‘Of all the days for your brother to have come, Kate, with all the rest of us out.’ Jill wrung her hands. She couldn’t bear it if this led to the loss of the baby, and Delia was in poor shape too. ‘You shouldn’t have allowed Delia to get out of bed.’
Kate didn’t answer. Jill had never been sharp with her before, but with the terrifying incident replaying itself inside her head it didn’t matter. And she understood Jill’s point of view. Jill had willingly helped her during her time of deepest need and she had done the same for Delia. This next sordid incident had happened in Jill’s home. It was not surprising she was angry and upset.
It had been an agonizing time for Kate waiting for help to arrive. The village constable, after helping Dr Edward Greaves carry Delia up to her room, had subjected Kate to endless questions, and she had received another barrage when the family, including Jonny, had rushed in from the wedding reception. The constable had left satisfied that Sidney was not directly responsible for Delia’s injuries, and as no one wanted to press charges against him, wanting only to be rid of him for ever, had considered no more police activity need be involved. There was still the anxious wait for the doctor’s report. He had decided Sidney had taken the brunt of Delia’s fall, and he was now biding his time to consider whether Delia should stay here and continue with bed rest or be admitted to hospital.
‘You can’t blame Kate for what happened. She’s been through an awful time too.’ Jonny was appalled at Jill’s stance. It was hard not to go to Kate and throw his arms around her, say something to ease her dejection. Every so often she trembled in shock. ‘Sounds to me that she controlled the situation very bravely, and Tilda had the presence of mind to summon help. It could have been a lot worse.’
Kate was grateful for his support. The others had sent her head into a whirl of confusion but Jonny was calm and had not added to the pressure. He had come in quietly, as a concerned friend, nothing more, she was sure. Alan had been mistaken about him falling in love with her. Alan had seen things that way out of jealousy, fearing he had a rival. Each time she thought about it the idea of Jonny falling for her seemed more unlikely, even ridiculous. She and Jonny were very close, they shared an affection, but they lived on a different rise, with different outlooks and dreams, there could be nothing else between them. She met his eyes and lingered on his steady gentle gaze. He was secretly telling her that whatever happened he was one hundred per cent behind her, as a good friend would be. Opinions and advice about Delia’s care flew round the room, but Delia was her relative, and apart from the baby, Kate was all she had left. If Delia wasn’t up to making decisions then she would make them on her behalf.
‘Yes, of course. I’m sorry, Kate. That wasn’t fair of me,’ Jill said, finally going to her, aware that her priorities had shifted. In any other case Kate would have been her first concern. ‘At least Sidney will never trouble Delia or you again.’
‘All being well.’ Emilia glanced up at the ceiling. ‘Delia will be able to start out fresh when the baby is born.’ She was worried about how Delia would come through her labour when the time came. Dr Greaves had said he would feel happier if she was in the infirmary but he didn’t think it particularly wise for her to travel. He was a busy man. He must be greatly concerned to be spending so much time with Delia. She was worried about Jill too. She was edgy. She couldn’t keep still and was rising up and down on her toes. How was she going to cope if the baby was born under her roof when she had been so looking forward to her own baby’s first cries here?
Jill twisted her bottom lip and glanced at Tom. She couldn’t stand the strain and deserted Kate to seek his shelter.
Perry put a fatherly arm round Kate. ‘I’m sure everything will be all right, my love.’
The bedroom door above was opened. ‘Ah.’ Tilda leapt towards the range. Her nervousness had returned and she needed to be active. ‘Here’s the doctor at last. I’ll put the kettle on again.’
‘Mr and Mrs Harvey, can you come?’ Dr Greaves called urgently down the stairs.
Jill and Tom shot out of the kitchen and Emilia, Perry and Tilda were on their heels.
‘He should have called for me,’ Kate complained to Jonny as they brought up the rear.
‘Don’t worry, I’m here for you.’ He pushed her through to the front of those gazing up the stairs.
‘I need someone to call the district nurse,’ Dr Greaves, young, stocky, with thinning hair, directed in his precise, clipped manner. ‘The baby’s heartbeat is weakening. I fear the fall may have caused placental abruption, in which case the baby needs to be delivered quickly. Tell the nurse not to delay. I’ll need to do a Caesarean. Mrs Viant was in a lot of pain from the accident and I’ve already sedated her. You should prepare yourselves for possible bad news where the baby is concerned.’
