Presently Katherine quietened a little, falling into an exhausted doze until the grey dawn light filtered into the solar and the larks and thrushes trilled beneath the forest window. Then the girl's labouring body renewed its struggle.
The sun had climbed above the forest top when she was delivered at last.
"Oh, what is it?" Katherine cried when she could speak again. "Does it live? Is it all right?" She tried to raise herself and fell back panting.
" 'Tis a baby girl," said Nichola slowly, staring down at the bed. "It seems all right, I think - but I remember - there is something needs to be done - " She fumbled at her girdle, where she kept the little knife she used for cutting herbs. She bound the cord tight with a strip torn from the sheet, then clipped sharply. The baby gasped and let out a wavering cry. Nichola started when she heard the cry. She pulled the linen coif from her head and wrapped the baby in it, then cradled the little bundle against her chest.
"Ah, let me see her," Katherine whispered, holding out her arms. "Give her to me - - "
Nichola drew back a step, uncertainty came into her face, which had been sure and intent before. "What do you want, Hugh's bride?" she asked in a high singing tone, shaking her head. "What is it that you want?"
"I want to see my baby, bring her here, lady - " The girl, all dazed and numb, could not understand why this woman, who had been her only comfort the night long, should back away and shake her head. Neither of them heard a commotion in the courtyard below, men's voices and the clop of horses' hooves.
The baby whimpered and Nichola, bending quickly, kissed its face. "Ah there, my dearling," she crooned, "my pretty one you want to see them, don't you? We'll go now by the river - "
Deadly fear smote Katherine. "Lady!" she cried. "Come here!" Nichola backed yet another step towards the door. She looked at Katherine slyly and said, "You'd take her from me but she's mine -"
"Jesu, Jesu - -" Katherine whispered; she lurched upright on the bed and would have leaped on to the floor, but she dared not, for she saw Nichola glance sideways at the door and that she strained the bundle ever tighter to her chest. Katherine mastered the chattering of her teeth. "And if she's yours lady," she said and forced a coaxing tone, while she tried to hold the black eyes with her own, "you must tend her carefully; she may be cold, you know, so put her down a moment and stir up the fire that you may warm her - "
Nichola stood hesitant, looking from Katherine to the dark fireplace, then she shook her head again. "Nay, I think not. They of the river want to see her first. I must hasten - " She put her hand on the door latch. Katherine stumbled from the bed - and screamed and lurched across the room. She screamed again, for Nichola ran through the door, while footsteps clattered up the stairs.
The woman shrank by the open door, cowering over the baby. A man stood on the landing staring at them with amazement.
"Oh, stop her, stop her!" Katherine sobbed. "She's stealing my baby!" Swift as light the man leaned down and took the bundle from Nichola, who let out a long, quivering moan. He put the baby on the bed, then turned to the panting girl who had fallen to her knees on the floor. "In God's name, Katherine!" he cried, and picking her up in his arms he laid her on the bed beside the baby. She stared up at him, seeing vivid blue eyes frowning with concern in a sun - bronzed face. "My Lord Duke," she whispered in feeble wonder, and then his eyes and the room and Nichola's moaning faded into greyness.
It was past high noon when Katherine came to herself again and heard the subdued muttering of women's voices, and at first she could not think what had happened, but lay in a vague dream watching through heavy lids the dance of dust motes in a sunbeam. She turned a little in the bed and her hand fell on her flat belly, then she remembered and started up with a cry, "My baby!"
The kind round face of Parson's Molly bent over her. "Here, lady, here's the tiny maid, all snug and swaddled and content." She put the infant in the crook of Katherine's arm. "As fine and fair a babe as I ever see," and over Molly's shoulder Milburga's frightened, peering face nodded agreement.
Katherine looked down at the tiny head covered with darkish fuzz, the crumpled nose and moist pink lips. "Put her to the breast," said Molly, pulling down the sheet, "let her suck to bring the milk in." Katherine felt the hungry tug of the little mouth, and a wave of delight such as she had never known washed through her body. She felt that they two were floating in a golden bath together. The dark doings of the night before seemed a foul dream long past, neither fear nor pain could touch her ever again, for here was love come at last, incorporate in this tiny thing that breathed and nestled and belonged to her alone.
When the baby fell asleep, she moved it so that its head lay against her cheek and slept too. The women let her be while they whispered fearingly together.
No one knew what the Duke would do to them. His anger had been terrible as he came down the solar stairs into the courtyard when the housefolk came stumbling and lurching back across the drawbridge from Ket's rites. He had not whipped them nor berated, but his eyes had flashed like swords and the tone of his voice as he gave them orders banished their drunkenness like a purge.
They had run frantically to obey him, themselves appalled when they found out what had happened in their absence. The Lady Nichola, sobbing and beating her breasts, had been already chained to her bed in the tower by the Duke's men, for he had brought five with him.
And when Parson's Molly came running to the manor from the village, they found what sad plight their little mistress was in, wallowing unconscious in fouled sheets and the stench of birth - blood, while the babe lay naked, though unhurt - praise be to the Blessed Virgin!
The women now heard the shouts of men - at - arms below, and a squeal of pain from Toby as one of the Duke's retainers cuffed him; and they huddled by the fire, glad of the sanctuary of the birth - room. Then they heard footsteps on the wooden landing and a knock outside. Molly's fat cheeks mottled, but she went to the door and opened it bravely. She curtsied as she said low, "Our lady sleeps, my Lord Duke, but we've washed her and the babe."
John pushed her aside and strode to the bed. He stood looking down at Katherine. White and spent as a plucked windflower she seemed to him, lying there defenceless with her baby next her cheek. And the small happy smile on her pale lips increased his pity. It was pity that he felt and again that strange urge to protect that he had known when he had kissed her a year ago, but now there was no desire mingled with this other feeling. She seemed to him as childlike and pure as his own daughters. Her long lashes quivered and she opened her eyes. They no longer reminded him of Isolda's for there was in them no urgency, no appeal - clear and untroubled they looked up at him.
She saw him through a dreamy haze, so big and shining with his tawny head, a topaz velvet tunic over powerful chest and shoulders, and eyes blue as speedwells against his sunburned skin.
"I don't wish to disturb you, Katherine," he said gently. "I came to see how you did - and the babe." He took her hand, noting with tender amusement that it was still somewhat rough and the nails bitten.
"I do well, my lord." She let her hand He trustingly in his, scarcely aware that it did. "Is she not lovely?" - she nuzzled the baby's head.
John smiled assent, though the infant looked like all others to him and not nearly so comely as his own son, who had lost the new - born pulpy redness.
"How came you here, my lord?" she asked, drawing her arched brows together. "It seems strange - now I begin to - to wake."
"Having business in Lincoln, I thought to pay you a May morn visit, and - I scarce expected to be so opportune." He frowned, glancing at the frightened women by the fire. "I thought you might like news of Hugh."