Page 2 of The Un-Apparent Heir

“I love you,” Natalie said. “And I must trust it.”

“I love you, too. More than anything. I want this, Natalie. I will do whatever I can to make it happen.”

“I know you will. You always give a hundred and fifty per cent, baby. You put up with me.”

He chuckled. “I love you, Natalie. Without you, I’d be bored.”

“I don’t mean to make a joke here, but it’s just such low-hanging fruit.”

“What?”

Natalie snickered. “You know it’s ironic that the Swimmer of the Century—the man who swims miles daily—is struggling with lazy swimmers.”

Ed could have cried, but it wasn’t within him.

He laughed. “You’re right, my love. The irony.”

“We’ll be fine, Edwin. I love you. We will make it work,” Natalie said.

If he didn’t laugh, Ed would cry. She was right somehow. They always made it out okay—no matter how bleak things looked. He loved her persistence. It was what he admired most about Natalie. She was the best thing to ever happen to him. If it weren’t for her, he wouldn’t even want this.

Lucy sighed while entering her house in Berkshire. The day was long. She was training a new assistant. Unfortunately, using the government’s email client wasn’t her strong suit. The girl double-booked Natalie twice the next day leaving Lucy to take the afternoon trying to apologise to leaders of charities that the Princess was sorry for the double-booking. It was a social minefield, but Lucy’s normal.

After six months off to recover from childbirth, Lucy was back in full fighting force as Natalie’s private secretary. Or rather, she was back in her new form. Though constantly exhausted, Lucy struggled to leave her son every morning. He was nearly a year old and in a “mummy phase” of life where he cried uncontrollably upon her exit. She joined Natalie in the car to London most mornings, fighting tears.

Being a mother was different than Lucy pictured it. She loved her son more than anything. Malcolm was the love of their lives. He made it all sweeter. Watching Winston bond with their son only made Lucy love him harder. People told her she’d feel like this, but she never imagined how intense these feelings would be.

It hit differently now. Unconvinced she could be as good at her job as before, Lucy worried. It wasn’t that motherhood took away her edge, but it made her prioritise the life of her son and husband above work.

“Is that Mummy?” Lucy heard Winston’s voice from the kitchen.

There, in a small little playpen was Baby Malcolm. He greeted her excitedly with a toy, demanding to be picked up. Lucy scooped him up and covered his cheeks in kisses.

“Were you good for Daddy?” Lucy cooed.

“He is always good.” Winston stepped over to kiss Lucy.

“Good. It’s great to be home.”

“Sit. I'll get you a glass of wine, Lulu.”

“Thanks, sweetie.”

Lucy sat with Malcolm on her lap. He pounded his little fists on the table excitedly before turning to her.

“How was work?” Lucy asked. “And how was Bruno?”

“I got a lot done on that commission,” Winston replied. “Bruno was happy as ever to help out.”

He’d needed to work on a painting and had sequestered himself in his garden-facing studio to finish. Working on art with an infant wasn’t easy. His stepfather, Bruno, volunteered to help.

“I think it is a good time to look for a nanny, Tony. I can get a good list?—”

“I have never liked that idea. Mum always took care of us.”

“Winston, your mum never had a job outside the home. She managed the estate and was a stay-at-home-parent.”

“Well, I should probably do more with the estate. And I dunno. Commissions don’t fill my tank as they used to, my love.”

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