Chapter Twenty-Five
Rian chuckled as he watched his wife waddle across the great hall toward him. Her belly grew perfectly round with their child. She radiated with the impending arrival. Based on her size, she should give birth any day. He suspected his son was a big boy. Some commented they might be in store for twins but that was a little farfetched in their minds.
“You sent for me?” Bella asked.
“I wanted to speak with you.” He leaned down and pressed a kiss to her cheek before holding her hand as she lowered to a chair. Worried about her ballooned ankles, he scooted a stool in front of her and lifted her feet on top.
“Comfortable?”
“Yes, thank you. What was so important I had to leave my students? They are learning to apply color to their drawings to bring out the depth.”
“My apologies, but I have been thinking a great deal about a matter I need to tell you about. With our son about to arrive, it would be best to discuss it now.”
“Our baby could be a girl,” Bella chided.
“I will love her equally.”
“What do you want to tell me?”
“Do you remember the painting and letter your mother sent?”
She widened her eyes. “Oh, of course. I forgot all about it. Did you ever give it to the King?”
“No, your mother was the daughter of Malcolm, the previous King of Scotland before his death. Her missive explained it all.”
“What does that mean?”
“You are a princess by lineage. I didn’t want to tell William until after our marriage out of concern he’d take you and marry you off to further the crown.”
His wife smiled and said, “Very wise choice. Thank you for protecting me, even from our King.”
“If you would like to announce that you are of royal decent, I am prepared to do so.”
Bella remained quiet for a brief minute before she shook her head. “I’d rather not. Our lives are busy enough without the added duties, unless you see it as a benefit for the McRaidys?”
“There is none that would be worth the turmoil in my opinion, but it is entirely up to you.”
“Let’s keep it to ourselves then. Who was my grandmother?”
Rian knew this would be the most difficult revelation. Bella still carried a deep animosity toward the Glarys. It would be upsetting to find out she was of their clan. He contemplated again about keeping it from her but decided she needed to know.
“She was the daughter of the Glary Laird. That was why they received preferential treatment over the years from the throne. Your mother went to live at the castle with the servants after her mother died from illness. They took very good care of her. If you’d like to read the letter, I have it here.”
He held out the scroll. Bella didn’t reach for it.
“I am of filth?”
“No, they evolved to that. They were a nuisance but much of the horrible behavior started after your mother’s departure.”
“Does anyone else know?”
“Just us.”
Bella finally took the letter. She didn’t open it. In a quick flick, she threw it in the fire and stared at the flames burning it. “I am a McRaidy. None of that matters. I don’t wish to speak of it again.”
Rian’s heart nearly burst in pride. He and his clan were enough for his beautiful wife. “I love you. I promise it will be forgotten by both of us.”
“I don’t feel well. Will you help me to our chamber?”
“I’m sorry I upset you.”
“Don’t be, I should know. To be honest, it is irrelevant. It doesn’t change who I am, or that you love me. It is not my past but my mother’s. Mama would want it to be my choice. I believe that is why she provided the information, maybe also to allow me to live in grandeur. She wouldn’t be displeased I am erasing this from our history.”
“You are so calm about it.”
“I am surprised as well but it simply doesn’t matter. You are everything I need or want in my life, and we have a child coming. Truly, I don’t care.”
Rian looked deep into his wife’s eyes and believed her. He worried for no reason. “I’ll escort you upstairs.”
“Will you send for the midwife as well?”
He stopped and stared at Bella. “Did this upset you into labor?”
She smiled and patted her round belly. “No, it has been going most of the morning. The midwife says it’s normal for the first baby to take a long time but instructed me to send for her when the contractions became closer. I noticed them during class but hoped to stall a bit longer. Don’t worry, it is all normal. It will be over in a few hours.” She squeezed his hand in reassurance.
* * * *
Rian paced in front of the fire in the dark hall. The McRaidy priest sat quietly along with his family at tables and left him alone. Two full days and half the night had passed. Something was wrong. He was nearly at the point of declaring war on the closest clan to alleviate his anxiety. The midwife finally appeared.
“You sent for me, sir?”
“Where is my child? How is my wife?”
“It is a very rough one for her.”
“What is going on?”
“I think we need to turn the babe. I believe it is breech.”
“Have you done so before?”
“No, I sent for a more experienced woman from the Donahue clan a few hours ago but she hasn’t come yet.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” he bellowed.
“Milady Bella didn’t want to worry you.”
He stared at the elder woman for a long minute before he said, “Are you concerned?”
She didn’t answer but tears glazed her eyes. She nodded.
He felt impatient and decided to take control. “Benjamin, send an entire army to retrieve this woman. If their clan won’t willingly release her, steal her.” He turned to their priest. “Gather every member of the McRaidys and begin prayer.”
Both men jumped from their benches and rushed from the room.
