Commencement

[the_comfortable_courtesan]

Arrives Mrs Black as bespoken so many months ago, who examines me most minute, asks many questions, and says, not long now, an opinion I am most grateful for since sometimes I feel as if this state of mine will never end and I will just go on growing larger and larger. Already I believe that the Regent could conceal himself behind me I am become so vast.

Hector enquires of me whether he should communicate with Mr F-. I can think of nothing I should desire more than the company of my dear ones, but I do not want to seem in one of my fusses when nothing is yet happening and there is no urgency in the matter. O no, say I, Mr F- is a very busy gentleman and I should not wish to trouble him before it is needfull. Sure I cannot expect someone in that situation come to sit and watch me in my idleness.

I then go away and weep a little.

I continue to write away at my memoir, tho' I lock it up carefully when I am not engaged in composition.

Several days go by in which nothing happens. Mrs Black prods me somewhat, says, hmm, not yet and then goes sit in the kitchen gossiping with Seraphine and Phoebe.

One morning I wake up and as Tibby draws back the curtain I see that the sun is shining, and I can hear birds. She brings me my chocolate. A pretty day, madame. Indeed it is, say I, for I feel somehow a little livelier than I have been wont of late. I sip my chocolate, and mind me that I never did anything concerning sending General Y-'s curios to the East India Museum, with the thought that I might despatch them as from the estate of General Y- as if they had been ty'd up in testamentary execution.

After I have breakfast'd, therefore, I waddle to the trophy room and open the cabinet. I find myself loathe to resign possession of the troop of dear elephants of descending size, as well as the goddess that rides a tyger, but I think I can happily give away the figures of many strange gods, as also (though they are very fine) the representations of various trades.

Prue comes in to dust, and I desire her to go ask Phoebe if she has any soft rags that I may use to wrap the curios for packing. She goes off at once, and I stand looking at the painting of the General's dear bibi.

Of a sudden there is what I take to be the child kicking very hard, 'tis really quite painfull. I gasp and sit down and clutch my belly and then resume examining the curios once it has past.

Prue returns with Phoebe, and I show them the cabinets and explain what I should like done. Phoebe thinks she can find some suitable rags, and will set Prue, and Tibby if she has nothing else to do, to the task. Sure, I can do it myself, I say, I can sit to the task and make myself usefull for a change: and then I double over with a pain.

Prue, says Phoebe, go fetch Mrs Black.

It is nothing, say I, straightening up. Let us have no fuss.

But Prue has already gone, and returns shortly with Mrs Black, who looks thoughtfull, but says that it is too early to tell and that I may as well continue with what I am about, there is no harm in it, but they should find me a bell that I may ring to summon assistance.

I sit wrapping curios and thinking somewhat wistfull of the dear General, and then there is a knocking at the front door. O dear, thinks I, I really cannot do with Mr G- today, but surely Hector will give me out not at home.

There is a sound of several voices including those I long to hear and did not expect. I rise from the chair and make my awkward way out of the trophy room towards the hall. There is some wetness trickling down my leg, this is not how I wisht to greet my darlings.

I come to the hall and there are my dearest loves who immediately come over to me and support me as another pain strikes. O Hector, you weasel, say I, I said you should not summon them.

My love, said Mr F-, I gave Hector very specific instruction on the matter, and when he should release a pigeon, for we know our darling very well indeed.

Really, says Mrs F-, how could you think I should not want to be here? Did I not know your fusses and frets so well, my feelings could be quite injur'd.

I burst into tears and whisper sobbing to her about my present embarrassment. 'Tis the waters, she says soothing me, let us get you into your prepar'd chamber and find Mrs Black.

Comments

[adeliej]

I am so very glad that Mr and Mrs F- are there. It's so great that Madame C- has such strong support from people who love her (Hector and the rest of the staff included).

[nenya_kanadka]

Good man, Hector! I thought they might contrive to be there. <3 I'm so glad.

And good plan about the museum donation, too.

Really, I need a suitable quotation to put on a Mr F-/Mrs F-/Mme C- DW icon.

[clanwilliam]

I am so glad they've arrived!

[castiron]

I'm glad that Madame C's urge to arrange things didn't involve standing on top of a desk to get at something that had fallen behind a hutch (er, not that I would've done anything like that the day before giving birth).

Hurrah Mr. and Mrs. F- for arriving in time!

And best wishes to Madame C for a safe delivery.