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"What are you doing? You cannot cross her legs like that Uncross them She must push now Push, Willa," her father instructed Tristan D&039;Orland&039;s hair was a wild mass about his head and he wore only a robe

Willa&039;s father had visited Hillcrest often since their reunion at court He and Hugh had beco old war stories together Willa had also grown close to hiun to use the affectionate term Papa with him Richard Hillcrest was still the father of her heart, but her heart had roorunted and sat up in the bed He&039;d taken the linen and furs with hi there in only her shift Now he replaced the linen and ordered, "Wait for Eada She will - "

"You cannot tell her to wait!" Lord D&039;Orland snapped "The babe is ready to come now"

"Babies" Willa panted out the reminder and watched with exasperation as both men blanched

The first pain had struck while she slept She had woken with a screah at once, and drawn her father from his bed Lord D&039;Orland had rushed into the rooed to find and don his braies Now the two s should proceed Or at least they had been

"Dear God I forgot &039;tins," Lord D&039;Orland breathed "You did tell s, Willa, and wait for Eada," he ordered firmly When she didn&039;t h the linen and crossed thereat warrior, Tristan D&039;Orland, felt capable of ht of two

Willa started to smile with aain Closing her eyes tightly, she grih asked with concern

Willa&039;s eyes popped open and her husband becaet of a pain-induced fury "Aye, husband," she said through gritted teeth "Shall I show you how it hurts?"

"Ah no" Hugh roin

"Do not upset her, Hugh You are upsetting her" Lord D&039;Orland frowned at his son-in-law, then hter "Do try to relax, daughter Eada should arrive shortly" He scowled toward the door fretfully "Where is the woman?"

"Probably asleep in her bed since no one has bothered to fetch her," Willa pointed out

Hugh and her father straightened at once, horror on their faces as they realized she was right

"What the devil is all the racket in here?" Jollivet stuh the open door and found himself the cynosure of three pairs of eyes

"Eada!" Willa&039;s father barked "We need Eada!"

Thatat once "Is it the babes?"

"Aye, &039;tis the babes," Hugh snapped "Go fetch Eada!"