Anita Renaghan - Prince S Avalon Hall Trilogy: Books 1-3 (Trilogy Boxset)

W hen Myra George summoned the queens doctor only to find out that he was dead, she locked herself in the kings suite to deliver the queens baby herself. It was an extraordinary task in unusual times. This doctor had already been a replacement for the queens long-time doctor who had taken a fall while horseback riding and had died only months earlier. A little voice was telling Myra that, in this hour, the queen needed protection. Myra knew that most importantly the kings new baby needed protection. It was no secret to Myra, who knew everything that was whispered within the castle walls, that Counselor Glenn hoped to be next in line as ruler, and Myra was worried that he was capable of doing anything to remove an heir to the throne.

The queen screamed, shuddering a typically graceful Myra George into dropping the empty water basin onto the floor. Myras plump arms scooped it up. There, there, Queen Samantha. You relax until the next contraction comes. Were almost there.

Myra didnt have children of her own, but she was from a large family and had assisted in all of her sisters childbirths so, while she was not a doctor, she knew the procedure well.

The queen screamed a second time and Myra drew near to prepare for the birth of the next royal child. The queen pulled her frail shoulders forward and tried to curl over her plump stomach. Myra saw her small, dimpled jaw harden as the queen grit her teeth, but then a smile curled up on Samanthas lips.

How did you talk me into doing this without my aids? Queen Samantha asked.

Pish posh, Myra responded with a smile on her large, strong face, Your aids are not having this child, my queen, you are. They would just suck the fresh air out of the room and get in my way. But we will have to deal with King Birch when he returns from hunting. I suppose there is no getting around him. Myra allowed her eyes to meet Queen Samanthas, and they shared a moment. They were very unlike one another: Queen Samantha was fair, petite, royalty; and Myra was strong, bold, practical, and loyal to the core. Myra had served King Birchs family for two decades and was nanny to Princess Zaria for six years. The queen respected Myra for her wisdom and confidence, and Myra respected Queen Samantha for her assuredness that she would bring an heir to the throne. Their moment ended when the queen pulled her eyes tightly closed in a rush of pain.

I can see the head, Myra said excitedly. One more push, mlady.

Pale and out of breath, Queen Samantha did as she was told. A roar erupted from the frail figure of the queen, and then silence. It was all over quickly, and Myra allowed silent tears to escape down her cheeks.

The newborn was a tiny speck of a baby having been born a full four weeks early, and it was the miracle of the soft cry that brought tears to Queen Samanthas eyes. The queen had been frail in the months of her pregnancy, and Myra could see now that the delivery was taking its toll. There was an unusual amount of blood, and it didnt seem to be slowing. Myra grit her teeth and smiled at Queen Samanthas paling face. Let me clean the baby up. In the queens happiest moment, the life was running out of her. Myra could see now that after carrying her child for nine months, the queen would only spend minutes with her baby.

Myra held the baby up before her, the tiny back of the rump facing the queen. Myra George could see from this angle what the queen could not. It was impossible for Myra to tell the dying queen that after years of trying and hoping, and months of enduring a difficult pregnancy, she had failed to produce an heir to the throne of Fontanasia. As Myra gently cleaned the tiny figure, she considered her options. Queen Samantha had promised her husband it would be a boy, a future for the Royal Hall family, and just the miracle to put an end to all of the rumors that there had been bickering for control within the Kings Council. Seeing the blood continue to collect under the queen, and knowing that this was the one time that Queen Samantha would look upon her newborn daughter, Myra did the only thing she could. She lied.

Its a boy, Myra cleared her throat. Just let me wrap him properly. There were pink and blue robes laid out in the trunk next to the bed. Myra hesitated, but ultimately reached past the pink and took the blue robes to swaddle the baby girl.

The queen slumped back on her pillows, and the fading sun that shone through the window lit up her deep black eyes. I knew it, she told Myra as she wiped her tears away. I knew that I would have a son. Birch will be so pleased to have an heir to the throne.

Myra pursed her lips into a slight smile and cleared her throat. The king will be happy to know that he has a healthy baby in any right.

Queen Samantha tried to leverage her arms on the bed so she could sit up to get a look at her son, but she was too delicate and would have to wait for Myra to finish cleaning and wrapping him before she could hold him for the first time.

There was a loud knock on the locked door and Myras face turned beet red in anger. Two hours earlier she had locked herself and the queen alone in the kings suite and told the servants that they were not to be disturbed. It was not a typical thing to do, but none of her subordinates questioned her because she had always been attendant to the royal family, and her tall and broad frame was little compared to her direct and imposing demeanor. The George family had served the Hall family for seven generations, before Fontanasia had been founded, and there was no more attention to care and trust anywhere in the land.

Myra finished wrapping the baby in the blue cotton and silk and handed the tiny girl over to the queen who held her newborn ever so gently in her weakening arms. Just then the rapping on the door was followed by a pounding, and Myras thick shoulders raised as she barged toward the noise.

I said no interruptions! she barked as the bolt was thrown back and she easily pulled the heavy oak door inward. They were the same height and saw eye to eye, and King Birch gave Myra a stern look. She winced and stepped aside. Myra had sent word into the forest that Queen Samantha was in labor. She could see that the king had come straight from the hunt, but Myra couldnt understand how King Birch had appeared so quickly. He should have been at least a day away, not hours.

As King Birch entered the chambers, the growing crowd in the hall began to murmur a barely audible whisper, and the king turned on his heel and bellowed.

Silence! In an instant, all was quiet. I have a son whom I would like to see, and then you shall have your turn. His voice had cracked like a whip, and Myras heart jumped in panic. How could he think it was a boy? Hed not even been in the room for three seconds. She looked to the queen and saw the blue bundle at the queens chest. It must have been the blue color of the babys wrap that had made King Birch assume it was a boy. Myra should have corrected him then and there, but she softly closed her eyes as the Kings Guard pulled the door closed. Although he was by her in a matter of seconds, Myra noticed the dark circles beneath King Birchs eyes and the minute quiver on his strong lip.