2 David

David expected to be woken up by his alarm clock, not being struck in the face by his beloved wife.

“David!” Caroline’s tone was panicked, pulling him from sleepy befuddlement and into action. “I didn’t mean to hit you—oh god, I’m so—”

He turned on a light, keeping his eyes open through the momentary blindness. “What’s wrong? Is it time?”

“I think so,” she squeaked. “I thought I was just dreaming about being in terrible pain but I woke up and it’s still here.”

David scrambled from the bed over to the bellpull. Three pulls separated by a pause of five seconds each. That had been the signal he’d agreed upon with the butler—the one for my wife is in labour, call the fucking doctor.

It was a relief to return to her side, knowing that downstairs would be in just as much of a panic as he was. He propped pillow after pillow behind Caroline’s back to help her get comfortable, desperately trying to find a way to ease whatever discomfort he could.

“I love you, Caroline,” he whispered to her, kissing her hand. Outside of the bedroom door, he could hear someone running up the stairs, and in that moment he realised this may very well be the last time the two of them were truly alone—before two became three.

Their lives were about to change forever.

Caroline’s smile was pierced by pain, but there was no mistaking the look in those crystalline blue eyes. “I love you too.”

Everything changed once their bedroom door opened. Emmeline rushed to their bedside, coaching Caroline through her contractions and keeping her calm between them. Maids carrying stacks of towels and clean sheets invaded. The doctor and his nursemaids arrived shortly afterwards, poised for action.

As a man, he had no idea what to expect. When Caroline had originally said she’d wanted Emmeline at the birth, he’d accepted it without question, not really knowing too much about what a birth entailed but being very glad of the help.

By the eighth hour of contractions, David was under no illusions. He was woefully, woefully underqualified, but he gave it his all. Thank Christ Emmeline was here to guide them both. When Caroline couldn’t stop shaking, Emmeline told them it was normal. When David balked at the sheer violence his wife was going through, Emmeline assured him it was normal. When Caroline screamed bloody, agonising murder when the baby was crowning, Emmeline guided her through it.

At that point, David felt about as useful as a chocolate teapot.

He also wondered why the fuck Emmeline had so many children if this was what she’d had to go through.

And then their baby girl had been placed on Caroline’s chest, and he understood.

Their red-faced daughter came into the world with a sputtering cry, clenching her tiny fists with fury. Caroline dissolved into tears at the sight, and David wasn’t far behind her.

After the birth, David quickly realised how exhausted his poor wife was behind her happiness. Her eyes drooped further during the baby’s first feed, until David nestled her under one arm whilst he cradled their ravenous little girl in the other. My girls, he realised on a proud inhale, kissing the top of Caroline’s head..

Around him, the doctor packed away a host of vicious implements, and David quaked with relief that he hadn’t needed to use them. Two nursemaids would be staying on over the next fortnight, he was told. One to watch over Caroline and one to watch over the baby, and he was glad he wouldn’t be thrown to the postnatal wolves in that regard.

Evening had long since fallen by the time David closed his bedroom door, leaving Caroline and the baby under the supervision of Emmeline and one of the nursemaids. He needed to eat something other than biscuits—and a shower wouldn’t go amiss either.

He’d taken a single step into their private sitting room when he realised it wasn’t empty.

Harry sat on one of the plush blue armchairs beside the fireplace, a book cradled in his arms and a hopeful look on his face.

“Harry,” David croaked, a sudden rush of affection clogging his throat. He crossed the room in an instant, enveloping his son in a hug. Harry’s release from prison was something he’d been looking forward to for 20 months, and yet in all the upheaval it hadn’t even crossed his mind. “I—I’m sorry, I—”

A quiet laugh sounded. “You don’t need to apologise. The chauffeur told me Caroline went into labour.” Harry pulled back far enough to look at him, a pinch of worry between his brows.. “Are they okay? Caroline and the baby?”

David nodded, not bothering to conceal the happy tears running down his cheeks. If there was ever a moment to justify tears, the birth of a child was surely it. “They’re perfect. Everything’s perfect. It’s a girl.”

A wide smile spread across Harry’s cheeks. “Congratulations, Papa.”