The Silver Falcon Read Online Free PDF Page B

Several braziers filled with coal heated the lady’s chamber so that the newborn would not catch a chill. Despite the damp cold outside, the room was comfortably warm.
    “I can already feel its little head. Now push with all your might,” the midwife ordered.
    Alix could scarcely follow the instructions; she was so afraid of the punishment awaiting her if her sin was found out. She should never have given in to his wooing. She had been weak.
    “Good, now once more,” the midwife coaxed.
    Richard de Hauville was nearly thirty years older than Alix, and not the man of a young woman’s dreams. Alix had lived in his household since her seventh year, so he was more like a father to her than a husband. Perhaps this was why she was so afraid of disappointing him. She had been married to Richard for two years when she succumbed to Prince John’s youthful charms. He had spent a few days as a guest under their roof earlier that year,and he had exploited the master’s absence to turn her head. They were about the same age and could laugh about the same silly little things. Was it so surprising that she had ended up in his arms?
    Alix groaned. She should never have given herself to the prince. Although she had always patiently tolerated her husband’s exercising of his conjugal rights, she had not fallen pregnant, so he had been particularly glad when he learned she was with child.
    Alix could not say why she was so sure the child’s father was Prince John, but it was her very certainty that made her so afraid. The prince had not stayed long enough to arouse suspicion. In fact, no one seemed to have noticed anything. Even John had no idea what she was going through now because of him. At the thought of the child resembling the prince, Alix began to sweat even more. John’s hair was a little darker than his older brother’s and his father’s, but as with all the Plantagenets, it had an unmistakable tinge of red. She, on the other hand, had dark-brown hair and her husband’s was pure black, though the years had woven in a considerable number of silver strands. Alix let out another sigh as she thought about bringing a red-haired child into the world.
    “It will soon be over, my lady.”
    She felt another spasm coming on. Alix pushed with all her strength, and the child was born.
    “It’s a girl,” said the midwife with a hint of regret. “But don’t worry, my lady, you’re young and will have many sons yet,” she added reassuringly, scooping away the remaining muck from the infant’s mouth with her finger. She picked up the little girl by her feet. The newborn gave a full-throated howl. “A robust little girl, just like her father,” the midwife cried with satisfaction.
    Alix shivered involuntarily at these words.
    The midwife cut the cord, washed the infant, cleaned her nose and ears, and checked every inch of her body. When she lay her down on her front, a frown appeared on the midwife’s forehead. “Most unusual,” she murmured.
    Alix sat up a little. “Is there something wrong?”
    “All her fingers and toes are there, and her eyes, nose, and ears look as they ought to.” The midwife’s head rocked from side to side. “It’s just her bottom…”
    “What is it? Speak up,” begged Alix.
    “The cleft between her buttocks is strangely crooked,” said the midwife, shrugging her shoulders. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”
    Alix fell back onto her pillow. It was John’s child. A little wistfully, she thought of the handsome prince and his skewed crack, over which they had laughed so heartily. For a brief moment, she was happy the child was his. Then fear took over. God would punish her for her sin. She mouthed an oath.
    “Fear not, my lady.” The midwife smiled archly. “A crooked nose would be far worse.”
    Alix giggled with relief. The wise woman had no idea how right she was. An obvious resemblance would have been much harder to hide.
    “Here, take your daughter in your arms.” The