The door opened a crack and Aunt Agatha looked out. Her face was pale and she looked rattled but determined. “Go away,” she said, addressing both of them. “Childbirth takes time, and there’s nothing you can do.”

“Can I come in?” George asked. “I can help.”

Aunt Agatha snorted. “You’d only be in the way. Besides, childbed is no place for an unmarried gel.”

“But—”

Aunt Agatha shut the door. They heard the key turn in the lock.

“But—” George stared at the closed door. She hadn’t ever attended a human birth, but she’d helped deliver puppies and foals; and once she’d come across a cow in labor and had helped a farmer deliver the calf that was turned the wrong way around. She turned to Cal and started to say something, but Aunt Dottie appeared.

“It’s no use, my love. Aggie won’t be budged. She insists that only married women—and servants—attend dear Emm, says it’s not fitting for men and unmarried gels to witness.” She snorted. “I might not be married, but it’s a long time since I was a gel.”

“But she’s never had a baby herself, has she?”

“No, but she puts a lot of store in a wedding ring, does Aggie.” She linked her arm through Cal’s. “Now come along, dear boy—it won’t do anyone any good to wait here, wearing holes in the carpet. Come downstairs and pour us all a drink.”

But Cal wouldn’t budge. “I’m not leaving her. I might not be allowed in there—Aunt Agatha says my presence will only upset Emm, and I suppose that could be right—but I’ll be damned if I leave her. I’m going to be right here in case she needs me.”

Aunt Dottie then arranged for chairs to be brought up, and a small table, cards and some wine. “No, don’t argue, dear boy, you won’t help Emm any by fretting. Sit down and let us play a relaxing game of cards while we wait.”

But Cal couldn’t concentrate—he was focused on every little noise coming from inside the bedchamber, so Aunt Dottie played patience, while Cal paced.

George used some of the time to write to Rose and to Lily and Edward, informing them that Emm’s labor had started. She stared at what she’d written, then screwed up the letters. Rose and Lily were too far away to come in time for the birth. Such news would only cause them to worry; better to wait until she had some real news. She prayed it would be good news.

After an hour or so, Finn needed to go outside, so George took him for the fastest walk ever, and raced back . . . to find the situation unchanged.

Darkness fell and the gas lamps were lit.