Lavender's Blue
December 1895

The woman was like an insect, buzzing here and there and bothering everyone. Violet caught herself flicking her wrist in such a way that it was as if she were shooing a fly. She sat near her daughter-in-law and watched as that woman propped another pillow behind her. How many pillows did a woman in labor require? An entire flock? As Martha fluffed the pillow, Cora shook her head and forced a breath through pursed lips.

Thankfully getting the message, Martha sighed and sat, tapping her hand on her wrist. "Fine. I'll sit. If you don't need me...". Violet restrained herself from saying anything. In fact, no one in the room made any noise except for Cora. She breathed heavily and opened and closed her eyes, but she didn't scream or shout like some women in labor. Thank goodness. Violet was never one for dramatics. The woman across from her with the fiery red hair would likely disagree. However quiet Cora kept, though, Violet noticed the way her hands gripped the sheets, the way she rolled her ankles unable to keep still, and the way her head tossed back and forth. She was in tremendous pain. And surely she was exhausted.

"Lady Grantham," Dr. Clarkson was checking his watch, "if you'll allow me to check and see what progress you've made."

Cora nodded quickly and continued to breathe deeply as the young doctor felt between her legs. Violet averted her eyes out of respect. Cora tossed back her head and grabbed the pillow Martha had placed there. Her hair was falling out of the braid that Perkins had finished earlier and was now a dark mess of curls getting into her face as she breathed heavily. Almost instinctually, Violet moved Cora's hair from her face, but stopped as Perkins walked forward with the cold rag. She pressed it to Cora's forehead. The feeling of sudden warmth for her daughter-in-law was unexpected, and Violet cleared her throat. She never truly disliked the girl, but she was utterly American. Granted, less so than her mother.

"It won't be long now, Lady Grantham. You're progressing nicely." The doctor wiped his hands on a towel and rolled down his sleeves.

Martha gave a snort of disapproval. "You've been saying that for hours now, doctor. Isn't there anything you can give my daughter for the pain? Look at her. She wasn't in this much pain with her first." For the first time this evening Violet was glad Martha spoke up and found herself nodding along.

Dr. Clarkson checked his watch again nervously and looked at Cora for a long moment. "No. I'm afraid not. I wouldn't want to jeopardize any progress." Well, she couldn't blame him for that. The sooner it was over, the better.

As the doctor left the room, Martha stood up and stared down at Cora. "Cora? Cora, is there anything you want? A glass of water? Hmm? Whiskey? It would cut the pain."

Violet frowned at Martha. That woman. Why wouldn't she keep still? She was making her more nervous than the birth!

Martha leaned down to Cora's lips as she mouthed something. "What? What are you saying?"

Violet knew. She had seen the word formed by her daughter-in-law's lips a thousand times over. "Robert. She's asking for Robert. Cora, you don't want him here, trust me. Men know nothing of birth."

"You're absolutely right, Violet!" Violet raised her brows. "They all become blubbering fools when it comes to childbirth! They see a drop of blood and fall to the floor like stones! Men!"

Violet nodded, for she had to admit she agreed. Cora began to whisper again through pants of breathing. "What?" Martha asked, seemingly vexed. "Cora, what's happened to you? Scream, shout, yell!" She was leaning over the bed now, her voice too loud, as Cora breathed through the pain. Violet saw Cora shaking her head furiously before another miserable groan and she grabbed her stomach.

She took it upon herself and waved her hand a little to get Martha's attention. "Perhaps, you'll go down and tell Robert for us? Tell him she's progressing nicely? Hmm?"

Martha huffed a bit before leaving. But Cora didn't even seem to notice. She continued to breathe deeply and whisper something hoarsely. Violet rose from her chair. "What is it, my dear?"

She had to lean nearly atop of Cora to hear her. "Wrong. Something's wrong."

Violet raised her brows. "Whatever do you mean, wrong? Dr. Clarkson says your progressing nicely. Just breathe through the pains, now. Relax as best you can and you'll come through it."

Cora shook her head again. Violet could feel the maid, Perkins, behind her, staring, frightened, at Cora. "No. No. Robert. I need Robert."

"Should I fetch the doctor?" Perkins's voice was small and timid in Violet's ear. Violet nodded her silent consent and sat on the bed, taking and holding her daughter-in-law's hand.

Beginning to feel nervous herself, she spoke evenly to Cora. "My dear, just breathe. You've been laboring for quite a while, is all. It'll be over soon." Violet realized without saying it what quite a while it was. The pains had started before the sunrise and it was nearly midnight now.

The doctor returned, Martha and Perkins on his heels. His young sharp eyes took in Cora's reddened face, glistening with the sweat of pain and hard work, and then looked over to Violet.

"Perhaps you can check her again, doctor. She seems to feel as if something's changed." Violet nodded politely and kept her attention on Cora's face. Dr. Clarkson once again rolled up his sleeves and checked for progress between her legs. Violet watched Cora grimace as he checked, and she felt Cora squeeze a little harder on her fingers.

"I want to push," she managed between breaths.

The doctor hadn't moved. He looked up at Cora who was beginning to writhe in pain.

"I want to push," she said again, louder.

Martha closed in on the doctor as quickly as a hound on a fox. "Did you hear my daughter? She has the urge to push!"

Violet looked backward at the young doctor, who began to shake his head. "The baby's turned. That's the shoulder. Lady Grantham, I need you to come down closer to the end of the bed...".

"The baby's turned? What do you mean? How?" Martha shouted questions, but Violet knew it was out of fear. Violet also knew that however fearful Martha felt must be masked to keep Cora calm.

"Really, my goodness, you know she's quite alright. It's alright, Cora."

