Page 19 of Royal Surrogate 1

I suppose I’ll have the next year to untangle her true feelings about me, but now, we’re pulling up to Wintervale Manor. I made sure my family was notified of our impending arrival as soon as our plane landed, and I’d asked for everything to be prepared in advance. Before we even left America, I’d asked that the estate be readied as though a dignitary were about to arrive.

But I see no flags, no decor upon the marble of the entrance. There’s nothing at all to signify that this is anything but an ordinary day, when nothing could be further from the truth.

Renae looks at me with a strange expression. Perhaps she can sense my tension, but surely, she doesn’t recognize my disappointment. There’s no way I’ll be able to make another first impression upon her, no way to make up for this utter disaster.

A footman opens the door for her, and she climbs out. I join her at her side, and she turns to me smiling. “It’s lovely. Your home is much bigger than it looks in the?—”

“Books. Yes.” I frown at the footman as he closes the car door and gives me a slight nod before turning to go inside the house. No one has come out to greet us, and I find myself about to cause a certain amount of commotion?—

“Caca!” My young nephew runs out of the entryway. “Caca!” he says again as he leaps into my arms.

I lift the boy, turning him about before placing a kiss upon his temple. “Noah, my boy! Where is your grandfather?”

I set my nephew down, and my brother Xavier appears at the door. “Hello, Brother.” He lifts a brow in Renae’s directions. “How do you do?”

Renae dips into a slight curtsy, and I grab her arm. “Renae, allow me to introduce my brother, Lord Xavier.”

Xavier gives her a slight nod. “Good to meet you. And you’ve met my son, Noah.” He cocks his head toward me. “He’s taken to calling his uncle ‘Caca.’ I can’t say there’s a more fitting term.”

Renae gives a small laugh, nodding.

“It’s only because he can’t say Uncle Caspar. He’ll get it eventually.” I look behind my brother. “Is Benedict here? Mother and Father?”

Xavier lifts a brow. “Everyone is on holiday. I thought you knew that.” He tilts his head toward Renae. “I thought that might have been why you decided to bring a…guest.”

I frown, taking Renae’s hand into mine. “No, I came here to introduce everyone to my fiancée. My betrothed.” I pull her hand forward to show him the ring I’ve placed upon her finger already. “She’s going to be the mother of my child.”

CHAPTER 14

Renae

Lord Xavier looks surprised by Caspar’s announcement. He glances toward me again, eyes narrowing in confusion. “That was…fast.”

“I’m not pregnant yet,” I blurt, though I’m not sure why I feel the need to defend myself. I’ve already agreed to be Caspar’s surrogate, with all the complications that entails, and I need to get used to the questions and assumptions.

“We’re working on that part,” Caspar says, sliding an arm around me. “The wedding comes first, obviously. We wouldn’t want to cause any scandals.”

Lord Xavier raises an eyebrow. I can certainly see the resemblance between him and his brother, though Xavier’s hair is lighter and his frame broader and more muscular than Caspar’s lithe, athletic one. Xavier seems more serious, too—or at the very least, he doesn’t wear a permanent grin like Caspar.

“That wasn’t meant as commentary on you or your situation, Brother,” Caspar says.

“Of course not.” Lord Xavier looks like he’s trying to hide his amusement as he bends over and lifts his son into his arms. “But if I may offer some advice, showing up with a surprise fiancée is perhaps not the best way to avoid scandal.”

“It was hardly a secret,” Caspar responds with a dismissive wave of his hand. “The engagement is new, but my relationship with Renae has been all over the American tabloids. I’m sure Father and Mother have heard by now.”

“They’ll still have questions, I’m sure.” Lord Xavier looks at me as if he has a few questions of his own, but for whatever reason, he decides not to ask them. “I don’t envy the conversation you’ll have when they return, but at least you’ll look good in comparison to my situation.”

I make a mental note to ask Caspar more about that later. I know from my research that there was plenty of drama surrounding Xavier’s marriage, but I’m not sure if what was printed in the tabloids was anywhere close to the actual truth. In the meantime, Lord Xavier gestures for us to come inside.

Caspar’s carefree smile drops a bit when his brother’s back is turned. Clearly this isn’t the welcome he was expecting, and I instinctively reach out and place my hand reassuringly on his arm. He glances at me in surprise, and I feel myself blush, but I tell myself I’m being foolish. We already agreed to pretend this was a real relationship—why should a gesture of support feel unexpected?

Judging by what I’ve heard in the last few minutes, though, his family might be more of a handful than I anticipated. Honestly, if that’s the case then I’m grateful they aren’t all here—it gives me a chance to ease into this a little, to find my footing before I’m expected to take center stage as Caspar’s wife and the mother of his child.

“I’m sure you want to freshen up,” Xavier says. “Lauren and I were planning a casual picnic out by the lake this afternoon if you care to join us once you’ve rested.”

“Of course,” Caspar replies. He sounds as confident as ever, but I’m starting to learn how to read his true feelings—the way the left corner of his mouth is pulled up higher than the other means he’s worried. But about what, exactly? That his family won’t accept me? That selling this charade might be more difficult than he hoped?

Our bargain—and my dad’s health—depends on me convincing him that I’m up to the task. We’re in this together now, and I’ve committed to playing my part as well as I can.

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