Ephraim seemed relaxed, but his hand told her a different story. It stopped moving. “Are the two of you expecting?” the man’s wife asked.

“No, not yet,” Ephraim said smoothly. She was the only one that heard the longing in his tone. “So, do they really let you cut the umbilical cord?”

“Yes, but you have to ask ahead of time or they’ll do it for you.”

“Not to put you on the spot or anything, but do they let you watch the baby be born or do they use curtains?”

They laughed. “It’s fine. They can do either. It’s up to us to tell them how we want the birth to go.”

“Really?” Ephraim seemed enthralled with the subject.

“Murphy,” the nurse called.

“Oh, that’s us,” the man said, grinning. He helped his wife up and walked her out of the room. He threw a smile at Madison. “Good luck, Detective.”

Madison stopped a groan. The man thought they were trying to make a baby. Well, it was probably better than the truth that she hurt herself with a sex toy.

“Simply fascinating,” Ephraim murmured.

“It’s just childbirth, Ephraim. You can probably watch it online.”

“Really?” he sounded excited.

“You didn’t know that?”

“No, I got bored with the internet when it came out years ago. I just use it now to send in my work. You’ll have to show me later.”

She sighed, “I promise.”

“Excellent,” he said cheerfully.

From beneath her veil of hair she said, “I don’t understand why you’re so excited about it.”

He looked around the room happily. “Marc would have loved this.”

“Your brother?” He never spoke about his family and she didn’t feel comfortable bringing it up, knowing it was probably a painful subject for him.

“Yes, when his wife Hannah was in her first confinement he was really excited. We both were. We thought he could go in during the birth.”

She pushed her hair away from her face to watch him only to find him watching her. He brought her hand to his mouth and kissed it.

“So, what happened?” She didn’t want him to stop talking, granted she didn’t want him to stop kissing her either.

“Well, we made plans. He had his favorite chair brought into the room so he could sit back and watch.” He chuckled. “Hannah found out and made sure that we were both kept out. She hired five footmen to guard the door to keep him out.”

“I bet he didn’t like that.”

He laughed louder. She liked hearing him laugh. It sent pleasant shivers down her spine. “No, he yelled and threw a fit. He reminded them that he was the Duke and he would not be kept out.”

“Did it work?”

Still chuckling. “No, his sister-in-law came out. Bertha, a big woman, threatened to box his ears and told him to sit down or she’d make sure that he’d never get another chance to put a babe in his wife's womb again.”

“What did he do?”

“Oh, he sat down of course. Bertha was a formidable woman” He leaned in closely. “She scared me.” She smiled, forgetting her pain and discomfort for the moment.

“So, he gave up?”

He shook his head. “Oh no, not Marc. He bid his time wisely. For the second and third babe he feigned disinterest in the births. We went to his study to drink and play cards and told the servants not to bother us until the babe was out and ready for holding.”

“What happened with the fourth?”

“The fourth, that one was the key. The servants were now used to us hiding out in the study. That baby was part of his big plan and trust me when I say he worked damn hard to make sure she got pregnant again. He was anxious to see a birth.”

“When Hannah’s water burst I helped him hide behind the changing screen. I made sure all of the candles were brought forward so no shadows were cast. I wished him well and headed for the study where we were supposed to be playing cards.”

“So, he saw the birth? He must have been so happy.”

Ephraim chuckled. “Oh no, sweetheart, he was very angry.”

“Why?”

“He passed out as soon as the head appeared. Flat on his back and no one even knew that he was there. I found him two hours later while the house was in an uproar searching for him.”

She laughed softly. “I’m guessing that’s why they had another child.”

“Yes, he wanted another chance. This time when he went into the room to hide, Bertha was ready for him with a broom stick. She chased him out of the house through Rotten Row.” His whole body shook with laughter. “I’ve never seen him run so fast in my life.”

“Did she get him?”

He leaned over laughing harder. She saw his head nod. She couldn’t help laughing along with him until it hurt. “Ouch!” That stopped his humor. He sat up, putting his arm around her.

“Are you okay?”

She nodded. “It’s just a little pain.”

“Madison Soloman,” the nurse announced.

“That’s me,” she said before turning to Ephraim. “You don’t have to come in.”

“Are you sure?”

She nodded. “I’m sure.”

“Okay, I’ll be waiting for you here.”

She stood up and bent over quickly, clasping her stomach. “Ow!” Before she could sit back down Ephraim had her scooped up in his arms.

“Which way?” he asked the nurse.

“T-This way,” she answered nervously.

Madison buried her face against his chest. “I know, sweetheart, this is more embarrassing. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay,” she mumbled against his chest.

*******

“You can help her get dressed now,” the doctor said. She turned her back to give them privacy. Ephraim didn’t understand the need for that. The woman just had her head between Madison’s legs, but he wasn’t going to say anything since Madison seemed relieved.

Once she was dressed, Ephraim leaned against the exam table while she sat with her legs hanging over the side. “Is she okay?”

The doctor turned around. “Tell me how this happened again.”

Ephraim cursed under his breath. He knew she wasn’t going to believe that he’d been too rough taking her virginity. He hated it more because it made him look like an ass**le.

“Huh?” Madison’s cheeks turned a fiery red.

The doctor folded her hands in her lap and leaned back in her chair. “I can only help you if I know what happened. I know what didn’t happen. I know this did not occur during natural intercourse.”

“Huh?” Was the only response Madison could manage. She was so embarrassed.

“This doesn’t leave the office, am I correct?” Ephraim asked.

“Of course.”

“I don’t want it written down either,” he said.

“We’ll see if it’s pertinent, but I need to know.”

“Huh?”

Ephraim cursed again and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “It was an accident. She was…she…er…” he looked back at the closed door to make sure that it was still closed. "She used a device to break her hymen. She slipped and landed on it pushing it all the way in rather quickly.”