Page 87 of An Unwitting Alliance
Megan and Aunt Evans joined them for dinner. After a few awkward questions with one-word responses, no one pressed Tom for more information. When dinner ended, they all filed toward the drawing room.
Tom caught Cassandra’s hand and held her back. He’d done it easily a half dozen times by now, but did he know how much each touch meant to her? “I am sorry I broke my promise and did not return sooner,” he whispered.
The words caught her completely off guard. “Megan accompanied me. To Patricia’s.”
His brow rose. “Did everything work out?”
“We managed.” She shrugged. Would she have rather had him by her side? Of course. But having conquered something alone, with only Megan by her side, had made her feel stronger somehow too. She wanted him to be proud of her, but it felt silly to bring up now.
“I am relieved,” he said. “I wish I could have been there.”
“I know.” The apology did not change what had happened, but it did lessen the hurt. “You must’ve been too busy getting that purple around your eye. By the way, it is green along the edges, in case you cannot recognize the color for yourself.”
He smirked. “I am glad to know.” He rubbed a hand on his forehead. “Will you forgive me if I do not join you all tonight? I need to turn in.”
“Go right ahead.” Cassandra clasped her hands together and gave him a small smile. “Good night.”
He nodded and turned away. She watched him go and frowned. He was alive, and for that she was grateful, but he was not the same Tom. She was sad for the Kelbys too, but not in the same way as Tom. Was it possible for him to mourn the death of a stranger so deeply? And though he had not ignored her and had even apologized, why did he feel so distant? The same sinking feeling she had had when he left that morning returned, but she did her best to shrug it off. Everything would return to normal come morning.
* * *
Tom woke to a commotion in the corridor and voices shouting. He sat up too quickly and caught his pounding head in his hands. If there were any light at all in his dark bedchamber, he would probably be seeing stars. What in heaven’s name was going on? It was a good thing Ian had insisted he return. To think, he had almost abandoned these women.
Climbing from his bed, he remembered he had gone to sleep in his drawers. He pulled on his breeches and donned a shirt quickly, not bothering to button the top or tuck it in. Dashing from his room, he entered the corridor the same time as Nutmeg and Cassie. They were both dressed in their nightgowns with shawls wrapped about their shoulders, a single candle held between them.
“What’s happening?” He brought himself nearer to them.
“We don’t know.” Cassie shrugged.
Mrs. Buttars stepped out of Mother Vail’s room a few seconds later. “It’s the missus. The baby is coming.”
Megs shook her head. “The baby can’t come now. It’s still too soon. And Papa should be here for it.”
Tom had the same concerns. He was supposed to be responsible for this family, and now the very thing he’d dreaded was happening. He had already lost one person on his watch; he could not bear to lose another. “I’m afraid my expertise is limited when it comes to delivering babies.”
Cassie gave him a tired half smile. “Babies are born every day. It seems this one has waited long enough.”
“Someone should have told the baby to wait another hour until the sun came up,” Megs teased.
It was something Tom would have said, but he was still struggling to find himself again after yesterday.
Auntie Evans and Mr. Buttars came up the stairs, each carrying two lamps. Mrs. Buttars reached for one from her husband while Cassandra opened her mother’s door. Tom took a lamp from Auntie Evans, carrying it into the room. There was already one lamp burning, and the added ones filled the room in a hazy glow. He glanced at Mother Vail. Her eyes were squeezed tight. Auntie Evans hurried to her side and clutched Mother Vail’s hand. Tom stepped back so Mrs. Buttars could lay out clean linen.
“Stoke the fire for us, Mr. Harwood,” Auntie ordered.
Happy to have a job, he stepped to the fireplace and added another log to it.
“Is there no way to stop the labor?” Megs came up on the opposite side of the bed as Auntie Evans.
“There is naught to be done now but pray,” Auntie Evans said.
“Has Mr. Adams been sent for?” Cassie asked.
“I can go,” Tom offered. He wasn’t sure how well he could ride with the pounding in his head, but he was willing to try. He would do anything for this family—anything for Cassie.
“No need,” Mr. Buttars said. “I sent the stablehand just a few minutes ago.”
Mrs. Buttars shook her head. “We’ll be lucky if he makes it in time. Things are moving fast.”
