Behind the Mask (119 page)

When they were left alone, Lance sat down on the step beside Abbi. “Are you hurting badly?”

“It comes and goes,” she said, “but it’s happening more quickly than I . . . expected.” She moaned as the pain came again, instinctively reaching for Lance’s hand. When it finally let up, she murmured, “I’m scared, Lance.”

“Yes, well . . . so am I, if you must know. What can I do?”

“Just . . . help me to my room. If I can just lie down, I’ll . . .”

Lance took hold of her and helped her to her feet, but the pain set in again and she doubled over. A moment later, he lifted her carefully into his arms and carried her up the stairs. He had barely laid her on the bed when two maids scurried into the room, buzzing around like a couple of bees, adding to Abbi’s nervousness.

“Where’s Cameron?” she cried.

“He’ll be here soon,” Lance assured her.

“Don’t leave me . . . until . . .”

“I’ll stay until he comes,” Lance promised, and for a moment Abbi wondered what it might have been like if Cameron had not survived his revolution and she had married Lance. The thought was poignant at best, but she couldn’t deny her gratitude to have him with her now.

“You’re such a good friend to me,” she murmured, then grimaced in pain.

“I would do anything for you—anything.”

Elsa rushed into the room and directly to Abbi’s side. “Are you hurting badly?” Abbi could only nod. “It’s coming on quickly?” Abbi nodded again. “Excuse me, Captain,” Elsa said to him, “but we need to get her ready before the doctor arrives.”

Lance moved back and Abbi cried, “Don’t . . .”

“I’ll be just in the hall,” he said and hurried out.

Elsa and the other maids worked together to get Abbi out of her dress and petticoats. They helped her put a bed jacket over her chemise and made her as comfortable as possible.

“Cameron . . .” Abbi said. “Is Cameron . . .”

“They’re not back yet,” Elsa said. “I’m certain they’ll hurry.”

“Lance,” she said. “Tell Lance to . . .”

“Do you want him to come in?” Elsa asked and Abbi nodded.

Elsa covered Abbi with a sheet and opened the door to find the captain pacing the hall. “You can sit with her for a few minutes,” Elsa said, and Lance hurried into the room, kneeling at her bedside, taking her hand into his.

“I’m so scared,” she said to him as the pain subsided briefly. “Women die in childbirth, you know.”

“You’re not going to die,” Lance insisted. “Too many people need you and love you.”

“But it . . . hurts . . . so much.”

Elsa piped in. “The pain is normal, Abbi. You’re going to be fine.”

“Cameron,” she cried as her entire body tightened like a vise. “I need Cameron.”

“He’s coming,” Lance cooed gently. “I promise. He’s coming.”

Abbi turned her head on the pillow, and tears burned down her face. She wasn’t certain she could believe him.

Cameron was on his way out of the pub when an officer approached him, saying breathlessly, “The captain sent me. You’re to come to the castle immediately.”

“What is it?” Cameron bellowed, moving briskly toward his horse, with Georg and the officer following.

“It’s Her Grace,” the officer said. Cameron exchanged an alarmed glance with Georg, then he glared at the messenger. “The captain sent for the doctor as well.”

“The baby,” Cameron muttered as he mounted and galloped toward the castle hill with Georg on his tail.
Not now,
he thought over and over.
Not when there was so much wrong between them
.

The stallion beneath him thundered into the courtyard, and he dismounted before it had stopped completely. He ran through the door, down the hall, and up the stairs, hearing a scream pierce the air that stung his every nerve, turning his legs to lead. He felt suddenly hesitant as he approached the open door to the bedroom. Then he stopped when he saw Captain Dukerk, kneeling at the side of the bed, holding Abbi’s hand. In his mind he clearly heard Abbi shouting at him.
If you spent this much time with Gwen, I don’t wonder why she went elsewhere.
While he was trying to convince himself that she was his wife and that was his baby, her voice brought him back to life. “Cameron!” she cried. “I need Cameron!”

