"No, no, we're almost there." The scolding she was about to receive from their housekeeper kept her from agreeing to send their new company ahead. She was not amused by the idea of being carried either so Elsie fought her way up the lane, walking and stopping with each pause and pain, and by the time they reached the gate to her garden, she could have cried with relief.

Truthfully, she had no idea how she was going to make it up the stairs to the house, but at least she was in her own yard and with the gate closed, afforded some level of privacy. "If one of you would just knock on the door to get the houseke—" She had started to say when that familiar urge to push overcame her and she once again felt the baby move down, ready to come out. She gasped in surprise, looking around for where she could possibly put herself for what came next. Thankfully it appeared Miss Halliwell had neglected to pick up the blanket she and Bentley had used to play outside this morning and Elsie breathed through the pain, surging forward toward to lower herself onto the blanket; she really didn't have much time for anything else.