Escaping The Scurrilous Earl by Pembroke Lydia

Author:Pembroke, Lydia [Pembroke, Lydia]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub, mobi
Published: 2019-07-09T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

Lord Felmingham lunged for her again, snatching at her hand, pulling her back. Terrified for the safety of her child, she railed against the Earl, scratching at his pallid palms until he released her with a yelp. She did not linger to give him another chance to delay her. Stumbling, almost falling to the ground, she picked herself up and ran as fast as her legs would carry her. Not daring to look back in case the Earl was in pursuit, Lily hurried towards Hardcastle House, darting across the interior courtyard and bursting through the doors that led directly to the kitchens. Panting hard, she struggled through the empty room, looking for Mrs Hardcastle. There was nobody in the kitchen or the pantry, forcing her to shuffle into the main house. Everything ached, everything hurt, and everything felt wrong.

“Mrs Hardcastle!” she cried, a sharp pain searing through her abdomen.

The agony caused her to slump to the ground, gripping the edge of the staircase banister for purchase, as she cried for Mrs Hardcastle once more. A second grip of overwhelming pain shot through her nerves, starting deep in her abdomen, and spreading out like molten lava. No, no, no, it is too soon, she told herself, wondering if the stress had triggered her labour. She had fought hard to break free of Lord Felmingham — could that be enough? She sincerely hoped not, though a third cramp brought her to her knees, preventing her from standing again. Hearing Lily’s cries, Mrs Hardcastle tore down the stairs, discovering Lily on the floor in the hallway.

“Lily? Whatever is the matter?”

“The baby,” she gasped. “I think it is coming.”

Mrs Hardcastle gaped in alarm. “But it is much too soon!”

Lily nodded. “Lord… Felmingham… is here in the village. He took me… by surprise. I fought him off but… I fear he may have caused me to… go into labour.” Tears trickled down her face as sobs wracked her chest. “My baby will not… live. It is too soon. My baby will… not be able to survive.”

“Now, you must not speak in such a way, dear girl,” Mrs Hardcastle assured, though uncertainty lingered in her voice. “I must send for the doctor at once. He may be able to help you.”

Lily clung to the banister as Mrs Hardcastle raced out into the street, her skirts flapping all around her, and begged the nearest passer-by to run to Dr Sharpton immediately, to inform him of what had happened.

All they could do was wait until he arrived, though Lily feared the worst. The pain was all-consuming, rendering her immobile.

“We must get you into one of the rooms,” Mrs Hardcastle urged, helping Lily back to her feet.

The pain twisted through her body, searing white-hot through her nerve endings. The baby could not be coming, it simply could not. With some difficulty, the two women managed to stagger into one of the nearby suites. It was vacant of tenants, everything pristinely cleaned for the next boarders who might come along.

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