Free Song Of The Nightingale (DeWinter's Song 1) by Constance O'Banyon

colorless.
    “The baby is killing her, Maude. I know it is!” Kassidy cried out.
    Moments later, a weak, puny cry penetrated the room as Abigail’s baby drew its first breath.
    “’Tis a daughter,” Maude said matter-of-factly, wiping the child off before wrapping her in a white blanket.
    Kassidy turned her full attention to her sister, while Maude continued ministering to the child. Dropping down on her knees, she grasped Abigail’s limp hand.
    Abigail’s eyes were closed and her breathing was labored and shallow.
    “The pain is over, dearest,” Kassidy said, even though she knew Abigail could not hear.
    She glanced up at Maude. “She is going to be all right now—isn’t she?”
    Maude shook her head sadly. “The loss of blood was too great. But the child appears healthy.”
    Kassidy buried her face against the soft bed and rolled her head from side to side. “I care not for the child. I only want my sister to live.”
    At that moment, she felt a hand touch her hair and she raised her head. “Poor Kassidy,” Abigail whispered in a weak voice. “You cannot hold death at bay for me.”
    Kassidy licked her dry lips. “Don’t say that. I won’t let you die.”
    Abigail sighed. “If it were possible, you would even battle death for me. You have been my strength and I have been your weakness.”
    “Don’t talk—just rest.”
    “My baby?”
    “A girl,” Kassidy said woodenly.
    “Will she . . . is she .. .”
    Maude held the baby out for Abigail’s inspection. “She’s small, but hearty.”
    Abigail sadly placed a kiss on the baby’s lips, then her eyes fluttered as she blinked away tears. She knew this would be the only time she would touch her baby. “Look after her, as you have looked after me, Kassidy. She will need your guidance.”
    Kassidy’s mind felt severed from the pain and sadness she was experiencing. She knew Abigail was dying. “Don’t talk such nonsense. You will take care of her yourself when you’re stronger.”
    Maude cradled the baby in her arms and discreetly moved to the door. “I’ll be below when you need me.”
    “I feel so weak .. . Kassidy. I don’t want to leave you and my baby. And her father . . . will be so proud of his ... daughter.”
    Suddenly Kassidy’s fear exploded into anger. “Think you he will care?”
    “You .. . don’t know him, Kassidy. I am sorry that the two of you never met.” She stopped to catch her breath. “You would have liked each other.”
    Kassidy saw the effort it was costing Abigail to talk. “I won’t have you upsetting yourself. Just rest for now, and we shall talk about this later.”
    Abigail tried to rise, but fell back gasping.
    “Please ... listen to me ...”
    A spasm of grief contracted Kassidy’s heart. “If I agree to listen, will you rest afterward?”
    Abigail stared at her sister. “I will rest afterward.” She closed her eyes for just a moment, and a lone tear trailed down her cheek. “You don’t understand. Even . . . with my dying breath I love him.”
    Kassidy saw anguish in her sister’s eyes and it was difficult for her to hide the loathing she felt for Abigail’s husband.
    “Don’t hate him, Kassidy. He didn’t know about the baby. He had grave family matters to attend to, so I didn’t want him to be burdened with worry about me.”
    “I care not about his worries or his family. But tell me who he is.”
    “I hesitate to name him.”
    “But why?”
    Abigail blinked her eyes, trying to clear her vision. “I suppose it doesn’t matter now. I will tell you. He is the ... duke of Ravenworth,” she said at last, her eyes begging for understanding. “He loves me, and he will be happy about the baby—you’ll see.”
    Kassidy had never heard of the duke, but it was hard for her to believe a man of such high rank would keep his wife in such straitened circumstances.
    Anger burned in her heart for the man who had hidden her sister away. Although the Maragon family had no great wealth, their