The Nanny of House Herzen - Chapter 67
The midwife looked up at him in surprise. It was her duty to answer the Duke’s questions.
In the western part of the kingdom, asking for permission from a man as powerful as this young Duke was completely inappropriate. This made the impending question even more intimidating, but the midwife quickly responded.
“O-of course. Please, ask.”
The Duke hesitated before asking.
“If the delivery goes well, when can we resume marital relations?”
The Duchess, taken aback, tapped her husband’s arm, but the Duke remained steadfast. The midwife was startled by his intense black eyes and quickly lowered her gaze again.
“Well, it varies from person to person, but generally…”
Generally, it is advised to refrain from relations for about two months. That was the answer she should give, yet she sensed strongly that it was not the answer the Duke wanted.
While the midwife hesitated, the Duchess interjected once more. Although her face was flushed like a young girl’s, her tone was surprisingly firm.
“Don’t consider what the Duke wishes to hear. Just tell us the truth.”
The midwife closed her eyes tightly.
“Two…two months, my lord.”
The Duke sat impassively, but the midwife could almost hear his sigh in her ears.
As he didn’t ask further, the Duchess awkwardly smiled and said, “You may go now.”
“Yes, Madam.”
The midwife bowed deeply, feeling as though she had committed a grave error despite her innocence.
The memory of the Duke’s dark eyes gave her an irrational fear of the night ahead.
* * *
After the meeting with the midwife, Evelyn held Carius’s hand and went down to the dining hall. Servants they passed greeted their mistress with bright smiles.
“Madam, are you ready to meet your baby? Seeing how big your belly is, it must be a boy.”
“Shh!”
Evelyn pretended to reprimand the servant sternly.
“What if it’s a girl? Will you take responsibility for any sorrow my child might feel?”
The older maid, who had meant her words as a joyful blessing, turned pale and bowed her head.
“I-I apologize, Madam.”
Evelyn couldn’t help but laugh and took the maid’s hand.
“I understand your concern. But don’t worry, the Duke isn’t fixated on having a son as an heir.”
The maid, with tears welling up in her eyes, replied.
“Of course. The Duke is different from his predecessor. I was mistaken.”
“It was just a joke. Don’t take it so seriously.”
Evelyn said with a gentle smile, making the maid sigh in relief.
“There’s a time and place for jokes, Madam. You almost gave me a heart attack thinking I might have upset the baby!”
Just then, the Duke intervened.
“That’s her specialty—speaking without considering the listener’s feelings.”
The maid immediately clammed up.
It had been a long-standing rule of the household to avoid direct eye contact or conversation with the Duke. Although this rule had been abolished years ago, the servants still felt uneasy around him.
“Yes, my lord…”
The maid’s response was barely audible and noncommittal. Evelyn, noticing her discomfort, smiled and turned to her husband.
“Let’s go back upstairs. I feel more energetic after a little rest.”
“So soon?”
The poor maid stood frozen as the couple laughed and headed towards the stairs, following the midwife’s advice to walk and help the baby move down.
“Careful. You can take it slower.”
The Duke fussed as Evelyn took a single step.
The maid, watching them, couldn’t help but suppress a smile.
The master had changed so much over the years that it almost felt awkward. But from a distance, the scene was as beautiful as a painting.
* * *
“Ha.”
Evelyn sighed at the door, and Carius chuckled.
“Was that tiring?”
She shot him a look as she entered the room.
“Try carrying Johanson up and down the stairs. See if you don’t get out of breath.”
He rolled his eyes and replied.
“Do you think carrying Johanson up the stairs would tire me out? Being stuck inside the mansion has made me restless. You have no idea.”
Evelyn retorted, feeling wronged.
“You, stuck in this vast mansion? I’ve told you to get some fresh air, but you didn’t budge all autumn.”
“How could I, with you being pregnant?”
Carius replied calmly, helping Evelyn to her seat.
As soon as she sat down, Evelyn began to loosen her dress. Carius cleared his throat and looked away, making her chuckle.
“It’s suffocating. What’s the point of having new dresses made when my chest grows by the day? My limbs are already numb, and this dress is unbearable.”
Carius knelt in front of her, gently removing her slippers. He began to massage her legs, and Evelyn, looking guilty, said.
“I could just call a maid to do this later.”
But Carius didn’t stop. He silently continued to massage her legs, then moved on to her shoulders and arms, kneading them gently.
