Page 142 of Their Courtesan
Judith studied him carefully. “You’re getting kinkier as the weeks go by.”
“I’ve always been this way. You’re drawing it out of me.”
They both got off the bed and prepared to head down the hall to the Rec Room, assuming it wasn’t already busy. Judith assured her boyfriend (which was such a strange thing to be thought of now) that it was one of the slowest Sundays ever and if anyone was in there, it was staff wasting time. On that note, did he know how to play billiards? She could put on a good show with a cue…
Judith locked her bedroom door behind her as soon as they were in the hallway. Hands entwined, they strolled at their own languid pace, and Seth didn’t think twice to say hello to Monica on her way to her chambers.
He looked at her again.
“Yes, good evening, Dr. Christens.” Her teeth were gritted and her stature tense. Monica assured them that it was the pressure on her back, and she was on her way to rest.“She’s going on maternity leave starting next week,”Judith told him earlier.“Don’t you think it’s pretty late? She’s due sometime around now. I can’t remember when.”That was not good news. Seth may have been retired from his practice, but it was difficult to forget years of training and experience. “I hope you’re enjoying your evening.” She continued down the hall.
“Come on,” Judith said a few seconds later, tugging on Seth’s hand. “Before someone beats us there.”
They walked, although Seth’s mind was far away. “Did she look okay to you?” he asked.
Judith shrugged. “She’s been looking like that for a month now. I don’t know how she moves without dying. Why?”
“Uh…” Seth stopped in the middle of the hallway. “Because she’s in labor.”
Judith’s expression told him to never,everjoke about that again.
“I am 100% serious. I would bet my medical degree on your boss being in labor right at this second, whether she knows it or not. She should call someone.”
Mouth dropping open, Judith turned on her heels and pulled Seth down the hall. When they reached Monica’s chambers, Judith pounded on the door. Hard.
“What is it?” asked Matilda. “Lady Warren is resting and has asked to not be disturbed unless it’s an emergency.”
“It’s an emergency!” Judith nearly bowled the girl over. “She’s in labor, dumbass!”
“E – excuse me?”
Judith was already heading to Monica’s bedroom. Seth remained out in the hall, apologizing to Matilda. “If I may go in there, please. I’m actually an obstetrician when I’m not paying women for sex. I know, I’m a complicated guy.”
Matilda was too shocked to say or do anything. It probably didn’t help that an overly-sexual woman was standing next to her lady’s bedside, insisting that she knew her body better than anyone else.
“Can I call someone? Who should I call? Where’s your midwife? Isn’t she around here half her life now?”
Seth entered as Monica retorted with, “Would you bug off? I’m not…” She sat up and promptly grabbed the small of her back, pain wiping out her complexion. “I’m not in labor!”
“What’s the nearest hospital?” Judith asked Seth, as if he would know. “Could you drive her there? We’re too far out to wait for an ambulance!”
“I said I’m not…”
Seth had heard that terrified cry too many times in his life. Usually in a hospital, but women went into labor all the time at home.
Matilda raced to her lady’s address book on a coffee table and flipped it open. “I’ll call her midwife right now!”
“Unless she lives down the road,” Seth said, going to Monica’s side and helping her sit up, sweat already cresting her brow, “she’s not going to make it here in time. This baby’s coming fast.”
As the only calm one in the room – let alone the only medically licensed one – Seth soon had to take over.
While he delegated Matilda to call this person and for Judith to go into the master bathroom to grab this and that, he finally coaxed details out of Monica’s mouth. Like how she had been cramping for the past three days and fighting back waves of nausea that she hadn’t felt since her first trimester. When she admitted that the cramps didn’t let up no matter what position she was in, Seth said, “I need to please get you off this bed.”
Seth knew nothing about Monica’s pregnancy, but he knew about many things, like, oh, the signs of active labor. Cramps that didn’t go away no matter what was not a good sign. Nor was the water starting to run down Monica’s legs when she finally got up again.
“Holy shit!” Judith exclaimed, coming out of the bathroom. She would’ve looked comical with her breasts pushing through her blouse and half her ass hanging from her skirt if it weren’t for the seriousness of the situation. “She’s dying!”
Both Monica and Seth sent her a warning look.
