“I’ve a list of possible candidates to take charge of the nursery. There are two that I think we should interview but I shall leave the decision to you.”
He knelt at her side and tenderly lifted her feet before fetching the various letters of recommendation. Perching himself on the edge of the sofa he watched her peruse the contents—he loved the way her nose crinkled when she was concentrating. He slid in behind her legs and dropped them back into his lap. As usual she was wearing no stockings and had kicked off her slippers as soon as she’d sat down.
Whilst she read he massaged her feet and ankles worried they were more swollen than they had been yesterday. Jamieson had warned him that swelling of this sort was a sign that she needed to do less. He would insist she stayed in bed until noon and then only got up to rest on her day bed in her parlour.
“I like the sound of Nanny Cooper. Which one did you prefer?”
“She was top of my list; the woman from the Everton household was the second. Would you like me to write and offer the position to Nanny Cooper?”
“Please, it might be better to send it express. Mary thinks I should be resting more and leaving the organisation of the nursery to a nanny.”
“Exactly so. I am going to insist, sweetheart, that until the baby is born you spend most of the time with your feet up. Jamieson told me swollen ankles are not a good sign.” He braced himself for the argument but to his surprise she nodded.
“I shall do so on one condition, my love, that you move into my apartment with me.” Her eyes danced as she continued. “I am quite certain from the size of the bed you never intended I sleep alone.”
His shout of laughter sent the papers flying. “Thank the good Lord for that, I’ve been prowling the corridors these past nights checking you were well. If I am at your side then I shall have a decent night’s sleep at last.”
“Then you had better get your man to bring your belongings down to me. There are, I could not help but notice, my dear, two quite distinct dressing rooms and enough closet space for an army to place their garments.” He tickled her feet in a bid to avoid answering that question but she was having none of it. “You always intended to be with me, didn’t you?”
His mischievous smile answered her question. “I hoped to one-day, I never dreamt you would welcome me so soon.”
“We have been through so much these past months, but I truly believe I can finally move forward and look to the future with happiness. There’s something I wished to ask you, Alexander, and now seems as good a time as any.” She needed to have his guidance on a matter she knew nothing about and could not in all conscience discuss with Mary. The only person she could talk to was her husband. Until today she had not believed the matter of any urgency.
His eyebrow quirked. “Go on, sweetheart, what do you wish to know?”
“I’ve to tell you that I haven’t enjoyed being pregnant, it does not seem to suit me as it does other women. If our baby is a boy …” His eyes dimmed as if a candle had been blown out inside him. Surely he did not believe she meant they were not to make love in future? “My darling, don’t look so conscious, it’s because I wish to … to share myself with you as frequently as possible that I’ve broached this delicate subject.”
The relief on his face was comical. “Are you asking me if I know of any ways to avoid a yearly pregnancy?”
“I am— there must be other couples who wish to be intimate but don’t want an overcrowded nursery. How do they manage this situation?”
He frowned. “I’ve no idea, darling girl, but I promise you I shall find out from someone I’m sure knows about these things. We have a few weeks before that particular problem presents itself.”
Satisfied she could forget about such matters until the baby was born she settled back to doze leaving him return to his desk and write the necessary letter. His pen scratching across the paper and his frequent curses and muttering made her smile. He would always be irascible, this was part of his nature, but he would never mistreat her again.
Having him sleeping peacefully beside her every night improved her own slumbers. Even when they had been first married he had never remained all night in her bed. Ellie’s shock when she came in that first morning still made them both laugh. Indeed it had been more of an adjustment for Duncan and her abigail than it had been for them.
Alexander’s valet was unused to sharing bed chamber duties having taken care of his master, as was customary, in splendid isolation these past years. For a day or two she feared Duncan might hand in his notice but things settled down. As there were two distinct dressing rooms, and separate chambers where mending and such things were done, there was no need for the two servants to meet.
The only place there could have been difficulty was over the bathing room. Mary solved this by appointing a chambermaid whose sole duty was to keep this room in pristine condition and to carry up the necessary hot water.
Alexander had been happily ensconced for a week when Nanny Cooper arrived to take up her position. Isobel liked her on sight; the woman could be no more than one and thirty and had a calm practical care about her.
“Nanny, you’ll find things are done differently at Newcomb. The nursery suite is opposite the rooms my husband and I occupy. It is my intention to feed the baby myself if possible but I expect it might be wise to have a wet nurse available just in case.”
Instead of pursing her lips the woman smiled. “Your baby will do better being nursed by you, my lady. My previous employer, Lady Grainger, always did so. When we travelled to house parties it was always apparent the Grainger children were more robust and happy than those who had little to do with their parents.”
“I knew as soon as I saw your letter, Nanny, we should get on splendidly. The midwife is arriving tomorrow and I shall put her in your charge. If there is anything you require for yourself, or the baby, just speak to the housekeeper, Mrs Watkins, and it will be arranged.”
Nanny Cooper curtsied. “Thank you, my lady. I’m sure I shall be content here, for all its size Newcomb is a happy house.”
When Alexander climbed in beside her that night she was eager to tell him how delighted she was with the new appointment. However no sooner had she settled into his arms than she felt a flood of liquid pour from her. Horrified that she’d disgraced herself she cried out in distress but he hushed her with a kiss.
“That was not your bladder emptying, my love, it will your waters breaking. Let me help you out of bed and we can send for assistance.”
“Good heavens, how do you know such a thing?”
“You forget, sweetheart, I’ve been through this process twice before.” He found the tinderbox and lit several candles before returning to her side. “Although I will admit, my dear, that on neither occasion was I drenched when it happened.”
That light-hearted comment did much to dispel her fear, but there was no midwife in residence. There were four weeks to her original due date and the baby was on its way.
Chapter Nineteen
“Alexander, come back— you can’t go and fetch Nanny Cooper as you are.”
He glanced down at his nakedness and laughed. “Very well, where the devil is my bed robe?”
Patiently she directed him to the heap of navy silk he had tossed carelessly to one side when he’d joined her ten minutes ago. “Hurry up, someone must ride for Dr Jamieson and things have to be prepared downstairs for the delivery.” Isobel tried to control her panic but her voice was decidedly wobbly.