Page 48 of Forbidden: Claude

Rose gripped Isobel’s and Evelina’s hands tightly and screamed out as she pushed so hard that her face turned red and her body shook.

“It moved. The baby moved! I see her face,” exclaimed the midwife. “Do it again, Rose. Push harder.”

“One more push and it will all be over,” Evelina told her, not sure if it was true, but wanting to give Rose hope.

“I will do it,” said Rose. “I can do it,” she said with determination in her eyes. Rose was a small girl like Evelina, but her will and determination were bigger than even the strongest warrior. One more push and Rose screamed louder than before. And then, as if it were a miracle, Evelina heard the sound of a crying baby.

“You did it,” exclaimed Evelina, seeing the midwife hold up one of the biggest newborns she had ever seen. “Your baby is born. I knew you could do it.”

“I couldn’t have done it without you,” Rose told her, holding out her arms for her baby. The midwife cleaned it up quickly and laid it on top of Rose’s chest.

“She’s beautiful,” said Evelina, wishing that someday she would have a child of her own. She wanted to marry Claude more than anything and hoped it could be so.

* * *

Not a half-hour later,Toft, Conlin, and Claude rushed into the bedchamber.

“Rose,” called out Toft, running to her side. “I am here, Rose.” He stopped in his tracks when he laid eyes on the baby. “Y-you had the baby?”

“I did,” said Rose with a smile. “Our daughter is alive and healthy. So am I. We have Evelina to thank for talking me through this.”

“Rose, thank God you are all right,” said Conlin, rushing to the bedside to be with his daughter. “When we got the message, we came right away. King Edward sent us home, and he sends his best wishes as well.”

“Our daughter is beautiful and so are you, Rose.” Toft scooted onto the bed next to her and put his arm around his wife. “What will we name her?”

“I felt like Daniel in the lion’s den birthing her,” said Rose with a smile. “Mayhap, we should name her Daniela.”

“I like that,” said Toft. “Daniela, it is.”

“Rose, I am so glad you and the baby made it through this.” Claude, who was standing silently and watching, stepped forward and kissed Rose on the head.

“Thank you, Claude, for staying in England with me. That meant the world to me.”

“I would do anything for you and your baby.” Claude reached out and ran a finger lightly over the baby’s head. “After all, what are good friends for?”

“Thank you, Claude,” said Toft with a nod of his head. “If anything had happened to Rose, I don’t know how I would go on without her.”

“Claude, I was hoping we could talk now,” said Evelina softly.

For the first time, Claude turned to look at her. But to her surprise, he was not smiling.

“I think a talk is in order. But first, someone is waiting in the great hall to see you.”

“Me?” she asked, not knowing what he meant.

“When I went down to the docks, I found Lord Conlin and Sir Toft, but they were not the only ones I found.”

“Who did you find, Claude? I don’t understand.”

“There was a ship from France that had just docked,” Claude explained. “To my surprise, two men approached me and asked if I knew a girl named Evelina.”

“They did?” It was evident where this was leading, and it wasn’t good.

“Evelina, or should I say, Lady Evelina, your father, Count du Pont is waiting for you in the great hall along with Lord Onfroi Faucheux – your betrothed.”