Banking on Temperance: Book Three of the Cotillion Ball Series (Crimson Romance) by Lower Becky

Author:Lower, Becky [Lower, Becky]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romance, historical
Published: 2013-05-05T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

Temperance winced as Ginger’s grasp on her hand tightened, in the throes of the worst contraction yet. The pain Temperance was feeling from her hand was mild by comparison, so she gritted her teeth and tried to talk her through it.

“Breathe, Ginger. It’s better if you remember to take breaths rather than hold it in.”

Ginger’s grip lessened as the contraction crested, and then waned. “Good girl.” Temperance had only minutes before the next wave of pain would overtake Ginger, so she dashed to the small cooking stove and retrieved a damp cloth from the pot. Her fingers burned as she wrung the moisture from the cloth. She picked up a cool damp cloth, too, to place on Ginger’s forehead. Nervously, she glanced out the window. From the position of the sun, she could tell it was late afternoon. Surely, they would have been missed by now and someone was on the way to them. At least she hoped so.

Ginger cried out as another spasm overtook her. Temperance ran to her side.

“I think it’s coming!” Ginger gasped. “Can you look?”

Temperance stared at Ginger. “You mean, look down there?”

Ginger grasped her hands. “Temperance, I need you to focus. My baby’s about to come into this world, and I’d rather not have him or her slide out and fall on the floor. Or get stuck halfway out. I need you to help guide my child into the world. Can you do that?”

Temperance took a deep breath. “Yes, of course. I’m here for you.” She pulled the covers back from the bed and realized Ginger was correct. The top of the baby’s head, with its black-as-night hair, was peeking out from Ginger’s vagina. She smiled. “I have a feeling your baby is going to resemble Joseph.”

Ginger gasped, and began to push in earnest. “Well, then, let’s get the little bugger out so I can see him or her.”

Fifteen minutes later, Temperance tied off the umbilical cord with a piece of leather and placed a messy, wet, and bloody baby boy on Ginger’s chest. She gave mother and child a minute alone to bond while she prepared some bath water to clean the baby.

“He’s beautiful,” Ginger said with tears in her eyes as she tore her gaze from her son to Temperance. “Thank you for being here. I couldn’t have done this without you.”

“I want you to lie back and rest now while I clean up the little fellow. And then I’ll clean you up. He’ll be back in your arms before you know it.”

She wrapped the baby in a clean, soft kitchen towel and took him to the washbasin at the table. As she held him and began to wash his limbs, she hummed softly and let her thoughts go where they wanted to. I want one of these for my own. I want a baby boy who has Basil’s looks. She wiped the child’s face and cleaned his shock of dark hair. But Basil doesn’t want the same thing you do, so put your thoughts away.

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