Epilogue

A Year Later -

He should have never gotten her with child.

There were ways to prevent such from happening, even though nothing was a guarantee, but he should have at least tried. Now she writhed in pain.

Olivia yelled beyond the door and he continued his pacing in the corridor.

Perhaps he should send for Valentine before it was too late.

Images of Miss Eve flooded his mind as he feared the worst.

He could not lose Olivia.

Xavier never dreamed that he would one day come to rely on having a person in his life, but he could not live without Olivia so she must survive this birth and then there would be no more children.

“Why are you not in there?” Corliss asked.

Olivia had gone into labor at Westbrook House and refused to leave because she had Fern and the others to help.

“I am worthless in this situation.”

She snorted. “You are a doctor and you have assisted in births before.”

“Yes, but not my own child. What if I do something wrong and they are harmed.”

She laughed.

“There is no harm that you could bring to either of them, though she may appreciate your presence.”

Gentlemen did not attend the births of their children. Except, Xavier had been present for the others that had occurred at Westbrook House.

Fern was correct. He should be by Olivia’s side and not let her face this alone.

He drank the brandy, emptying the contents from the glass into his stomach and then marched into the bedchamber where his wife labored.

The women fussed about her, including Fern, a most excellent nurse, even though she had received no practical training.

Olivia sat at the edge of the bed, her blond hair damp with sweat as she gritted her teeth through a painful contraction.

His heart ached with love for her and fear.

“What can I do?” he asked.

“Sit behind and offer support,” Fern answered. “Unless you want to deliver the child yourself.”

He felt his face go cold. Why should he fear doing something that he’d already done a dozen times?

Because those children had not been his, nor had the women been his wife.

“I will support her.”

Olivia blew out her breath and looked up with a smile.

“You went nearly as pale as you did when Dr. Valentine asked you to assist with Miss Eve.”

“Please, do not remind me of that horrible night while you are laboring to bring our child into the world.”

“Everything is proceeding exactly as it should,” Olivia promised. “But I could use your support behind me. I would like to rest against you between the pains.”

He did not need to be asked a second time and hurried onto the bed and positioned himself so that she was between his legs and leaning back against his chest.

This is where he should be.

Another pain struck and Olivia leaned forward. Her hand latched onto his as her fingernails dug into the back of his hand.

He said not a word because the discomfort that he currently experienced was nothing compared to what she was enduring.

“It is time,” Fern said after the last pain calmed. “Push with the next pain.”

Xavier’s heart pounded. Soon his child would be born. It did not matter if it was a son or daughter, so long as it was healthy.

Olivia was breathing heavily as she rested against him and then there was pain again.

“Push the babe free,” Fern said.

Xavier held his breath as Olivia bore down.

“You are almost there. The next push will see it free.”

Xavier kissed Olivia’s temple. “I love you.”

She said nothing because pain struck again and she was pushing and, in another moment, a babe cried.

Xavier and Olivia both laughed, relieved.

“A girl,” Fern announced as she brought the child to Olivia.

She cradled the infant in her arms as Xavier held her.

“She is the most beautiful baby in the world,” he whispered, meaning every word.

“But she is a girl,” Olivia said.

“It makes no difference,” Xavier insisted.

“Maybe next time I can give you a son.”

His heart nearly ceased. “I am not so certain there will be a next time.”

Olivia’s eyes widened as she stared at him. “Why not?”

“Have you forgotten already what you just endured?”

Her face softened. “It was not so bad.”

“It was bad enough.” It was something they would need to discuss because Xavier was fairly certain that he was the one who would not survive Olivia suffering through another birth.

About THE FORGOTTEN MARQUESS

For three long and lonely years, Tristan Trent, the Marquess of Hopkins, waited for his wife Elaina’s return. Eyewitnesses insist no one could have survived the storm that swept her overboard, but Tristan refuses to give up hope—even when he is trapped into a betrothal he doesn’t want and forced to declare Elaina dead.

Elaina Trent has no memories of her life before waking in Alderney surrounded by strangers, and three years of trying to recall an elusive history has left her life in limbo. Determined to have a future even though her past is gone, she accepts a marriage proposal and a promise for a new life. But when a man claiming to be her brother-in-law stumbles across her, Elaina has no choice except to end her engagement and return to a husband she no longer knows.

When Elaina and Tristan are finally reunited, she still cannot recall what they once shared. Can she begin anew with a gentleman she doesn’t even know and hope that love grows once again, or will they remain strangers forever?

Read THE FORGOTTEN MARQUESS

Thank you for reading THE LADY’S PHYSICIAN. I hope you enjoyed the story of Xavier and Olivia and will want to tell your friends.