Page 96 of The Un-Apparent Heir

She smiled, so happy he was coming back.

Winston kissed her, “That was lovely.”

“It was nice. You’re not like… freaked out?”

Winston looked confused. “What?”

“My pussy… it didn’t like… turn you off?”

“No, Luce, it didn’t turn me to stone. It’s as good as it ever was. Just stop worrying. Let me worship it,” Winston said. “Rest. I’ll be back to join you if they ever let me.”

They wouldn’t, but Lucy didn’t mind. She had an entire king-size mattress and a huge body pillow that took up a third of the bed. She could sprawl, nap in peace, and be blissfully pregnant for a moment, having had her needs met for the first time in over a year. It felt glorious. She woke only a few minutes after nodding off, however. Natalie was on the horn.

“Sanne is in labour and Paul says it’s too soon. We will need to deal with the carnage. At the very least, the babies will be in hospital for a short while. At the worst… things could be?—“

“Hey,” Lucy said. “Deep breaths. I will ring everyone and make sure a statement goes out and make preparations for birth announcements. I can come to London if that helps.”

“I hate to ask.”

“I will get myself together and head over. Can I crash with you?”

“If you can put up with the boys, yes. We have them until further notice.”

“Of course. I am immune to kid noise. I’ll be in,” Lucy said.

Winston returned to find Lucy pulling on a dress.

“What? You need to rest.”

“Sanne is in the hospital. The babies are coming too early. I will ring you when I know more,” Lucy said.

She gave him a long kiss. “Thank you for that. I needed it more than you know. I love you.”

“I love you, too,” Winston said. “Give them my best. We’ll be praying for their good health—all of them.”

For Immediate Release?—

The Duchess of Inverness was rushed to hospital this afternoon in active labour. Further information will be forthcoming.

“We will make you as comfortable as possible,” A nurse said.

Sanne grimaced, fighting through a contraction.

“Sir, please sit while we do this,” a nurse told Paul.

“Why?” Paul asked.

“Can you just do what they say until this block is in my back?” Sanne sobbed.

The radiating pain was intense. Her face pulled tightly.

Without warning, Paul hit the floor.

“He saw the needle,” someone said.

Sanne couldn’t move. She wanted to panic, but couldn’t between the pain and threat of spinal damage, she let the professionals deal with the husband who flew too close to the sun.

“Stay still,” the doctor made the best of a bad situation with Paul out cold.

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