‘Oh no!’ Jill cried out. Tom took her away. Emilia and Perry hurried to the telephone. Tilda went off trembling to make tea. Kate stayed put, clenching her fists. Damn Sidney, damn her vile evil brother. He had traumatized and hurt Delia again. Getting her away from home had not been enough to protect her. Now he might be responsible for the death of his own child, and for even more pain and heartbreak for Delia. And for Jill too. Jill didn’t deserve this.
‘I’m sure everything will be fine, Kate,’ Jonny said gently.
‘You can’t promise that, Jonny. It’s not how things work. Excuse me, I want to make a phone call.’
The district nurse was tracked down and got to the farm within twenty minutes. Another nail-biting vigil began. Jill and Tom couldn’t tear themselves away from the house, but Kate couldn’t bear to stay inside it. She went out to the back garden, where she could listen for sounds from Delia’s bedroom. All she could hear was the occasional muffled voice of the doctor or nurse. Jonny joined her. She was pleased to have his company. He circled an arm round her and she rested in his comfort. ‘I’m so scared for them.’
He placed the side of his face on her head. ‘You’re right, I can’t promise they’ll both come through safely. But I can promise I won’t leave you.’ Not ever, there was no need to. The proof was Kate needed him and was responding to his embrace.
‘Thanks, Jonny. It means so much.’
That proved it too. Alan Killigrew was of no real account to her.
Time went by and then some more. How long did the operation take? It seemed hours. Then, as if Kate’s inner senses had received a signal, she reached for Jonny’s hand. ‘It’s time to go in.’
They found Jill and Tom huddled at the foot of the stairs, a pathetic sight in their wedding clothes. They seemed to be really hurting. It was so good of them to be deeply concerned for a woman they hadn’t known until a few days ago.
Fear-stricken that her worst nightmare had come true, Jill peered at Kate. ‘I’m sure something’s happened.’ Something bad, she meant. ‘I thought I heard a baby’s tiny cry then it went quiet.’
Tom knocked on his mother’s door, and Emilia and Perry and Tilda filed through in a funereal hush.
Dr Greaves appeared up above them in his suit and tie. He was a highly professional sort and his expression was blank. ‘I’m coming down.’
All went into Jill and Tom’s kitchen. Jonny spoke up. ‘Whatever you’ve come to say, doctor, you should address it to Miss Viant first.’
‘Quite, quite,’ Dr Greaves replied, with the gravity of a judge. ‘You have a nephew, Miss Viant. It was an effort to get him to breathe but he seems to be holding his own for now. Could someone ring for an ambulance? He’s underweight and needs more care than can be given here.’
‘But he stands a chance?’ Kate said. Jill was with her, clutching at her hand. This must be a terrible reminder for her.
‘I’m hopeful. With all her experience with babies the nurse is hopeful too.’ Dr Greaves pulled at his starched shirt cuffs. ‘Now, to get to Mrs Viant. It’s a different story, I’m afraid. I’m very sorry, she was too frail to survive the operation. As you already know, her health wasn’t anywhere near as good as I’d hope to find in an expectant mother. The accident was too much for her. Her heart actually stopped just before I’d got the baby out. Do take comfort in the fact that she didn’t suffer. The ambulance can take her body away. I’ll inform the coroner.’
‘Oh, my God! Not this!’ Jill exclaimed, dashing her hands to her face. She had been hoping Delia wouldn’t change her mind about keeping the baby but now she would never have the chance to.
Kate felt a rushing in her ears and her legs began to buckle, but taking a deep determined breath she held her ground. Her voice shook. ‘Delia dead. Poor Delia. Thanks for all your efforts, doctor. Can I hold the baby and stay with Delia alone for a while?’
‘Of course. Just give the nurse and me a little more time.’
Delia looked as if she was sleeping, at peace, back to her true age of just twenty years. It was this that made Kate break down and cry and tore her heart to pieces. She sat at the bedside, cradling her tiny nephew swathed in a warm blanket, and held Delia’s marble-cold hand. ‘My family made me suffer too but at this moment I’m ashamed to be a Viant. I think this is what you wanted, Delia. To die. To be out of it. I don’t blame you for that. You never had the good fortune of meeting someone like Jill earlier in your life like I did. Rest in peace, you deserve it. Here’s a promise you can take with you. You never knew your little boy, but I promise you that I will do everything in my power to see he has a good life. I will never, ever forsake him.’