He hurried to her side, briefly meeting Lance’s eyes before Abbi realized he was there. He saw nothing but genuine concern in the captain’s expression as he quickly moved aside, allowing Cameron his place at Abbi’s side.

“I’m here.” Cameron put a knee on the bed to look into Abbi’s face. “I’m here, my love.”

“Cameron,” she murmured. “I need you.”

Cameron swallowed hard. “I need you, too. I love you more than life. Can you forgive me? I will always be here when you need me. I swear it.”

The tears in her eyes, and her hand on his face, gave him the answer he needed. He could expect no more under the circumstances. When this was over, he would talk to her, tell her how sorry he was, that he was trying to learn, that he would never let her down again. His heart raced as pain overtook her countenance again, and her agony became evident. Cameron glanced around the room to assess the situation. In answer to his silent questions, Elsa spoke up. “Everything is ready, Your Grace. It came on quickly.”

“Where’s the doctor?” he demanded.

“I sent for him,” Lance said from behind. “He should be here soon.”

Cameron glanced over his shoulder and forced a steady voice. “Thank you, Captain,” he turned to look at Abbi and added, “for being here when she needed you.”

“If there is anything I can do, Your Grace,” Lance said, “I will be close by.” He left the room, and the doctor entered a minute later.

“Thank God you’re here,” Cameron said to him.

Dr. Furhelm handed his bag and coat to one of the maids. He nodded briefly toward Cameron, then he took Abbi’s hand and spoke close to her face, “I’m here, Your Grace. Do you remember what we talked about? Do you remember what to do?” Abbi nodded, looking frightened. “Everything’s going to be all right. You keep breathing deeply as best you can.” Abbi nodded again.

The doctor moved away, rolling up his sleeves. Cameron was aware of him washing his hands, scrubbing them thoroughly while Elsa and the maids hovered near him, taking instructions. He returned to Cameron’s side, saying firmly, “It is customary for the father to wait elsewhere.”

“I don’t give a damn what’s customary,” Cameron retorted. “This is my wife and I’m staying right here.”

The doctor’s eyes hardened on him. “You stay only on my terms, Your Grace. I’m in command in this room until that baby is safely delivered. You do as
I
tell you. You stay calm, or you leave. Is that clear?”

Cameron nodded firmly, all too aware of Abbi’s ongoing anguish. “Quite clear.”

“Good. Get your boots off and move to the other side of her. Sit on the bed and help support her shoulders.” He pointed at one of the maids. “Get those pillows behind her back. She needs to be elevated, and . . .” The doctor stopped as Abbi held her breath and groaned. “Breathe, Abbi!” he insisted, but she was oblivious. He put his face close to hers. “Abbi! Look at me!” She opened her eyes but looked dazed. “Remember. Breathe, or you’ll pass out. Do it with me. Come on, now.” The doctor took long, slow breaths until Abbi began to do it with him. He motioned for Cameron to take his place. He did his best to imitate what the doctor had done, gazing into Abbi’s eyes, attempting to comprehend how this must be for her.

Through the following hour, indications of Abbi’s pain rose dramatically. She took hold of Cameron’s arms, digging her fingernails into him each time the pain took hold. The intervals between her pain became shorter and shorter, until there seemed to be no relief at all. She cried and protested. She groaned and writhed. Cameron kept his focus on her face, willing her his strength.

“All right, Abbi,” the doctor said loudly, “you can push now. Remember how we talked about it.”

As Abbi bore down, using all her strength, Cameron prayed that this would be the end of it. But twenty minutes later, she was still struggling to get the baby out, enduring pain that seemed relentless. Her face and hair were damp with sweat, and her anguish put him in knots.

Cameron bit his tongue from expressing his fears and frustrations, certain the doctor would love the opportunity to expel him from the room. He was both relieved and frightened when the doctor ordered, “Help her, Cameron! Move behind her and put your hands on her belly to help her push.”

Cameron felt hesitant but did as he was told, and the doctor helped situate Abbi so that she was leaning back against his chest. He gently guided Cameron’s hands into the proper position and looked into his eyes, saying, “Push hard when I tell you to.”

