CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
A man in a pristine blue uniform approached them. "Giff, it's good to see you again. All the luggage is on board, stowed in your cabins. Your servants arrived not long ago."
They had to have left when her maid carried out her bag with the last things in it.
Giff turned to her. "My love, may I introduce Captain Ewan Dewar, a cousin."
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Captain." She held out her hand, and he bowed.
"Ewan, please, my lady. It's a pleasure." He glanced at Giff. "I will meet the rest of the passengers once we are underway."
"Yes, of course." Giff waved to her sisters and brothers-in-laws. "Come along. We need to cast off."
The captain accompanied them up a long wooden board. "Thank you for sending the luggage yesterday. It was helpful."
Alice scanned the ship. "Where is everyone else?"
Captain Dewar grinned. "They are traveling back to Scotland by coach. The laird sent the vehicles down. He thought you might want some time to yourselves before you are beset by the family again." He helped her aboard then glanced at the dock. Her sisters and their husbands were waiting to board "Who are your guests?"
"My sisters and their husbands. We are all recently wed. You can hear the whole story when you have more time."
He welcomed the others onboard and gave the command to cast off. Alice as well as her sisters and brothers-in-law waited on deck until they were near Greenwich.
Giff's stomach growled. "Ewan, is there anything to eat?"
He grinned. "I thought you'd never ask." He took them to a steep staircase. "Go right down there. Your nose should lead you to the dining room."
Alice wondered where they would sleep. "Are our rooms down here as well?"
"No, my lady. They are down the other set of stairs." He pointed to the middle of the ship.
"Thank you."
They found porridge, eggs, bacon, some sort of grilled bread, and a smoked fish."
"Mornin' to ye," a man said. "Got tea. If yer wantin' coffee, it's in Inverness."
"Tea for me, please." Alice looked at her sisters and new brothers. "Tea for everyone."
They all nodded.
"Tea it is."
The dishes were placed in holders on a sideboard with raised edges. "I suppose this is so the plates do not fall or slide around."
Madeline seemed to have a hard time keeping her eyes open. "Eat and sleep."
"That sounds like an excellent idea." Alice took a bit of everything and poured tea. She took a sip. It was excellent but different than what she was used to. She would ask what type it was later.
* * *
On the fourth day, they landed at Inverness. After spending ten days touring the area, visiting Giff's family, and learning more about their estate, they were back onboard for the passage to France and a continuation of their joint honeymoons.
Paris, France.
One night the ladies retired early, and Giff and his brothers-in-law were sipping fine French brandy.
Stern twirled his glass, watching the amber liquid coat the sides of the glass. "I am sure Madeline is breeding."
Giff did not understand. "You mean she told you."
"No." Stern took a sip then shook his head. "She has not had her courses since we . . . since we were betrothed."
Montagu set his glass down. "What do you mean, her courses?"
Stern glanced at Giff, but he had no idea what his brother-in-law meant.
Stern blew out a breath. "Let me start from the beginning. All female mammals have courses. Cows, sheep, goats, cats, dogs, women."
"What are courses?" Giff asked, feeling like an idiot.
"A woman bleeds. It is a sign she is not pregnant." He took a large drink of brandy. "Now, other mammals have their courses two or possibly more, in the case of cats, times a year. Women have them every month."
Giff stared at Stern. "If they are not pregnant."
"Yes." He frowned at Giff. "How do you not know this? Didn't you have a mistress?"
"No. I couldn't afford one." Damn his father and the skimpy allowance he was on.
Montagu choked on his wine. "I never had the opportunity." He motioned with his hand. "Go on. This is becoming interesting."
"As I said, women, our wives, have their courses every month if they are not pregnant. My wife has not. It has been two months."
Montagu leaned forward. "How would we know?"
"I cannot believe neither of you are not acquainted with this." Stern dragged a hand down his face. "Because she would bleed. A lot. You would notice. It lasts roughly five to seven days."
Giff shook his head. "Alice has not. We have been together almost every day since our betrothal."
"No." Montagu fell back against his chair. "Neither has Eleanor. Do you think they know?"
"They must. Or they have a good idea." Harry took another drink. "It is very possible that the ladies are waiting until they miss their courses for a second time to make sure."
"Did you have a mistress that fell pregnant?" Montagu asked.
Stern stared at the man in shock. "I did not. I know how to keep that from happening. My father told me."
Giff wished his father would have told him. It didn't matter. The important thing was that Alice was probably going to have a baby. "What do we do? Wait until they tell us?"
Stern set down his glass. "That is one way. I prefer to ask her."
Giff followed suit. "I will ask Alice as well."
"Yes." Montagu tossed off the rest of his drink. "I shall approach Eleanor."
