The storm raged on throughout the night, and Princess Lillian's hands remained still on her protruding belly. She thought of Harold, and she thought of the land-forsaken witch who had helped him manipulate her.
He had paid her. He had paid a total stranger to mess with her feelings.
And she'd done a heck of a job. No matter how furious she was, she still loved him.
At least I'll have my boy, she thought, and she smiled fondly at the ceiling. She didn't know if she could sleep on her stomach, so instead of being in bed, she lay on the living room sofa, propped up by five pillows; her head craned to the window. On the table beside her, there were saltine crackers, several magazines, and a tall glass of water that was once cold. Beneath the table, there was a bucket, just in case.
At least she was prepared for something.
She would have to make amends with him, she decided. Before the baby arrived. It was the right thing to do.
One of them had to do what was right.
But she would wait until the storm passed. She had gone out there in the misery for him once already; she didn't want him thinking she would do anything for him.
She had her limits. Being cold and wet while pregnant was one of them. Until the wheel on the horse carriage was replaced, she would just stay at home and take care of herself.
She rubbed her stomach fondly, going through the alphabet to find all boy names that sounded good with theirs. She would forgive him, but he would not get to name their firstborn child. He had lost that privilege when he had hired the witch. Nor would he get to name their secondborn. He had lost that privilege when he had spiked her drink.
Maybe he would get to name their third child. Until then, he would have to settle for being given another chance.
Feeling better, Princess Lillian closed her eyes.
It wasn't until dawn a few hours later that the pain began; searing its way like a knife through her stomach. Jerking awake, she reached over and grabbed the bucket; promptly vomiting into it.
Then the pain subsided. She gave her mouth a quick rinse and eventually drifted back into sleep.
She didn't think anything of it until noon the next day, when she realized she hadn't felt the baby kick for many hours. With her mother out for lunch with King Harold's mother, and her father out shopping for a new wheel; it was easy for Princess Lillian to slip quietly out of the kingdom and head to the hospital.