would she ever be able to enjoy the thrill of holding her own child? She could think of no other man but Noah who she’d want as her husband and the father of her child.
She sincerely hoped she would hear from him soon.