Giff's and Stern's eyes met, and they looked at Montagu. He'd never get it done. Giff rose. "I suggest we meet with our wives at one time. I am going up to see if they are still awake."
"I'll go with you." Stern stood. "If they aren't. Breakfast tomorrow seems like a good time."
"I am coming as well." Montagu followed.
The ladies were in their nightgowns and robes in the parlor they had all rented. Their countenances appeared anything but light. Had they been discussing the same thing the gentleman had? Giff went over to Alice. She sat on a chair, and he pulled another one over. "I'm glad you're still awake."
She held out her hand to him. "I am as well."
Stern went to Madeline who appeared rather wane. "My love, is anything wrong?"
Tears filled her eyes. "Not really, but a little."
Montagu sat next to Eleanor on the sofa. Before he could ask after her health, she said, "Ginger tea will help."
Giff leaned forward to catch Alice's eye and mouthed, "What?"
"Ginger tea." Stern pulled his wife into his arms. "Are you having what is inappropriately called morning sickness?"
One tear slipped down her cheek as she nodded. "At first I did not think I was, but now I am."
He stroked her dark hair. "Why would you think you are not?"
"I bled a little last month."
Giff reached for Alice's hand and squeezed. "We told you that a little bleeding can be normal," she said. "It only lasted a day."
"So little I didn't even notice," Stern said. "My love, I think we are going to have a baby."
Alice jumped up and grabbed a large bowl, sticking it under her sister's face just as she cast up her accounts. She left the bowl to Stern and sat down.
Giff kissed and caressed her hand. "Could it be that you are with child as well, my love?"
"Yes. I am certain of it now." She smiled at him. "It never seems to take long in our family."
Eleanor gazed at Montagu. "I am as well. We all just wanted to make sure. It is still a bit risky for another month."
"Harry," Alice said. "First thing in the morning, send to the apothecary for ginger root."
"I will. Thank you."
Giff worried Alice would suffer. "Are you all right?"
"Eleanor and I are healthy as horses. Neither our mother nor any of our sisters had more than a day of morning sickness if that."
"Naturally, you will tell your family, but please ask them not to tell mine. I will send a message to my mother." His beloved stared at him as if he were mad. "My grandfather Dewar wants our first child born in Scotland. My father wants our child born in Cleveland Castle. I will not have months of fighting between them."
Alice raised an imperious brow. "I will tell you right now where we will have this baby. Whippoorwill Manor. Grace will travel to Eleanor first; that is a long day from Worthington Place. Madeline will have hers at Stern Manor, near Stanwood Place. Whippoorwill Manor is only about a five hour drive from there. I shall not have my sister traveling to either Scotland or near Scotland, and I will have my sister with me."
"It shall be as you wish, my love. And it is the reason neither my father nor grandfather need know about the baby until just before it's due."
"The servants?" Montagu asked Giff.
"If any one of them contact either gentleman before I give them leave, they will be dismissed."
"As much as I love it here," Madeline said. "I think I want to go home."
"I will arrange it immediately," Stern assured her.
* * *
They arrived back in London in August. Madeline and Harry traveled to Stern Manor while Eleanor and Montagu journeyed to his main estate. Giff and Alice went first to what they had decided to call St. Albans in Cleveland House to see the changes wrought while they were away.
Once they had refreshed themselves, they climbed the stairs to the nursery. Light filled the rooms from every direction. She touched her stomach. "I knew it would be beautiful."
March 1823, Whippoorwill Manor
Grace knew before the rest of them that Alice and Eleanor were having twins. Alice was thankful her sister had arrived when she did. "How are you doing?"
"I want these babies to be out of me and into the world." She rubbed her stomach. "They have been fighting over position for the past week. One goes down and comes back up then the other goes down. They cannot decide who will be first."
Her sister laughed. "Tell them that story when they are fighting over who should have been first."
"I want to walk." Grace helped Alice to her feet. "My back is hurting like it never has before."
Grace's lips formed a thin line, and she glanced at Bertram. "Send for the midwife. It's back labor. I just went through this with Eleanor."
"Yes, my lady."
Giff came in. "I heard you were here. How is she?"
"She is here." Alice hated it when people talked about her as if she was deaf and dumb.
"Please forgive me." He caressed her hair and took her arm from her sister. "I'm rapidly losing my mind."
"Alice is experiencing back labor. It is not enjoyable, but it is not dangerous. I received a letter from the duchess. She will be here as soon as possible."
Alice's back suddenly vellicated. Grace looked at her. "We need to keep track of the time between contractions. Where is your watch?"
"Right here, my lady." Bertram handed it to Alice.
"Tell Cook to prepare small light food for her to eat. We do not know how long or short the time will be. She needs to remain on her feet until it's time for her to use the birthing chair."
"What birthing chair?" Poor Giff's eyes were wide with concern.
