The Warrior's Runaway Wife by Denise Lynn

Author:Denise Lynn
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2018-04-13T18:44:33+00:00

Chapter Eleven

A long, high-pitched scream tore Avelyn from her sleep. She opened her eyes, then squinted against the brightness of the rising sun. Amazed that she’d finally slept so well, she tossed her cloak aside and rose to find the source of the screaming.

It didn’t take long as there were a dozen women gathered around another woman lying on the deck in obvious agony.

‘What is wrong?’ she asked a woman at the outside of the circle.

‘She’s in labour and it does not seem to be going well.’

Why would a woman that far along take the risk of making this voyage? What was she thinking? What had her husband been thinking to allow such a foolish move?

Avelyn pushed through the growing crowd. ‘Is anyone here a midwife?’

One girl answered, ‘The cook has done this before, but she is too sick to leave her pallet.’

Avelyn dug into her pouch of ginger and gave the girl a handful. ‘Take these to her and tell her we need her help, sick or not.’

The labouring woman screamed again and it was all Avelyn could do not to cover her ears at the pain-filled, frightened sound.

She spotted the captain, took a deep breath and marched towards him, knowing what she had to do.

Stopping right in front of him, she said, ‘We need to contact Elrik. That woman needs help.’

He looked down his nose at her, curled one side of his mouth and snorted before saying, ‘If the woman doesn’t survive, she can have a burial at sea, matters not. We will make port when his lordship orders us to.’

Avelyn stiffened her spine, raised her chin and glared up at the man, pleased to see him take a step back and widen his eyes. ‘You know full well that I am Lady Roul. In my husband’s absence I am giving you an order that you will follow.’ In a milder tone, she added, ‘Or I will simply jump into the water. That should get his attention.’

There was now another crowd gathering around her and the captain.

The man sputtered, but he turned to shout at the men, ‘Man the oars and put your backs into it. Come alongside Lord Elrik’s ship.’ He pointed at a younger man, ordering, ‘Hoist that red flag—again.’

The woman screamed again, making Avelyn shudder. ‘Just hurry, please.’

Certain they would quickly catch up to Elrik’s ship, she went back to the woman in labour. There was nothing she could do except offer comfort, so she knelt beside the struggling woman and took her hand. ‘We are heading for help. Where is your husband?’

‘He’s...on the first...ship.’ Her gasping answer brought Avelyn a measure of relief. Elrik wasn’t hard hearted. Surely, she could convince him to permit the man to be with his wife in her time of need.

* * *

Before too long, the captain called out, ‘Lady Roul, we are nearly abreast.’

She patted the woman’s shoulder and released her hand. ‘Soon, we will get you help soon.’

She rose and shook out the skirt of her

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