“I thought she was too, and then she stopped. Everything just stopped. I was afraid something nasty had happened, that the baby would be hurt, but the doctor says it is normal enough. So I had to get away from her for a bit.” She looked at Matthew. “Why were you looking for me?”
“I wasnae. I was just going to look in on Boyd and saw ye drinking with the doctor.”
Abbie wondered why that sounded like an accusation but followed him as he led her away from town. “I am not sure I ought to go far now. Julia could need me again at any time.”
“I am sure we will hear about it,” he said as he led her into the trees.
She was looking around at the trees and realizing it was a very private spot but not the one he had taken her to before. Then Matthew pulled her into his arms and kissed her. Her surprise quickly faded and passion rose as he went down onto the ground, pulling her down with him. When his body settled over hers she snuggled up against him as close as she could. She knew what he was planning to do and she found she had an eagerness for the same.
As she tilted her head so he had an easier time in kissing her throat she felt him undoing the buttons on her bodice. It struck her as odd that his doing that was enough to make her blood heat in anticipation. When his hand settled on her breast she arched into his touch, welcoming it. The touch of the heat of his mouth there made her shiver. Then he began to kiss her again and she sank into the kiss, losing the ability to follow his every move.
Matthew did his best to keep her drunk on his kisses discovering that he was finding it nearly as heady himself. Her mouth was addictive, a sweet and hot magic in every kiss. He moved his hand under her skirts eager to feel the heat of her. A soft groan escaped her when he stroked her and he savored the sign that she was as caught up in the moment as he was.
Abbie closed her eyes, savoring the feel of his touch and his kisses without letting the world interfere. She just let the sheer pleasure of it wash over her, savoring every tremble that came as he kissed her breasts. Threading her fingers in his hair she tried to hold him there but he slipped free. A moment later he kissed her between her legs and she shook with both surprise and delight. She was just thinking she needed to push him away when he began to lick her and she lost all urge to make him stop. Her insides tightened until it was almost painful.
When he pushed her legs up, she made no protest, focused on the sensations pounding through her. Then, abruptly, she wanted something and tried to pull him up her body. He rose over her and was inside her before she could complain and she clutched at him as he thrust into her. It took very few times before she shattered and cried out, pleasure rippling throughout her body. She wrapped her arms around him as he moved in her then stiffened and groaned out her name, then held him close when he slumped against her.
For several moments, they lay entwined, silent, and still joined, but then Matthew pulled away and rolled onto his side to fix his trousers. He looked at her and smiled. Sprawled on her back with her gown undone, Abbie looked deliciously wanton. He felt himself harden a bit at the view and almost grinned, knowing he should feel pleasantly satisfied and not hungry again. He bent and kissed her breast before fixing her clothes.
Although she suspected a proper woman should be thoroughly embarrassed, Abigail felt nothing but a lazy contentment. Whatever he had just done had left her feeling soft and relaxed in a very pleasant way. She now understood why people did this, married or not. A glance at Matthew was enough to tell her he was in an extremely pleasant mood as well.
When he bent his head to kiss her again she shook her head. “I still have to see to Julia.”
“Ah, of course.” He reached out to toy with her tangled hair. “It was just a kiss.”
“Well, we just saw what just a kiss can lead to and I don’t want to be interrupted during, um, that, by Maude’s pig call.”
“Maude’s what?”
“She said if Julia needs me again and they don’t know where I am she’ll just go to the door, stick her head out, and give her pig call. She said it can be heard for miles around.” She cocked her head. “I doubt it is miles, but I bet it can be heard from a pretty great distance. Also Mrs. Beaton looked horrified, but that won’t stop Maude.”
He sat up and rubbed his knees. “Is Julia having a lot of trouble in birthing the babe?”
“I don’t know. She thought she was having it and then she wasn’t.” She sat up as well. “That was what I went to talk to the doctor about. It was just a false alarm but the real could follow the false real soon so . . .” She shrugged.
He nodded. “So a false alarm but also a warning sign.”
“Yes, and Julia doesn’t handle pain well at all. She seemed quite dismayed that it should hurt. She also claimed to be seeing Robert in the corner of the room, telling her things. I had meant to ask the doctor if delusions were any sign of problems.”
“I can take ye back there if ye want.”
“No. I believe it is just a touch of hysteria and the pain she had not been ready for. She also is still sunk in grief so I suppose it is not that strange that she would see him in her time of need. I think he had become the rock she clung to in the misery her life is now.”
He was about to comment on that when a piercing yodel cut through the silence. “What the devil?”
“I believe that is Maude. It is quite an impressive call. No wonder she is proud of it.”
Abigail stood up and brushed off her skirts. She idly noted there were a few grass stains but shrugged. If Maude was calling because Julia was in labor again, she doubted many would take note of the grass stains on her skirt.
“Well, after such a fine performance, we should hurry.”
“I agree,” said Abigail and sprinted away.
Laughing softly, he followed her, easily catching up to run at her side. Once they reached the house he complimented Maude on her call as Abbie and he stepped into the hall. Since nothing was planned for his afternoon, he decided he would linger and wait for some news before he wandered back to his bunk.
Abigail ran up the stairs and quickly hung up her coat. Julia was already making loud complaints about a pain. It was clear the girl had no idea of what was coming.
“So, Julia, you believe your babe is coming this time?” Abbie said as she went to stand by the bed.
“Yes. You need to get the doctor. This is much worse than it was yesterday.”
“Doctors don’t usually attend births unless something is going wrong.”
“Then who else does the work?”
“Midwives.”
“Why?”
“I have no idea. I believe some very rich ladies can pay to have a doctor but most women do it themselves, maybe have a few friends to help, or get a midwife.”
“Oh,” Julia said, and her reply turned into a long moan of pain. “Like before with just you and Rose. Are you a midwife?”
“No one has named me one but I have attended and helped in many a birth with midwives and with doctors and they were all satisfied.”
“They are not the ones having the baby.”