VIOLET DAWN

Chapter 28

"Ahh!"

Patrick saw James flinch as Margaret's scream filtered down the stairs to where the man paced the hall. He felt a little sick himself.

The message that Margaret's water broke came to him late morning, but now it was well into the afternoon and the duchess's moans were thinning his nerves.

"Why is it taking so long?" the previous Leader of the Northern Clan growled. Patrick had never seen his friend this way. The notoriously composed Duke of Atholl was now jacket-less, his shirt sleeves were rolled up and his dark hair was a complete mess.

"The women said it could take as long as a day, if not longer," Patrick reminded him reasonably.

"Bloody Hell!" Eyes wide, James stared at the door at the end of the hallway behind which a group of females sat having tea, "I thought they were joking!"

Patrick clasped his friend by the shoulder to stop him from digging a hole in the carpet. "James, why don't we go outside and get some fresh air?"

Before James could respond, the front door burst open and Mikhail stumbled in.

"By God, it is freezing out!" Removing his hat and gloves he looked up at them with his ever-sunny smile. "Girl or boy?"

"Brother of the Blessed One or not, if you don't wipe that silly look off your face boy, I promise I will do it for you."

Unperturbed, Mikhail turned his smile on Patrick. "Does that mean the baby hasn't arrived yet?"

Patrick only shook his head in amusement and looked over to James, "Since going outside seems like a cold idea, why don't we join the women?"

The horrified expression the Duke's face was so comical, Patrick burst out laughing.

"What is wrong with sitting with beautiful women?" Mikhail wanted to know. He shrugged out of his coat, "And I think you should be knocking Patrick's lights out just now, considering he is not only smiling but laughing."

James looked like he didn't know how to begin to respond.

"Then why don't we go into your study, James?" Patrick suggested. "There are a few things that need to be done tonight that we can get started on."

James didn't look inclined to budge, but just then another scream was heard from above stairs.  Seeing the blood drain from the Duke's face sobered even Mikhail.

"Mikhail, lead the way," Patrick said as he stepped behind James to get him moving.

The Duke's study was rather small in comparison to the rest of the rooms in the sprawling residence. Margaret had designed it herself. The Duchess was of the opinion that James was less likely to spend time 'hiding' in the study if it was smaller. Patrick didn't follow the logic as he quite liked the coziness of the oak trimmed room and took his habitual seat by the window while James resumed his pacing.

"So, this is my first vampire birth. Either of you gentlemen care to explain what will happen next?" Mikhail asked casually.

Seeing that James had no intention of saying another word, Patrick shrugged. "The baby will be born."

James snorted. Mikhail rolled his eyes and Patrick continued.

"Then the leader of the child's clan has the task of telling him his name."

Mikhail's brows shot up. "The clan leader chooses the baby's name?"

"No. The parents choose the name. It is the leader's task, in this case my task, to speak the name into the child's ear and tell him who and what he is."

Looking pleased, Mikhail nodded. "For a moment I thought Angelica had tricked me when she told me I could pick out the name for her child."

"The Blessed one is letting you name the child?" James finally seemed to be listening, "God help us all!"

"Of course she is letting me pick!" Mikhail said with a big grin, "You know, you lot - I mean you vampires- have only been in Angelica's life for the last year. I was there all along and I'm taking my uncle duties seriously."

Patrick dreaded the answer to the question he was about to ask, "I suppose you haven't chosen a name yet?"

"Of course I have. If it's a boy, then Mikhail and if it's a girl then Mik."

"Mik?" James looked shocked.

"Yes, both great names in my estimation." the Prince said innocently. "Now, what else will happen after the birth?"

Making a sound of disgust, James resumed his pacing.

"After the naming, the child is washed with blood and then I will give James and Margaret the his book."

Eyes alight with curiosity, Mikhail leaned forward. "Angelica told me about the book. You all get one at birth and record all the names you use throughout your lives in it... that is the book you are speaking of, correct?"

"Yes," Patrick inclined his head, then reached into the inner pocket of his jacket. "This will belong to the bundle who's about to arrive."

James came over to Patrick's side and looked at the black leather bound book with an odd expression. When their eyes met, Patrick realised his friend was afraid.

"Vampire women are strong," Patrick said with conviction. He put his hand on his friend's shoulder and looked him straight in the eye, "Margaret is one of the strongest vampires I know, woman or man. She will pull through and you will become a father. You are going to remember this as one of the happiest days of your life."  

The Duke nodded curtly, took a deep breath, then sat himself in a nearby chair. Patrick let out a breath, glad that he had managed to calm the vampire down. In truth he knew vampire birthings were not without their complications and if it were Violet above stairs screaming... the thought made him queasy so he turned to Mikhail.

"Later there is a formal introduction of the child for which the entire clan will gather. But because it takes a long time to travel from the far reaches of the clan territory and your sister's birth will be witnessed by all four clans, Margaret and James's child will be introduced together with your niece or nephew in two months time."

Mikhail looked as though he was going to ask another question, but the voice of James' housekeeper stopped him.

"Your Grace! Your Grace! She has arrived!

James was out the door in less than a second and Patrick signalled for Mikhail to stay put. His friend would want a moment alone with his family.

"It is a pity the child came sooner than expected. Alexander will be upset that he missed this," Mikhail sighed.

Patrick knew it was true since Alexander was James and Margaret's oldest friend.

"As long as he does not miss the arrival of his own child, all will be well." Patrick said, listening out for the sounds from above stairs. "Let's go then, we have a naming to take care of."