Norah put the blanket aside and sighed, rubbing her side. Kate flashed a look at her but said nothing, Norah had been restless and unable to sit or lie still since they had arrived about two weeks ago. She hadn’t bothered trying to make it further than the rose garden and was either fidgeting, finishing off various sewing and knitting or pacing up and down, at least she would be pacing if she could move properly.
Marie had taken one look at her when she first arrived and insisted on calling the local midwife to look at her. Kate wasn’t happy to spend more time than was necessary with the woman, a nun from the nearby convent, but had sent for her straight away.
Sister Térèse was an older woman, an experienced midwife who had joined the order when her husband had died and her children had left. She looked at Norah, asked her lots of questions and felt her stomach, causing Norah to gasp in discomfort at times; before concluding that she believed she had found two heads, that they were both in a good position and that she was moving in to stay with Norah.
Kate had glanced at Marie who had followed them up, and Marie had looked back at her, worry written across her face as she went to the Sister and offered her services. Listening as the Sister explain what she would do, what herbs and medicine’s she would need, how she wanted to prepare Norah and her room for the birth, Kate begrudgingly found she began to respect her - it helped that she didn’t seem as zealous as some of her counterparts often were.
The two women had gone off together to prepare the room beside Norah’s for the Sister’s stay, the nun recommending to Kate that maybe she should write an urgent message to Norah’s friends, and if it was possible, that Porthos should be sent for.
Just in case.
Wearily, Kate had sat at her desk to compose three short notes, wondering how on earth she was going to explain what Sister Térèse had said without causing panic.
Since then, Marie had taken it upon herself to boss Norah about, reluctant to let her downstairs but Sister Térèse felt that as long as she was careful and didn’t overexert herself, it would be better than keeping to her room where she would be bored and feel stressed over being cooped up. Kate had introduced her to a young villager who had recently given birth herself and who was keen to befriend Norah and impart all of her knowledge. It was also Kate’s way of helping out the woman as well as having someone ready to be a wet nurse.
Just in case.
Pushing aside those sorts of thoughts, Norah heaved herself up out of the chair. Kate smiled at her efforts, stood and helped her. Pulling Norah’s arm through her own, she let her lean on her as they wandered next to the rose and lavender bushes that seemed to help calm her. Stopping, Norah took a deep breath, unable to get close enough to properly do it. Kate leant forward to pick her some to take and smell, thinking Sister Térèse would be pleased.
“Thank you.” Norah smiled apologetically. Kate could see she was close to tears again. She couldn’t help but glance at Norah’s stomach and again felt her heart contract and ache. She had hoped it would get easier for her; she supposed in a way it had…only…it was more that she had got used to it than anything else.
“Could we go in?” Norah asked apologetically. “It’s getting quite hot out here” Kate smiled and helped her back to the house and headed for the library.
“Shall I read to you?” Kate asked thinking that it might soothe Norah to sleep for a while. She asked Marie for a bowl of lavender and rosewater and a glass of raspberry leaf tea, as recommended by Sister Térèse. After helping Norah get comfortable on the chaise, Kate pulled a chair close, soaking the cloths in the cool fragrant water and draping them over her forehead and ankles as she sipped her tea. Norah rested her head, and sighed with bliss
“Where do you think they are?”
“Almost at Dover perhaps.” Kate replied, shrugging.
Norah nodded.
“Mmm. That’s what I thought as well. I wish he was here.” Kate squeezed her hand and smiled sympathetically, nodding.
She started to read, but just as Norah’s eyelids started to droop, there was a commotion as Lady Bea and Comtesse arrived. Kate sighed.
“I’d best go and get them settled. They’ll want to see you first though.” Norah nodded and pulled herself more upright in order to greet her friends.