Page 45 of Forbidden: Claude

Chapter 14

Riding like the devil was on his heels, Claude made it back to Briarbeck Castle in good time. Even with the flooded roads and alternate route, he didn’t let it deter him from getting to Rose’s side.

He rode into the courtyard, jumping off the horse and tossing the reins to a stable boy. Then he grabbed the travel bag with the soul cakes in it and ran toward the keep. His mother was there to greet him just outside the great hall. She had a discontented look on her face, so he knew the news was not going to be good.

“How is Rose?” he asked, giving his mother a quick hug and peck on the cheek.

“Not good, Claude. She is having a very difficult time with the birth of the baby. It is too big and does not want to be born. The midwife said she has lost a lot of blood. The longer it takes, the less chance of Rose or the baby surviving.”

“Nay,” shouted Claude, “I will not let Rose or the baby die. It is my responsibility to protect her. This is all my fault since I was not here.” He rushed down the corridor toward Rose’s chamber with his mother right behind him.

“This is nobody’s fault, Claude, so don’t blame yourself. It is just an act of nature.”

“I won’t let her die!” he said, bursting into her room and stopping short when he saw Rose lying on the bed looking whiter than a ghost. Rose’s stepmother, Isobel, was with her as well as the midwife and several servants.

“Claude!” Rose called out, trying to raise her hand but dropping it to the bed since she was so weak. “You came.”

“Of course, I did.” He hurried to the bed, putting down the travel bag and taking both of Rose’s hands in his. “I am here to protect you and the baby. If I have to reach in there myself and pull the stubborn thing out, I swear, I’ll do it.”

Rose smiled slightly. A peaceful look washed over her face. “Now that you are here, I can die in peace. I only wish Toft and my father were here as well.”

“You are not going to die, and neither is the baby,” Claude told her. “I promise you that.”

“I sent men out in the storm last night to get a message to yer faither and Toft as well as Claude,” Isobel told them. “Hopefully, they will be here soon.”

A vein in Claude’s jaw ticked in aggravation upon hearing this. So, the guard had lied about not being able to leave until morning. He had probably stayed holed up in a tavern all night long. Claude was so tired of being lied to.

“I brought you soul cakes to make you feel better,” said Claude, ripping open the travel bag and grabbing Evelina’s coarse, woolen gown that he’d wrapped them in. “Here,” he said holding out one of the round cakes that fit in the palm of his hand and was very similar to a bun.

“Claude,” said Rose, reaching out and laying her cold hand on his. She feigned a smile. “I didn’t really want soul cakes. I only said that to give you time alone with Evelina.”

“What?” he asked, pulling back the cake.

“Where is Evelina? I need her here as well.”

“She is coming later with Felix.”

“Why didn’t she come back with you? Is everything all right between the two of you?”

“Shh, Rose, don’t use your energy to speak. She will be here soon.”

Rose cried out with pain, sending a shiver up Claude’s spine.

“Breathe,” commanded the midwife, looking under the sheet and between Rose’s legs. Then the woman looked up at Isobel and shook her head.

“What’s wrong?” asked Claude. “Someone tell me.”

“Claude Jean tu dois être tranquille. Vous allez seulement effrayer Rose.”His mother told him in French to be quiet and still so he wouldn’t scare Rose. Then she told him if he didn’t behave he would have to leave the room.

“I am not going anywhere,” Claude told her, taking hold of Rose’s hand. “You will be fine, Rose. Just be strong.”

“I don’t know if I can do it, Claude. I think I am going to die giving birth, just like my mother. It is my biggest fear.”

Claude remembered what Evelina had told him last night. He needed to tell Rose the same thing. “If you don’t let go of the past, you will never find happiness in the future,” he told her. “Don’t think about what happened before, think about what is yet to come. You and Toft are going to be parents, and I envy you, Rose. You have a wonderful life and need to know it.”

“Oh, Claude, you are right.” Rose’s eyes began to close. “You need to marry Evelina because you two are meant to be together.”

“Hush, don’t speak,” he told her.