good care of Diana. Gavra is too when she should be here tending to our Willy. He’s hungry.”
Willy squirmed and wailed.
James simultaneously bounced his son and followed Tristan. Both wore a path in the dirt.
Heath quelled laughter at the once fierce pirates. If their enemies and those whose ships they’d taken could see them now…
A screech tore from a side room.
Tristan whirled around and reared back before he ran into James. “Bloody hell. That was worse than the last one. I thought having Diana take off the collar would allow her to breathe more easily, not scream like the devil’s after her. What in damnation is going on in there?” He pushed past.
James grabbed his arm. “You don’t want to go into the birthing room. Trust me. What you’ll see is for no man’s eyes. It could stop your heart.”
“Don’t be daft. I have to help her.”
“How? Was you who got her into this or have you forgotten?”
Tristan yanked his arm away. “If Diana survives her ordeal, I’ll never lie with her again.”
James howled. “No bloody chance of that happening. If you don’t take her, she’ll do that to you, at the point of her rapier if need be. The same as when she captured you at the Quest before I saved your hide.”
“Must you keep reminding me of—”
Diana’s prolonged moan cut through the other noise.
James gestured Royce over. Heath followed. They surrounded Tristan, keeping him from the room.
He glowered. “I know Gavra will try her best. Simone too. However, that doesn’t address all eventualities.”
James transferred Willy from his right shoulder to his left. Willy spit up yellow liquid that oozed down James’s back. He groaned. “You speak of events that will never be. My mother birthed eight children and survived each ordeal. If not for her advanced age, she would have had ten more.”
“That’s you—her. A farmer’s daughter used to hard labor, sturdy to a fault. Diana’s father did nothing except preach and rail at her for everything she did. Her days with him never prepared her for life on this isle.”
Royce chuckled. “I would think not.”
Tristan shot him a look.
He lost his smile. “I’m only saying with the woman going about as they are—not Diana of course. She’s always fully clothed—that is, her gowns are quite nice. They suit her, because she’s English, not—I’m not sure what I meant. James is right. Since time began, woman have birthed with few problems. My mother thrives in England with my two sisters.”
Diana swore in English then even louder in French, the islander’s language Heath understood.
Once his goal had been to better himself, learn all he could, and become more than what he’d been born as. Being a lifelong celibate on this isle hadn’t been in his plan. He should plead his case to Tristan and James.
Tristan scowled at Heath. “What have you to say?”
“Nothing.” Surely he hadn’t spoken his thoughts aloud. “I’m here to work.” He backed away.
Tristan gripped his forearm. “What of your mother? How many infants did she have and survive through?”
“I don’t know. I never saw her.”
“Because she bloody well died giving you life?” Tristan dug his fingers into Heath.
Pain shot up his arm. He suppressed a wince. “No. The workhouse beadle told me I wasn’t an orphan like the rest, which annoyed him greatly. My mother left me there because she couldn’t feed herself, much less me. After that, I have no idea what happened to her.”
James gestured dismissively. “Probably married some willing fellow and had half a dozen more children. Isn’t that right?”
For Heath to say otherwise might get him killed. Even pirates hunting a prize weren’t as ruthless as a future father worried about his wife and coming child. “I’m certain she had the largest family she could and is with them as we speak.”
“There you have it.” James smacked Tristan’s shoulder. “You can calm down. To make certain you do, I’ll have Aimee and Netta check on Diana.” He motioned them over.
They approached gracefully, more a glide than walk, their breasts bouncing with each step. Aimee held her silk bag in front. Netta hid her left hand. Both peeked at Heath.
His legs weakened, cock stiffened.
“Bonjour.” James smiled. “Allez-vous verifier sur Diana? Voir comment elle va?” Will you check on Diana? See how she’s doing?
Diana wailed.
Tristan covered his eyes.
“Now.” James shooed them away.
“Oui.” Aimee grabbed Netta’s wrist and hurried to the birthing room.
* * * *
Simone met them at the doorway, her rounded belly leading the way, a leather marriage collar adorned with brightly colored beads about her throat. “What took so long?”
Aimee frowned and became as outspoken as Netta. “We returned as quickly as we could. The plants you wanted would confuse anyone. They all look the same. Green and more green.”
“Each color is different.”
“To you, a healer. Not to Netta and me.” She pushed the bag at Simone. “You should mix a potion for Tristan. He’s darting back and forth like a frightened chicken and is making everyone dizzy. Is Diana all right?”
Nude, Diana sagged against the whitewashed wall, her once pale skin flushed and slick with sweat. Her long black hair clung to her breasts. Each pant shuddered through her. She gripped Follie’s and Gavra’s hands and screamed, this outburst more deafening than the rest.
Men’s voices stopped.
Tristan’s loud oath sounded.
Children quieted.
Simone rifled through the bag. “Tell Capitaine his wife is fine. The best potion for a man is ale. Fill him with it so he no longer hears her cries. Where’s the bloodstop?” She dug deeper and made a face. “Did you forget it?”
Netta stiffened. “No. Look at the bottom. Aimee picked the bloodstop first. I added extra before we found the other plants you wanted. Do you expect Diana to bleed?”
“All mothers do, but too much will risk her life. Never tell Tristan that.”
Netta clucked her tongue. “And have him shoot me if I dared mention such a thing? I have no wish to die.”
Simone waddled to her mixing bowl
