Page 49 of The Un-Apparent Heir

“She’s almost crowning,” a nurse called. “Last name is Ferguson.”

“Midwife will be here to catch the baby shortly,” another said.

Lucy nodded.

“Wow, you are… expedient,” Winston marvelled.

“I warned you, Tony. This always happens fast.”

The moments to follow happened in a flash. Lucy screamed a bit as her body shook in transition. She’d been here before. She felt the need to push and that her body might split in two. Three pushes later a baby’s screams filled the room. It was another boy. Lucy had a gut feeling it would be.

He was laid on her stomach, still in triage. Lucy couldn’t care less. It was better than on her bedroom floor, a vet at her feet. The baby’s sweet face looked up at them. She and Winston looked on, both tearful. This moment never got old. She’d do it dozens more times if it was this easy. Their son was perfect.

“Does he have a name?” The midwife asked.

“Niall,” Lucy replied.

“A family name,” Winston said.

“And the name of my Good Samaritan. It was meant to be,” Lucy said.

“Niall Edwin,” Winston said. “He’ll have a brilliant godfather, too.”

“He will,” Lucy said. “He’ll be so loved. By all of us.”

It is with great pleasure that we announce the birth of our grandson, Master Niall Edwin Nathan Ferguson, in Edinburgh. He was born this morning after only a short labour to the Countess of Lauderdale with the Earl of Lauderdale at her side. The baby weighs eight pounds, twelve ounces and measures 53 centimetres. He is a joy. Our family is blessed again with our third grandchild. His older brother Malcolm is over the moon. Mother and baby are recovering well.

-The Duke and Duchess of Lauderdale

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GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS

“Idon’t think he wants to put baby Niall down,” Natalie laughed.

She and Lucy relaxed in the garden behind the Lauderdale family castle while Ed and Winston took the boys on a walk. Ed carried the baby in a sling to give Winston time to wander with Malcolm. He felt some jealousy like any toddler might.

“It’s honestly adorable. Is that the only way to make Ed go willingly on a hike?” Lucy joked.

“Possibly with a baby as motivation.”

“It’s good to see both of you happy, Nat.”

“It hurts some days,” Natalie said. “But we get a surprising amount of joy from these kids. And the peace we feel when they aren’t around. Being around Paul and Sanne and then you all, it’s clear things are chaotic.”

“It is, but we are also fortunate.”

“But I get to have wild, crazy sex whenever I want.”

“God, I long for those days,” Lucy sighed. “Maybe again someday in a hundred years.”

“It’s okay. When we return to Balmoral, the other niblings will be there. Leah is wild. Charlotte is adorable. I cannot wait to take them up in the Cessna. George and I are so excited.”

Lucy smiled. “That’s precious. They are so lucky they have an aunt to spoil them—as are ours.”

“We’re good for that. When are you coming back to London? Or up to ours?”

“Oh, Nat, we just had a baby. My body was split in two and my pussy is in pieces. Please don’t ask that.”

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