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Sophie burst through the parlor door. Ally was lying on the floor on her back, her eyes squeezed shut. Two maids—Sophie recognized them as Haley, a downstairs maid, and her mother, Elspeth—tended her.
“What is going on? Is my sister all right?”
“I’m afraid her water has broken, my lady,” Haley said.
That didn’t sound good. “What does that mean exactly?” Sophie asked.
“It means she has begun labor. The baby is coming.”
Sophie gasped. “But it’s too early! She hasn’t yet reached eight months.”
“Shh, my lady,” Elspeth said. “You don’t want to scare your sister.”
Sophie clamped her hand over her mouth. No, she certainly didn’t want to do that. “All right, then. What are we to do now?”
“Millicent has gone for some linens and toweling, and Cook is boiling water. We need to make her as comfortable as possible until the doctor gets here.”
Sophie knelt beside Ally and took her hand. “Ally, dear, are you quite all right?”
Ally opened her eyes. “Oh, Sophie, thank goodness you’re here. I…I don’t know what’s going on. I shouldn’t be going into labor for about a month yet, but my bag of waters…”
Sophie braced herself. She had to be brave for Ally. She was not used to such. Ally had always been the brave one. She gritted her teeth and inhaled, letting the air out slowly. “Now, Ally, you’re going to be absolutely fine. Bertram has gone for the doctor, and he will also find Evan and Mother and the earl. They will be here for you. Just think… In a little while, you will be a mother. And I will be an auntie.”
That got a small smile out of Ally. “If only it didn’t hurt so damned much!”
Sophie resisted the urge to admonish her sister for her curse. Now was certainly not the time. “I know, dear. I know. Millicent has gone for some linens, and Haley and Elspeth are here, tending to you. I am right beside you, and I will be the entire time. I promise.”
“Thank you, Sophie. I don’t think I could get through this without you.”
“You won’t have to.”
“Oh!” Ally gripped Sophie’s hand like a vise. “This child is trying to kill me.”
“Breathe, Ally. Breathe. This is exactly what mother went through when she brought both of us into the world. Lily and Rose have both been through it, and you will get through it too.”
“Lily and Rose were both attended by physicians when they gave birth. Where in the hell is that doctor?”
“I don’t know how long ago Bertram left. Do you want me to ask Graves?”
“No, no. Don’t leave me.”
“Very well.” Sophie turned to the older maid, Elspeth. “Would you please go check with Mr. Graves and find out how long ago Mr. Bertram left?”
“Yes, my lady.” Elspeth rose and left the parlor.
“Most first babies take a while to come,” the younger maid, Haley, said. “I know you’re in pain, my lady, but there really is no reason to worry. The doctor will be here in plenty of time. You will be laboring for hours, perhaps even a day or two.”
Ally’s eyes shot open, wide as dinner plates. “A day or two?”
“For goodness’ sake, Haley, don’t frighten her,” Sophie admonished. She turned back to Ally. “I promise you, everything will be all right.”
How she hoped she spoke the truth.
Before she could ruminate any further, Ally let out a blood-curdling scream.
* * *
Zach returned to the theatre after a light luncheon. He headed to his office to make some changes to tomorrow’s schedule for rehearsals. He had told the actors and actresses to be at the theatre tomorrow at nine o’clock. He wished he’d said eight o’clock. Too late now. He couldn’t send word to them in time, so he had to make some adjustments to allow for the extra hour he needed. He entered his office.
