Earning the Love of a Princess-Chapter 240: Better or Worse

Camilla tried breathing deeply and patiently as she waited for William to return with the midwives, as the sharp cramps tore through her. She started wondering if the pains were making her lose her sense of time.

Because either William was taking a very long while to return or else things were moving along a lot faster than with her first birth.

She remained on her feet, leaning on the back on a heavy armchair and bracing against the pains as they came and went. They were already close together, giving her little time to catch her breath in between. She’d thought that when she sent William out that she still had hours and hours of labour to endure before her body would be ready to push her baby out.

Now she was less sure about that. The urge to push was steadily growing in her. Surely that wasn’t right?

Matilda nervously flitted around the room without pause, wringing her hands. Louisa meanwhile, had made herself comfortable on another chair, watching her mistress while looking quite unphased. Camilla found unexpected comfort in seeing Louisa’s stolid expression, as is she wasn’t watching anything she hadn’t already seen before.

By the time William finally returned to the bedchamber, three women in tow, Camilla’s frame had started shaking. She tried to say something to the women but ended up only being able to groan as another pain gripped her.

When she could finally think and speak, Camilla looked at William. But he just stared back at her as if frozen in place with nerves.

A plump, grey haired woman broke the silence by slowly approaching her. "Your Highness, my name is Mistress Guelders and there are my daughters, Darla and Bridget. We’re here to help you deliver your babe, if you’ll let us."

The sympathy in Mistress Guelders’s warm voice and the kindness in her eyes made Camilla want to burst into tears. She managed to give a tiny nod. Perhaps these midwives wouldn’t yell at her during her ordeal.

"May I place my hands on your belly to examine you, my lady?" the older woman asked gently.

Camilla nodded again as the midwife inched closer. She appreciated being asked for permission before strange hands just grabbed at her belly.

Mistress Guelders’s touch was careful as she touched and pressed down over the sweat dampened nightgown. The woman nodded and said, "This is very good. The babe has already moved down low in your body. It means you’re not far off from starting to push. I don’t think this will be a long birth, my lady. Can you remain on your feet for a few moments longer, while we prepare the bed?"

Camilla managed to whisper her agreement as she braced herself for another pain, on shaking legs. She was vaguely aware of the two younger women pulling off the fine silk quilts from the bed and laying down layer upon layer of coarse linen. Mistress Guelders remained at her side, rubbing her back and gently encouraging her to breathe.

Once she could see that Camilla’s pain was ebbing, the older midwife spoke to the two royal maids.

"Thank you ladies, for looking after the princess before our arrival. My daughters and I have this under control now, so you may just wait in the presence chamber in case we need anything else."

Louisa nodded and walked out of the room. Matilda all but sprinted out the door.

The midwives all then turned to look at William, clearly expecting him to follow the maids. He stubbornly stood his ground.

Mistress Guelders shrugged and merely said, "If you intend to stay here, Your Grace, could we trouble you to help your wife to the bed? It’s best she lay down now as she’ll be growing tired."

Without hesitation, William scooped Camilla into his arms and carried her across the bedchamber. He carefully set her down on the linen and then sat a little behind her, starting to knead the knots in her back.

"Do you want something to eat? You didn’t have any breakfast this morning." he asked.

Camilla shook her head vigorously. The thought of food at that moment repulsed her.

"What about something to drink? I can pour you some ale."

"No, I don’t want any." she managed to groan just before another pain began to roar across her belly and back.

"Are you sure?" William asked. "Because it’s no trouble for me. I just remember last time, how thirsty you became and-"

"Husband, if you’re going to stay here, I really need you to stop fussing over me." Camilla managed to hiss as the pain started to fade. "Otherwise I’m scared I’ll end up tearing out your throat. And that would be a great shame, because I usually love you."

"Sorry." William mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck and looking abashed. "I just...uh...sorry."

Mistress Guelders gave a jolly chuckle. "You have my respect for wishing to stay by your wife’s side and support her, Your Grace. Most men don’t have the stomach for it."

"Uh, well. Thanks, I suppose. I feel rather useless here." William faced her with a weak smile.

Another piercing cramp tore through and Camilla bit her lip as hard as she could to stifle a cry of agony.

Mistress Guelders looked at her, bemused. "You look like you’re biting back your cries, my lady. Why?"

"I was told last time that I was too loud and made a great fuss over nothing." Camilla replied, feeling embarrassed.

The midwives all stared back at her, three sets of bulging eyes. "No disrespect is intended, my lady. But if that’s what your previous midwives told you, those are some of the stupidest words I’ve ever heard." Bridget said quietly. "Childbirth is excruciating. Scream as much as you want, it helps."

Camilla blinked in surprise at the young woman’s candour, then smiled a little. William chuckled at her side.

- - -

As the moments dragged on, Camilla found herself clinging to the coarse sheets beneath her and panting. She wondered if the shock of these pains coming so close together, was better or worse than the long, slow buildup of Malcolm’s birth.

"It’s all too fast!" she cried out, her entire frame shaking from the overwhelming speed of events around her.

"It’s to be expected, my lady. Second babes usually come faster that the first. Your body knows its role better now. Everything is looking good." the midwife replied. She looked focused yet relaxed, which helped put Camilla a little more at ease.

"Are you sure?" Camilla had to ask.

Mistress Guelders smiled reassuringly and patted her knee. "Very sure. It won’t be much longer now, so I hope you have names chosen, Your Graces!"

Camilla squeezed William’s hand and turned to him, seeing the mixture of fear and intense excitement on his face. He nodded his encouragement to her.

"We’re not changing our minds on the names we’ve chosen, are we?" she gasped out.

"N-no. I really don’t think we have time to think of new ones, do we? And I’ll be damned if I’m naming a son Daniel, wife!" William growled.

His tone made Camilla laugh, despite feeling so tired. The laugh quickly turning into a little cry as a fierce stabbing pain tore through her lower back. She bore down and pushed instinctively.

"Breathe in, then push again just like that, my lady." the midwife sang out cheerfully, pressing her warm palms down against Camilla’s heaving belly.

Camilla gulped in air, closed her eyes and pushed again, tucking her chin against her chest as her upper body curled over her belly. She felt a small but distinct shift in her lower body.

It’s happening, it’s really happening, Camilla told herself wildly as she pushed again and felt the baby shift under the midwife’s strong hands. She couldn’t believe how fast and relentless this labour felt, barely allowing her to catch her bearings.

"Take a deep breath, my lady. You need air, otherwise you’ll faint." Mistress Guelders instructed. "Breathe in first, then push."

"I...can’t..."

"Yes, you can. I know it’s hard when one pain overlaps the next, but you can do this." The older woman’s voice was firm but full of warmth. It reminded Camilla a little of Agatha, her kindly childhood nursemaid.

Camilla snatched in a sharp breath, her eyes welling up with tears. She pushed as hard as she could, the muscles in her belly feeling as if they were burning. She could feel something being tugged from between her legs.

One of the younger midwives clapped her hand over her mouth, eyes wide. "You’re nearly there! The babe’s almost out!"

Camilla felt her tears spill over and run down her face as she gave another excruciating push, digging her nails into William’s hands. There was yet more firm tugging from her body, followed by the joyful voices of the midwives filling the room.

Camilla heard a choking little cough, followed by a baby’s loud wail. She slumped back in exhaustion.