Dr. Clarkson paid no attention, but his face was blanched white. "Now, Lady Grantham, at the next urge I want you to push. The baby will need to be turned then." Cora nodded quickly and Violet and Martha flanked both sides of her. Perkins moved behind Martha. Soon Cora began to push. Martha began to cheer her on, encouraging her with "Yes! That's it! Push!" Violet remained silent, but ever-present, watching on as Cora held her hand. Soon the pushing stopped and Clarkson began to push himself. He brought himself above Cora, pressing and pushing firmly on her belly and more shockingly pressing and pulling with his hand far inside of her. The usually quiet Cora let out a yell, startling Violet.

"Oh no." Violet and Martha both looked at the doctor with fire in their eyes.

"What!" Martha pounced. Violet felt the way Martha sounded. He cleared his throat.

"We'll need to try again."

Violet looked down to Cora. Her hair stuck to her face. "Robert...".

Robert wouldn't be any help. He'd be too nervous. "Try again, Cora," she ordered firmly. Surprisingly, pride swelled within her as Cora nodded resolutely and leaned forward. She began to push again. This time Violet joined in on the encouragement. "Push! Yes! Nearly there!"

The doctor tried again. Again Cora gave a yell. "Right! Yes! Next pain, Lady Grantham. Wait for the next pain."

It soon came. The pushing began again and soon Martha gave a gasp of excitement and Cora inhaled sharply. "Once more and we'll have a baby!" Even Violet herself became excited at this announcement. She gave Cora's hand a squeeze.

She pushed again and soon the room was filled with crying. Cora fell back onto the bed panting and Martha followed the infant where Perkins and a nurse began to clean it and wrap it tightly. Dr. Clarkson continued to work on Cora.

Violet patted her daughter-in-law's shoulder. "Well done! Well done! Oh, how wonderful!" She knew Cora would need her to be happy.

"What is it?"

Violet could hear Martha laughing loudly and Violet peeked over to where she stood. Cora persisted.

"Is it a boy?"

The baby was crying and Martha was still laughing.

"Is it a boy?" Cora was louder.

Violet had seen the baby's gender. She looked down at Cora, making eye contact, then back up at where Martha stood cooing. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Cora's brightness seem to dull. She blended into the sheets beneath her. Cora said it herself. "A girl." She said it flatly. There was no emotion in her usually rich voice.

Violet could say nothing. But Martha could. "Oh, she looks just like you, Cora! Those lips! That hair. Look at all of her hair!"

Violet could see the battle within Cora. "Perkins," Violet called. "Please fetch Lord Grantham."

"No!" Cora touched Violet's wrist. "No, Mama, please. You tell him."

With a sigh and a nod, Violet stood and walked from the room. Robert would be disappointed. She left the room and walked slowly down the dark stairwell. Candles flickered in the Great Hall. He must have heard her coming, for he met her at the bottom of the stairs. The Christmas tree was dark and seemed to tower over them.

"Is it over? Can I come up?" He was eager. He placed a drink he'd been nursing on a table by the stair landing.

She knew she had to do this gently. She knew how they had tried for this third child, taking nearly three years to conceive again. Violet rested her hand on his arm. "Robert." His gaze went from the stairs to his mother. "Cora's labor was very long..."

"Of course I know that..."

"It was very long and in the end very difficult."

Robert stared at his mother. "What? What are you saying? What's happened?"

Violet tried to assure him, "Oh, listen...".

"What's happened to Cora, Mama? Cora? The baby? What's happened?"

Violet shook her head and squeezed his arm. "Calm down, my goodness. Nothing's happened. She's well, Robert. She's well, but very tired. The labor was difficult and she'll be needing some care."

Robert relaxed. And looked back to the stairs. "And the baby?"

Violet took a breath. Gently. She had to tell him gently. "She's beautiful."

Robert looked down at his mother. He was quiet. The whole house seemed to turn completely quiet.

"She's very beautiful. And strong."

Her son nodded and moved past her. She watched him as he made his way up the stairs slowly. She may need to be there. Violet followed him into Cora's room. Cora had been made presentable. Her housecoat was on and her hair was no longer stuck to her face, but rather tied back with a long red ribbon. In her arms was a bundle of white blankets. It looked very sweet. It looked soft and warm. A small pink hand, clasped in a fist, could be seen near her chest. Violet swallowed. Cora gazed solemnly into her infant's face. Martha gave Robert a pat on his shoulder as he came in, but he only had eyes for Cora.

He sat on the bed. They were silent for a while before Robert spoke.

"How do you feel? Are you in any pain?"

Cora shook her head, "A little sore."

Again silence. The baby moved in Cora's arms.

"Cora."

She looked up at Robert.

"May I hold her?"

Cora stared for a moment, then nodded. Robert maneuvered the newborn from her arms and held her close. Again silence. Then Robert spoke.

"I'd like to call her after you."

Cora looked stunned, "Why?"

Robert sought out her eyes. "Have you any idea how happy you've made me? How very, very happy?" Violet saw, although she had turned to give them privacy, that Cora's eyes had begun to glisten with tears. Robert leaned toward her and kissed her soundly. They both looked down at their sleeping daughter.

Violet felt that warmth again and sniffed a little. Martha, as usual, was less demure. She reached her arm around Violet's shoulders and squeezed her tightly. To her own shock, it didn't rattle Violet as much as she expected. She glanced over at the woman who was grinning madly. Violet could tell she was happy in their new granddaughter, happy they'd all come out of it safely, and happy that her daughter and her husband were happy. Violet nodded. For as much as Cora would never be what she had hoped for her son, she could easily see that he loved her.

She looked over again at her son. He cuddled his infant daughter in his arms and gave her a quick kiss on her forehead. "Sybil Cora Crawley."