“Mother, will you send for the healer and bring him upstairs?”
“A man should not be in the room.”
“I don’t care.”
“I will be there shortly with him,” she said.
In a final thought, he turned to his grandmother. “Will you gather our lead groom and come upstairs as well. If a dog or horse can be turned, so can my child.”
“As you say.”
He ran up the stairs two at a time and burst into the room. His heart squeezed so hard, he could barely breathe. Bella lay nearly lifeless on the bed. Her soft voice shifted between whimpers and moans. He stepped closer and brushed her hair back. Her eyes drifted open.
“I hurt.”
“I know, my love.”
“What should I do?” Bella cried.
“The baby is breech.”
She nodded and grimaced in pain. Rian decided there wasn’t time to wait. He delivered his share of colts and found that turning worked better if the mother was on all fours.
“Can you kneel on your hands and knees?”
“I’m too tired. If you help me, I will try.”
Bella was finally in position, with the help of the midwife. He knelt next to her so he could reach around. He laid his hands firmly on her burgeoning stomach and felt it harden to a rock. The long wait for her muscles to release nearly sent him into a rage. His wife sobbed in pain. As the contraction eased, Rian used both hands to turn their child. He felt the knot of their baby begin to roll when another contraction seized her body.
“Oh, my God,” she screamed.
Rian tried to hug Bella but was afraid he would kill her. She shoved his hand away and grunted.
“I think, I think…” She panted.
The spasm released. He tried to turn the baby again.
“The head has come,” the midwife said loudly.
Rian steadied Bella and let her push on her own. Within a few seconds, their child came to the world with healthy wails. Bella’s body shook so hard, she barely stayed up.
“Lay down, my love.”
“I can’t stop. There is something more.”
He looked at the midwife. “I’m sure it’s the afterbirth. Let her push.”
Rian held Bella’s hips and prepared himself for the remaining pregnancy tissue. Instead, a small globe with black hair peeked out. No wonder the birth was so horrendous―there were twins. In a final push, their second child announced it’s arrival with a hearty cry.
Bella collapsed on the bed, rolled to her side, and gazed at him. “I think we did it.”
“You did it.”
“Are the babies all right?”
Rian glanced at the midwife. Her reassuring smile eased his concern.
“They are perfect,” he said.
“I want to hold them.”
He scooted off the bed and walked closer to his children. Blankets cocooned them with little more than their tiny faces visible. Their healthy screams spread warmth through his body. They were the perfect images of him and Bella.
“Boys or girls?” he asked in a whisper.
“One of each.”
The midwife handed him the children. With one in each arm, he looked down again. He knew for some reason without looking under the blanket which was his son and which his daughter. He carried them back to Bella and waited while she shifted to a sitting position leaned against pillows.
He gently placed a baby in each of her arms. With a little help, she settled his son and daughter on her breasts to nurse. They immediately quieted and fell asleep.
“They are beautiful, don’t you think?” she asked quietly.
“Aye, just as you are.”
A persistent knock at the door interrupted them. He forgot he sent out an army and called for every possible person who could assist. Before responding, he tucked the blankets around his family and slipped out the door. A good deal of other people stood in the hall with harrowed looks of concern.
“Bella is fine. We have two healthy children―a son and daughter,” he said proudly.
An audible sigh of relief echoed from everyone. His mother blinked back tears as Rian reached for her hand. “Would you like to peek? They are sleeping.”
“Oh yes, I’m so happy.”
Rian addressed the rest of the McRaidys. “You will meet my heirs in due course. For now, they are tired. Make sure any noise is kept to a minimum.”
Everyone left them alone. Rian gazed at what he considered one of the most beautiful families a man could have. His wife slept with their babies tucked in next to her. Unable to endure a minute longer, he slipped in bed with them and rested on his side. Bella’s eyes flitted open. “I love you.”
“As I you.”
“We have a family.” She smiled.
“Aye, thank you.”
“I hope we have many more children but I’d prefer just one at a time.”
Rian laughed. “Me too.”
She dozed again. A waving roll of iridescent light hovered in the dim light next to the bed. Rian clenched his muscles in readiness to attack. Soon the images of a man and woman floated close. He studied their faces and swore it was Liam and Christiana. Bella spoke in a whisper just as he opened his mouth to question their appearance.
“I think they came to see the babies. That is the McRaidy Chieftain and his wife.”
“I thought so.”
“Have you met them?”
“No, have you?”
“Hmm, yes, they are lovely people and proud McRaidys. I hope we live on in eternity as they have.
Rian lifted her hand to his mouth and pressed a kiss to it. “I know we will.”
Bella snuggled closer to him as the light slowly faded away. Rian knew that Bella would be his wife in the afterlife. They would never be parted―even by death. He had found a woman that eased his soul yet made it stronger. She was his heart now and always would be.