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"Pleasure helps, too," Marthe said, adjusting my feet on the mattress in such a way that my back immediately relaxed
"Pleasure?" I said, confused Marthe nodded I looked at her in horror "You can’t e difference"
"No How can you even suggest such a thing?" I couldn’t think of a less erotically chargedot before another contraction seized me When it was over, Matthew and I were alone
"Don’t even think about it," I said when he put his ares" His steadiness was annoying
"Don’t you want to yell at ?" I asked
Matthew took aand dance about the sanctity of pregnant woled
"Lie on your left side and I’ll rub your back" Matthew pulledto rub," I warned
"So I understand," he said withcontrol "Lie down Now"
"That sounds iven you the epidural by mistake" I turned and fitteddohen the next contraction hit
"We don’t want you to push, because there’s no telling how long this will take and the babies aren’t ready to be born yet It’s been four hours and eighteen minutes since the contractions started There could be another day of this ahead of you You need to rest That’s one reason I wanted you to have the nerve blocker" Matthew used his thue the shteen minutes?" My voice was faint
"Nineteen minutes now, but yes" Matthew held me while my body was racked with another fierce contraction When I was able to think straight, I groaned softly and pressed back into Matthew’s hand
"Your thuhed with relief
"And this spot?" Matthew’s thumb traveled lower and closer to h the next contraction a bit better
"Your blood pressure is still nor Let’s do it properly"
Matthew called for Marcus to bring in the oddly shaped, leather-padded chair with the reading stand from his library and had hi on the support that was designed to hold a book Matthew helpedthe pillow
My belly swelled out and made contact with the back of the chair
"What on earth is this chair really for?"
"Watching cockfights and playing all-night card games," Matthew said "You’ll find it’s much easier on your lower back if you can lean forward a bit and rest your head on the pillow"
It was Matthew began a thorough e that started atthe muscles at the base of , and though they were prolonged, Matthew’s cool hands and strong fingers seenant women have you helped this way?" I asked, mildly curious about where he had acquired this skill Matthew’s hands stilled
"Only you" His soothingat
"Ysabeau said I’m the only one to sleep in this bedroom"
"Nobody I met seemed worthy of it But I could envision you in this room--with me, of course--shortly after we met"
"Why do you love me so much, Matthew?" I couldn’t see the attraction, especially not when I was rotund, facedown, and gasping with pain His response ift
"To every question I have ever had, or ever will have, you are the answer" He pulled my hair away from my neck and kissed etting up for a bit?"
A sudden, sharper pain that coursed through asped instead
"That sounds like ten centimeters’ dilation to me," Matthew murmured "Marcus?"
"Good news, Diana," Marcus said cheerfully as he walked into the rooet to push now!"
Push I did For what see doith Matthew clasping my hand, a look of adoration on his face
That didn’t ell
"It’s not necessarily a sign of trouble," Dr Sharp told us, looking at Matthew and hs "Twins can take longer to get ht, Marthe?"
"She needs a stool," Marthe said with a frown
"I brought mine," Dr Sharp said "It’s in the hall" She jerked her head in that direction
And so the babies that were conceived in the sixteenth century opted to eschew modern medical convention and be born the old-fashioned way: on a simple wooden chair with a horseshoe-shaped seat
Instead of having a half dozen strangers share the birth experience, I was surrounded by the ones I loved: Matthew behindme up physically and ebabies so considerate as to present theestion every now and then; Sarah atby the door, relaying es to Phoebe, aited in the hall and sent a constant strea Place, where Fernando, Jack, and Andreaiting for news
It was excruciating
It took forever
When at 11:55 PM the first indignant cry was heard at long last, I started to weep and laugh A fierce protective feeling took root wheredown
"She is perfect," Marthe said, bea at irl Phoebe, tell theirl," Ysabeau said with excitement
Jane held the tiny creature up She was blue and wrinkled and s substances that I’d read about but was inadequately prepared to see on my own child Her hair was jet-black, and there was plenty of it
"Why is she blue? What’s wrong with her? Is she dying?" I felt my anxiety climb
"She’ll turn as red as a beet in no ti down at his new sister He held out a pair of scissors and a cla with her lungs I think you should do the honors"