My labor started a little early. Claire blames herself; we were playing that day, and as she loves to do it, her hand was inside me. There wasn't much room for a fist but all her fingers were coaxing an orgasm as she milked my tits with her ruby lips. Dr. Aldridge had to keep assuring her everything was fine. It was late in the evening, my hair was damp, I was tired and my nightgown sweaty, and I just wanted this baby out of me.
I turned to put my feet on the floor.
"What are you doing?" Claire questioned me sharply.
"I want to STAND UP!" I said irritably to my Mistress.
The doctor intervened, "It's alright. She can walk around the room." and he helped me to my feet.
I walked to the rocking chair that Claire had brought from the Estate house. Generations of Bathursts were rocked in it, she said. Well now it held a french farm girl from Mormant. I gripped the armrests and growled as the next contractions hit.
"Don't push, Don't Push!" The Doctor yelled and hurried to squat down in front of me.
I looked at him fiercely through sweat matted hair, my lip curled. "IT WANTS OUT!" I screamed at him.
Claire was behind me now, rubbing my shoulders and whispering to me. "Shh, my pet. Almost time." She assured me.
I looked up at her in anguish. "But it wants out. I want it out." I pleaded.
The doctor finished checking inside me and said "Almost; get her to the bed."
"No, no more laying." I whined.
Claire got under my arms, more to coax me than to carry me. We got to the edge of the bed just as the next contractions hit. They said don't push but I did anyway, bent over and gripping the mattress. I felt it move, but not enough. Then I was in the bed and a minute later it hit. Claire held my leg back, the nurse the other, and I pushed and screamed. No time for a breath, I pushed and screamed again. I breathed deep finally and pushed. I no longer listened to them. I did what my body commanded. I pushed.
Mmm, I think I slept. Maybe it was just a few minutes. I was so tired. I felt my hair being moved from my face and a hand caressed me.
"Andrea? Look at this, sweet pet." it sounded like Claire.
She held a swaddled bundle, and sat on the edge of the bed with me. Slowly I sat up a little and looked up over the white blanket.
"My baby, is it...?" I reached for it.
"He's beautiful." Claire smiled so wide and placed him in my arms, then wrapped her arm around my shoulder. "You did so good, little pet." She praised and kissed the top of my sweaty head. "Look at him." She cooed.
"I should feed him." I said unbuttoning my gown.
"Oh, he's is going to like that." She said saucily.
"Madame..." I started but there was no one else in the room now.
He took to my breast with clear instinct and I nestled down lower in the bed. I thought about Claire saying she will adopt him, so I looked to her. "What will we name him?"
She settled in closer to me and spoke softly. "I have been thinking about that for some time." She confessed "He is a part of you, and he will be a part of me." She put a finger to his hand and he gripped it. "He will be Andrew Clarence Bathurst."
"Andrew" I repeated it sweetly, "Oh, my Andrew." I looked at him, his mouth pumping away for milk. "It's perfect, Madame."
She kissed the side of my head again. "He's perfect."
The household changed very quickly. I was Andrew's mommy, so Claire made me Nanny. Emma was now Claire's ladies maid; I watched her like a hawk. Mr. Preston had problems. Claire reminded him he was a professional, as I eavesdropped outside the door to her study.
"Preston, I am adopting that boy, so to you he is 'young master Andrew' if you can not set aside personal biases and feelings I am sure there are other households that could use your excellent services." Claire was calm but blunt.
"No, my lady. I spoke out of turn. Forgive me." He stammered and looked to the floor, away from her gaze.
Claire's eyes can turn to cold steel and I swear she could stare down a lion.
"Andrea and her child are under my care, and always will be. I need you to get along, Preston." She softened a little it seemed.
"My lady is generous to a fault." He paused. "It seems she answers directly to you, my lady, so I will leave her to your ministrations."
"Thank you. That will do." She dismissed him.
I hung back in the hall to avoid Mr.Preston, but hurriedly went in to see Claire once he passed the corner. I had Andrew in my arms, who was sleeping.
"Good morning, Madame." I said sweetly.
Claire did not respond in kind but instead chastised me, "Would you please not antagonize Preston. He runs my house very well, and I would rather not sack him."
I felt Mr.Preston started the "Altercation", but I gave a diplomatic "Yes, Madame."
"I asked my cousin to stop by for lunch. Afterwards I will be discussing things with him. I want you near should he want to see the baby." Claire just put it out there with no tact. She was on edge.
I was dumbfounded and really didn't know what to say. "Why?" was all I could get out.
"He is the father." She reminded me. "I will give him the opportunity to be honourable."
"But, but Andrew is ours. Yours and mine, Claire." I gripped my child tighter and turned him away from her as if someone would snatch him now.