Cameron did as he was told, fearing he would hurt Abbi even more. But he concluded the obvious. Until that baby got out, the pain was inevitable. The quicker they could be done with this, the better. But he helped her push three times with no apparent progress, while she screamed and groaned as if her body were being torn in half. He could only hold her in between, whispering words of reassurance and praying that it would end soon.

“Again, now!” the doctor ordered. Abbi bore down, throwing her head back in an anguished cry. Cameron pushed hard. Abbi screamed. He felt something move from beneath his hands. A delighted little chuckle erupted from the doctor that seemed completely out of place. Everything was still for a moment. Then the baby’s cry penetrated the silence. Abbi’s sigh of relief merged into tears. Cameron relaxed against the headboard, holding Abbi in his arms, at the same time holding his breath. With the sheet draped over Abbi’s knees, he could see nothing of what the doctor was busy doing. Then the doctor laughed and held the wriggling infant up in his hands, declaring with a grin, “It’s a boy, Your Grace. You have an heir.”

Cameron finally let out his breath, feeling tears dampen his face. Abbi laughed through her own tears, holding to Cameron as Elsa took the baby into a small white blanket and wrapped him up tightly. She too was crying as she looked down at the child before placing him carefully into Abbi’s arms. Cameron might have been surprised at how tiny and discolored he looked, except that he had seen Georg’s baby soon after his birth. But there was one stark difference. Even though the baby’s hair was matted down and splotched with blood, the dark red color was evident.
The manifestation of a dream,
he thought, and felt chilled.

Cameron watched Abbi touch the baby’s face with trembling fingers. “Erich,” she murmured. Then she looked up into Cameron’s eyes, and the full spectrum of what this woman had done for him settled into his heart and soul like it never had before. Emotion took hold of him, strangling his voice, crippling his ability to do anything more than press his face into her hair and cry while Abbi held the baby in one arm and onto him with her other.

They were both distracted from their reverie when the doctor said, “Forgive me, Abbi, but you’re not going to like this part.” He nodded toward Elsa, who took the baby just before Abbi groaned and clutched onto Cameron.

“I love you, Abbi,” he murmured in an attempt to distract her. “I would be nothing without you.”

She relaxed a minute later after the placenta was delivered but didn’t respond to his declaration. He had to wonder if she doubted what he’d told her. How could she not, considering his behavior of late? And now he couldn’t deny that his own reticence toward her had only deepened her unhappiness. He felt angry with himself for allowing his own hurt and fear over the matter to drive this wedge further between them. But he committed in that moment that he would prove to her, for the remainder of her life, that he was a man capable of keeping his life in balance and his priorities in order. He would keep his country strong and safe by keeping his family first.

“Your Grace,” the doctor said, once again on formal terms, now that the crisis was over. “Perhaps now would be a good time for you to make an announcement, while we take care of things here. News travels quickly. I daresay the entire country is holding its breath, not to mention those waiting out in the hall.”

Cameron nodded, certain the doctor was right. But he felt hesitant to leave Abbi’s side. “I’ll be back shortly,” he promised, kissing her with fervent tenderness.

Abbi gripped his hand with an intensity that let him know he would be missed. She smiled weakly and turned her attention to the baby as he left the room.

Cameron stepped quietly into the hallway and closed the door. Georg and the captain both rose from the well-used chairs on the other side of the wide hall. He found pleasure in relieving their expectant stares. “It’s a boy,” he said.

The men laughed and slapped Cameron’s shoulders. “Congratulations,” Georg said, laughing again as he gave Cameron a brotherly embrace.

“I’m truly happy for you, sir,” Lance said, giving Cameron a hearty handshake.

“Thank you, Captain.”

“Is Abbi . . .” the captain began, his concern evident.

“She’s fine, as far as I can tell, but . . .” Cameron moved unsteadily to a chair.

“Is something wrong?” Georg demanded, his eyes wide with alarm.

“No, no,” Cameron said, but his voice broke with emotion. “I simply . . . can’t believe . . . what she . . . had to . . . go through for . . .”