"I brought it with me. It should be in her chamber momentarily."
Alice and Giff had decided she should use her chamber instead of theirs for the birth.
She patted his arm. "I will be fine. Stroll with me."
"You are the strongest lady I know."
They were making their way down the corridor when Charlotte strode to them. "I heard it is time. We arrived none too soon."
Kenilworth came up after her. "Well, at least you're not drinking brandy in the study."
Alice wanted to chuckle but could not. "That is a story I haven't heard yet."
He took her other arm. "Allow me to assist as well. I have some knowledge of twins. They can be a bit heavy before they make an appearance."
Giff wished he could be as glib right now. "Ah, here is the first footman with something for you to taste." He picked up one of the offerings on the tray. "Cheese on toasted bread."
He held it to her lips, and she bit into it. "That is heavenly. Is there another?"
"There is." She managed to eat four of them. Giff and Kenilworth finished off the rest. "Shall we see what is around the corner?" They turned into the other corridor and a footman held a plate with apple slices, and grapes from the hot house. "What shall you have, my love?"
"The grapes, please." Once again, Giff fed them to her. She stopped once, and he wished he could take the pain from her.
"Open my watch and tell me the time."
"It is one-fifteen."
"That one was only seven minutes from the last."
His brother-in-law caught his eye and motioned his head back toward their rooms. "Let us wander this way."
Giff wished he had more experience with births. Any kind of birth. They continued to walk.
The midwife came up to them. How had she arrived so soon? An appointment. Giff had forgotten. "How are you doing, my lady?"
"It was seven minutes from the last contraction to the most recent one." She stopped again, and the pain was obvious.
He opened the watch. "Five minutes."
"Not long now, my lady," the midwife said "Keep walking for a while longer while I set up."
Alice was leaning on them more heavily than before. He was glad Kenilworth was here to help. "Another footman stood waiting. Shall we see what he has?"
The servant held tiny strawberry tarts in puff pastry. Giff gave one to Alice, and she moaned.
"Was that the babies?"
"No, the tart."
Kenilworth barked a laugh. "Good girl. Take joy where you find it."
Alice scowled at him. "That is why I am in so much pain."
"Please forgive me," he said. "But trust me when I tell you that it will be over soon."
The pain struck again, and Giff pulled out the watch. "Three minutes."
"Time to take me to my birthing room."
Alice had no sooner been seated in the strange-looking thing they called a birthing chair then she screamed. Giff took her hand, and pain radiated through his as she squeezed. "You have an excellent grip."
The midwife was on the floor. "I see the first head. Push, my lady."
His wife gathered herself and groaned.
"Once more."
This time a baby dropped out. One of the maids rushed forward to take it, and Alice groaned again.
"Almost there with the second one. Push again."
Alice panted and groaned, and their second child was born. Her head dropped back. "Did you mark the first one?"
"Yes," Grace said. "He has been marked."
"My lady," the midwife said. "Once more."
Alice groaned a third time and something, Giff wasn't sure what, came out.
"Excellent. It looks to be whole," the midwife said.
"Giff, get her up. We need to clean her," Charlotte said.
He lifted Alice in his arms, and she smiled at him. "What do we have?"
"Two apparently healthy children."
"Boys," Grace informed him. "Two boys."
"We are in for it now." He grinned at his wife.
Mamma rushed into the room and stopped. "Boys?"
Alice chuckled lightly. "Two."
He took her into the bathing chamber where her dresser and a maid waited and set her down on the stool they pointed to. Why couldn't she have a bath? He'd have to find out later.
When he walked out, Kenilworth handed him a glass of brandy. "Congratulations. This group is outnumbering ours when it comes to boys. They'll be happy about that."
"I need to see my sons."
Grace held one and his mother the other. "Which is which?"
"This is your first born," Mamma said.
"Here is your second," Grace added. "Do you have names?"
They were both bald and stared up at him. He couldn't distinguish what color, other than light, their eyes would be. "We do. After Eleanor failed to plan for all contingencies, we have name for everyone. Our first is Mathias Archibald, Earl of St. Albans. Our second son is Lord Timothy Brian Palmer."
Alice entered the bedchamber, walking much better than Giff would have if he'd just pushed out two babies. "Let me help you."
As if they knew where they were to be fed, Mathias cried. Alice got into bed and held her arms out. "Is the wet nurse here?"
Giff had no idea. "I'll find out." Then second one cried. Good God. Now what? Alice held out one arm. "Help me put him to my breast. That will do until she arrives."
Mamma took him aside. "Your father and grandfather will be here soon. I suggest you let them see the babies before speaking to them."
"It will be up to Alice. She is the one who has just given birth." He pulled up a chair next to the bed where both his sons were nursing hungrily.
Her smile blinded him. "They are beautiful."
"They are."