A Dove's Tale

Chapter 192

I had a pleasant surprise when I went to church the Sunday after Chevalier hired Lydia. She was there. Even better, she didn't seem to feel the unspoken, insurmountable barrier that kept the other congregants at a distance from me. I wasn't the queen to her. I was Ivetta.

Maybe her disregard for social station came from delivering so many babies to so many families. Whatever a woman's status, when it came time to deliver, she was the same as any other woman.

She sat in the pew with me. We whispered back and forth, like I used to do with Mother and the Stotts. And when the services ended, we trudged through the snow back to the palace together.

"That was a good service. Do you come every Sunday?"

I nodded. "Yes, I do. Maybe we can go together next week?"

"Sure. Does King Chevalier ever come?"

I looked down at the snow instead of meeting her bright blue eyes, feeling guilty for even letting that question bother me. He was so good to me in so many ways. Why did it hurt so much to not be able to share this part of my life with him?

"No, but I'm sure he'll feel better about me going, now that my guards and my midwife are accompanying me," I quipped, focusing on trying to walk in old footprints in the snow instead of making new ones.

She studied me for a moment before she spoke again. I could feel her eyes burning through my façade.

"Yeah, I'm sure that will set his mind at ease. I've only met him once, but it was pretty clear how much he loves you."

That gave the butterflies in my stomach a little boost. They had less and less room to fly, but that didn't stop them from dancing around their cramped quarters when the mood struck them.

I smiled. "He really does. He's been overbearing with the pregnancy, but I keep reminding myself he's just doing what he thinks is best for me."

"Well, he's a first-time father. I see it all the time. Let me guess. He seems like he's more concerned about you and your health than the baby. Am I right?"

I looked up at her and saw the understanding in her eyes. "You're exactly right. You should have seen his face the first time he felt the baby kick. I don't think he fully realized there was a baby inside me until then."

She laughed. "They're all like that. Either that, or they're totally consumed with the baby, and they practically forget the mother exists. You got the better of the two."

Julius held the door open for us, and the warmth of the palace wrapped around me like a comfortable blanket as the chill of winter gave my rear a final slap with the closing of the door.

"Ooh, it's cold out there." I rubbed my hands together. "Have you two ever had your armor freeze?"

"We're not outside long enough for that," Julius replied for himself and Mark.

"Well, not today, no, but you've both been soldiers for a long time. Any brutal winter campaigns you'd care to share about?"

Julius' gray eyes softened. "I'd rather listen to you talking about the baby, your highness."

I gave him a wry smile. "You and everybody else. I'm not sure if you've noticed this, Lydia, but Chevalier has put everyone in the palace up to keeping me quiet, rested, and full."

"As he should," she said, surprising me with her stern tone. "I had a talk with your doctor, and King Chevalier has a very good reason for all his precautions."

I sighed. "Not you, too."

"Afraid so. You suffered extensive injuries, and nobody knows how or if those will affect you and the baby. So," she said, her voice lightening again, "on that note, care to join me for lunch?"