Free The Midwife of Venice by Roberta Rich

ghetto poke their fingers into crevices where they do not belong?”
    “The child may turn if the spine is straight,” Hannahsaid. She grasped Lucia’s hand and bent low to her ear. “Listen to me,
cara
. Your baby is alive, but you must help me get it born. When the time comes, you must push with all your might. I know you are tired from this endless travail, but you must think of the child and do your best.” Sometimes a whiff from a pot of cayenne pepper and the strong sneezing would expel a child when the mother was too weak to bear down, but this was not such a case because the child was not well positioned.
    Some colour came back into Lucia’s face. “You are certain the child is alive? You heard the heart?”
    Hannah nodded.
    “The Holy Virgin is merciful.”
    “Yes, but we have little time.” Hannah stroked the Contessa’s forehead, pushing back a strand of wet hair. Then she grasped both of Lucia’s hands in hers. “I am pouring my own strength into you. I have enough for both of us. Feel it enter your body and make use of it.”
    Lucia gave an answering squeeze.
    Hannah released her hold and took a step toward the foot of the bed, slipping on a puddle of blood and catching herself clumsily on one of the bed pillars. She thought she saw a dark form fling itself from the top of the canopy and flutter toward the ceiling with a low cry. Perhaps it was a bat from one of the fruit trees outside. Giovanna must have seen it too, for she grew pale and pulled her shawl higher around her shoulders.
    In a voice louder than necessary, Hannah said, “God is on our side. With His help, we cannot fail. We will wait amoment and see whether this baby turns on its own or whether I must manipulate your belly and force the turning. Better that the child does the work on its own.” If the child would only turn, she could then use her birthing spoons to pull it out.
    While Lucia lay motionless between pangs, her belly thrust in the air, Hannah darted around the enormous room, opening drawers, cupboards, and all the doors, releasing the sashes holding back the drapes, and lifting the lids off chests. It was well known that this would facilitate the opening of the birth passage.
    Giovanna, who should have completed this task earlier, was now in the corridor speaking with the Conte. The murmur of their voices drifted into the bedchamber. Hannah could hear the Conte asking Giovanna about their progress.
    “Sir, how can any good come of an infidel attending a birth?”
    Hannah could not hear everything the Conte said in reply, but she did hear, “Do whatever you can for the sake of the baby. Hannah is my last hope for an heir.”
    Hannah wiped the Contessa’s face with a moist cloth. “Let me see if the baby has turned.” She ran her hands over Lucia’s belly. “Good, the head has dropped. Not enough, but better. We will try now.” Hannah called Giovanna back into the room. “Hold her legs for me. Hurry. She will push now.”
    Giovanna genuflected and took Hannah’s position at Lucia’s side. Hannah went to the end of the bed and said, “Now, Lucia, with all your strength, push. Yes, that is right. Good—your baby wants to be born. Push harder!”
    Hannah prayed,
Please, God, do not let this child tarry too long in the birth passage. Do not let the mother’s sweat and pain and blood be for the sake of a small blue corpse. Do not force me to take up the iron knife and take Lucia’s life for the sake of an heir
.
    The Contessa’s face flushed as she bore down, grunting with the exertion.
    “Grab her legs, Giovanna, and hold them up and back.” Hannah bent low and looked. “I see the little one’s head, dark and wet. Just a few more pushes and it will be born. You are a strong and brave one,
cara.”
    Lucia dropped back against the bed, exhausted.
    “Rest until you feel another pain, and we will try again.” A few moments later, her belly tightened and Lucia said, “I am ready to try.”
    Her lips pulled back