Unfortunately, Felicity did not know, and she did not seem inclined to believe Blanche on the subject even though Blanche had often tried to convince her. Sometimes, like right now, Blanche had the urge to knock their heads together just to see if she could pound some sense into them. She sighed. Maybe after the baby came… "Have you settled on the names yet? You don't have too much more time left," Blanche said, falling easily into her role of entertaining visitor. Head pounding would have to wait.
As the afternoon waned, Felicity felt her mood lighten. Blanche's presence always seemed to have that effect on her. Although she did not like to admit it, she hated being alone with Joshua. His solicitude drove her to distraction, making her feel more like a prized brood mare than a wife.
And sometimes the baby made her feel like a brood mare, too, she admitted with a small smile, shifting to find a more comfortable position in the rocking chair her husband had insisted that she needed. But nothing seemed to appease little Joshua. He squirmed with renewed vigor. Feeling every bit like a turtle on its back, Felicity began the struggle of rising from her chair in hopes of easing her child's cramped position.
Blanche noticed her difficulties but had the grace not to comment on them. Felicity did not even look at Joshua for fear of seeing disgust on his face at her graceless movements. Once on her feet, she placed her hands on the small of her back and stretched to ease the aches that plagued her. The baby went still for a moment, as if grateful for the release her new posture gave him. And then he lurched.
Felicity cried out as she fell to her knees.
"Felicity!"
"Lissy!"
The voices called to her in unison, but she barely heard them.
"Are you all right?"
"What happened?"
Gentle hands grasped her, lifted her, and she was sitting in her rocking chair again. "I fell," she murmured in wonder, examining her reddened palms and noticing the way her knees throbbed from the impact.
"What happened, honey?" Blanche's voice cut into her wonderment. "You were just standing there and…"
"The baby turned over," Felicity reported, checking first Blanche's and then Joshua's expressions to see if they believed her. They did not seem to. "At least, that's what it felt like," she amended, not willing to trust her own judgment just yet. "He was wiggling around, and when I stood up, he just flipped."
"Do you hurt anywhere?" Josh asked. He looked down at her frail figure so overburdened by his child and experienced an overwhelming sense of helplessness. How foolish he had been to think he could protect her. The dangers she faced came from things he had no hope of controlling.
"My knees; I think I skinned them," she admitted reluctantly. She hated drawing further attention to her clumsiness, but her knees really did hurt.
"Well, that's not too bad," Josh said with false heartiness, giving her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. The thought that she might really have injured herself was making him sick to his stomach. "I'll get Candace. She'll know what to do." Eager for some privacy in which to regain control of his emotions, he hurried from the room.
"No, that's not too bad," Felicity echoed bitterly, wondering how he might have reacted if her fall had harmed the child in. some way.
"Felicity," Blanche said, drawing her attention. "Remember that I promised I'd stay with you when the baby came, to help Candace?"
Felicity nodded. There was no doctor, and Candace was the closest thing to a midwife in the area. Blanche would assist her when the time came.
"Well, I was just thinking. Maybe I'd better go ahead and pack up a few things and come over here to stay. I wouldn't be a bit surprised if that baby dropped out just any time now." Blanche smiled at her crude jest, but Felicity could see she was only trying to cover a genuine concern.
"Of course," Felicity readily agreed. "I'll tell Candace to fix up the guest room for you." Although what Joshua might think of the arrangements was something else again, Felicity thought. He seemed to appreciate Blanche's visits, even though he had made it clear he disapproved of her in many ways, but having her under the same roof twenty-four hours a day might be more than he could take.
"What's this I hear about you not being able to stand up straight anymore?" Candace demanded cheerfully when she bustled into the room a few moments later.
"The baby knocked her clean over," Blanche reported, stepping back to allow Candace room to work. She was carrying a small basin and a jar of salve. "I never saw anything like it."
"From the looks of her, I wouldn't be surprised if that baby comes out half-grown," Candace said, kneeling in front of Felicity.
Felicity watched them, listening to their banter with suspicion. Their mouths were smiling, but their eyes were clouded with worry. Was something wrong? She really did not want to know. She closed her own eyes so she would not have to see them exchanging meaningful glances.
Candace lifted Felicity's skirt to examine her knees, and then gently bathed the scrapes with a soft cloth. "Did you feel anything pull or tear when you fell?" she asked with creditable nonchalance.
Felicity squinched her eyes more tightly shut. "No," she said, trying not to listen to the voice inside her head that was reminding her how they only cared about the baby.
"Thank God," she heard Blanche whisper.
"Is she all right?" Felicity heard Joshua's voice ask, but she still did not open her eyes. She could not bear to see his frowning disapproval.
Candace lowered Felicity's skirt over her treated knees. "She might have a few bruises, but nothing serious. You'll be fine," she added, patting Felicity's hand reassuringly.
"Joshua, I was thinking I'd bring my stuff on over, so I'll be here when…" Blanche let her voice trail off, making Felicity wince again. Why didn't she say it outright?
"That's fine," Josh said so fervently that Felicity's eyes popped open at last. "If you leave now, you can be back before dark."
Felicity watched in growing horror as Joshua escorted Blanche out onto the porch. He shut the door behind them and called to someone to get Mrs. Delano's buggy ready. Then they stood on the porch for a long time, whispering to each other. Felicity could see them through the window, could see Blanche touching Joshua's arm with a tenderness that sent pain stabbing through her heart. Was that what the veiled looks were about? Was that why Joshua had not made love to her in months? Was that why he was so glad Blanche was coming to stay in their very house?
"Honey, why are you crying?" Candace asked solicitously. "Were you lying? Did you really hurt yourself in that fall?"
Felicity shook her head, hating the tears over which she no longer seemed to have any control. "I… I'm just tired. I think I'll lie down for a while."
Out on the porch, Blanche patted Josh's arm comfortingly. "She's not hurt. You have to be thankful for that."
Josh sighed wearily. "Yeah, I'm thankful this time," he said bitterly. "But what about next time? You said yourself the baby might not come for another two or three weeks. She's so tiny…" He let his voice trail off, unable to allow himself to complete the thought. How would he bear it if something happened to her?
"We'll take good care of her, Joshua. I promise you that," Blanche said, giving his arm a squeeze. "And I don't think it's going to be another two or three weeks anymore. Why do you think I'm moving over here tonight?"
Later, alone in her darkened room, Felicity heard Blanche returning. Although they were quite obviously taking great pains not to disturb her, she heard every move they made as Joshua carried in her luggage. Felicity even heard Blanche tell him, "Don't worry. This baby will be here before you know it, and then everything will be fine."