Weeks passed, and Theodora's protruded belly was now impossible to hide. No one except Bertha was allowed to go inside her chamber. Bertha was worried at the rate Theodora's belly was growing.
The physician said, that he had never seen such abnormal growth of a baby before. He was concerned that at that rate, Theodora might undergo labour at the end of her seventh month of pregnancy and then the premature child may be born with physical conditions.
It may also create danger for Theodora's life. And that now concerned both Ralph and Cordelia. As Theodora barely stepped outside her chambers, the servants and the maids began to whisper things based on their partial knowledge, which added to Ralph's worry.
If it wasn't for the promise he had given to Zerith, then he would have killed that child a long time ago. And though Ralph was ready to punish his beloved princess then, that thought made him feel disgusted with himself after his anger subsided a little.
