Stephen put his arm around his brother’s shoulders but Gavin shrugged it away. “No, Your Majesty, I won’t go. Had I been with her tonight, she wouldn’t have been hurt.”
Stephen started to speak but Elizabeth stopped him. She knew it would be no use. “You may stay.” She nodded to Stephen and he departed.
Gavin stroked Judith’s forehead as he looked up at the queen. “Tell me what to do.”
“Take her robe off.”
Gavin carefully untied the garment, then gently lifted Judith and took her arms from the sleeves. He was horrified to see the blood on her thighs. He stared at it for a moment, not moving.
Elizabeth watched him. “Birthing is not a pleasant sight.”
“This is not a birth, but a…” He could not finish.
“She must have been far along to show so much blood. This will indeed be a birth, though with less pleasant results.”
They both looked up as the midwife, a fat, red-faced woman burst into the chamber. “Do you intend to freeze the poor girl?” she demanded. “Here! We need no men,” she said to Gavin.
“He will stay,” Queen Elizabeth said firmly.
The midwife looked at Gavin for a moment. “Go then and fetch the water from the maid. She takes too long to carry it up the stairs.”
Gavin reacted immediately.
“Her husband, Your Majesty?” the midwife asked when Gavin was gone.
“Yes, and their first child.”
The fat woman snorted. “He should have taken better care of her, Your Majesty, and not let her roam about the halls at night.”
As soon as Gavin set the water down inside the room, the woman snapped more orders at him. “Find her some clothes and keep her warm.”
Joan, who had entered behind Gavin, rummaged in a chest and handed him a warm woolen gown. Gavin carefully dressed Judith, all the while watching the blood slowly seep from her. Perspiration appeared on her forehead and he wiped it away with a cool cloth. “Will she be all right?” he whispered.
“I can’t answer that. It depends on whether we can get all the birth out of her and if we can get the bleeding to stop.” Judith moaned and moved her head. “Keep her quiet or she’ll make our work harder.”
“Judith,” Gavin said quietly. “Be still.” He took her hands in his when she began to move them about.
She opened her eyes. “Gavin?” she whispered.
“Yes. Don’t talk now. Be still and rest. You will be well soon.”
“Well?” She did not seem fully aware of her state. Then a violent cramp shot through her. Her hands clutched at his. Judith looked up at him, bewildered. “What happened?” she gasped then her eyes began to focus clearly. The queen, her maid and another woman knelt over her, looking at her with concern. Another spasm rocked her.
“Come,” the midwife said. “We must knead her stomach and help her.”
“Gavin!” Judith said in fright, panting after the last pain.
“Quiet, my love. You will soon be well. There will be other children.”
Her eyes opened in horror. “Child? My baby? Am I losing my baby?” Her voice rose almost hysterically.
“Judith, please,” Gavin said, soothing her. “There will be others.”
Another pain shot through Judith as she stared at Gavin, her memory returning. “I fell off the stairs,” she said quietly. “I saw you in bed with your whore and I fell from the stairs.”
“Judith, this is not the time—”
“Don’t touch me!”