Page 12 of The English Queen

“I’m one of ten,” Raul chuckled. “They started early and ended late. But I can confirm my baby sister was a blessing. Have you told the boys?”

“No. We’re going to surprise on term break and then tell her parents last. So don’t say anything, please. We just figured since we were here, and we already saw the doctor we would tell you all what is going on.”

“Also since there is no way I won’t be showing at the wedding, it’d be a horrid way to find out.”

“When are you due?” Silvia asked. “And how far along are you going to be at the wedding?”

“Fifteen weeks at the wedding. So, yeah, third pregnancy. I’ll be clearly pregnant. We don’t intend to. It’s not a church wedding. I’m not about to lie,” Rita replied.

“Nothing to be ashamed about. If someone has an opinion,” Bruno said, “they can keep it to themselves. And the due date is in late May.”

“Late May is a good time to visit Britain. Less rain,” Rita said.

Silvia was quick to offer help. “Well, I will come over just a bit before and stay to help if you’d like. I know you have your hands full with the boys and this is his first baby, so he has no idea what he’s doing. Or do people not do that in England?”

“No, no, they do. Probably not like you all do here, though. I see families as being more involved here. My mother has historically stayed a long time but she’s more focused on the estate in Scotland these days. I wanted to have Winston in Scotland and have him christened in the Church of Scotland since he will be Duke of Lauderdale someday. That’s tradition. Given we’re planning on staying in London for this one, I welcome the help.”

“I would love to. Just love to. Raul will join us for some of the time.”

“I figured we could take the baby back here when the boys are on their summer holidays. When Eton gets out, we can bring the baby to meet everyone who can’t come to us,” Bruno said.

Raul smiled. “You will have many happy, exhausting years to look forward to. I am sure your boys will be excited, Rita. To have a new baby?”

“They will. I am excited. If we are being honest… I wouldn’t have been open to this… I’d made peace, I guess. Bruno changed my mind. He will be around, so it feels do-able even if I’m old and haggard.”

Bruno chuckled and leaned over to kiss Rita. “You are so far from old and haggard, mi amor.”

?????

Vanna’s voice floated from the doorway of his Kensington Palace home office. “Come to bed, Robbie.”

Robbie groaned, not looking. “Vanora, my love, I am buried under emails.

“The baby is asleep. We are alone. The house is silent. Come to bed.”

Robbie looked at her as she stood in the doorway in a barely-there nightgown. Under normal circumstances, he would have run her to the bedroom, but he hadn’t slept properly in days. The government was on the verge of collapse, his sister’s wedding was proving more complicated than ever before, and his mother asked for a meeting the next morning.

Robbie sighed, rubbing his temples. “God, you look gorgeous. I would gladly… any other time. I am so buried, baby.”

Vanna approached and sat on the edge of his desk. “Robert, I’m dying. It’s been ages.”

It was hard to concentrate now as she dangled her legs, everything but her very, very upper thigh exposed. Her breasts were just there. He’d have to tear himself away somehow. Was he going to neglect her? That seemed silly. Robbie stood and kissed her as her legs wrapped around his. She was so good to touch. Robbie had mostly left her alone since she had had Kiersten. He wasn’t about to pressure her. Robbie ran his hand up Vanna’s thigh inside her nightgown, expecting to find a pair of knickers.

“I’m not wearing any,” Vanna confirmed.

It was going to happen. The idea of fighting her–even a bit–didn’t appeal to Robbie. A weak man in her clutches, he pulled her further to the edge of the desk and kissed her neck. Door still open, he took her right there. With four kids, it had been ages since they had done anything so spontaneous. Robbie relished her. He craved her. Vanna was as beautiful as the day he’d met her–even more than he remembered.

It didn’t last long. It wasn’t going to, and he still had things to do. It was a nice momentary reprieve.

“You’re still as good as ever. I still don’t deserve you,” Robbie said.

Vanna chuckled. “No. But I’ll take you as you are. And I will deal with every last baby-related crisis with minimal fuss.”

“And my family drama, as ever.”

Vanna sat on the couch just past his desk and the chairs in front of it. “Baby, what is bothering you so much?”

“Something is wrong with Mum. I cannot put my finger on it. I mean, other than her normal shitty behaviour. She’s unable to see reality. She’s unreasonable–even for her. It’s eating me up. Please, don’t give me an eyeroll and tell me to just ignore her. She’s still my Mum and I worry she is unable to control herself.”

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