Page 26 of The English Queen

“Babies don’t all do that. You just say that because you impregnated me when I was still basically a baby–on accident–had to manage the damn estate and left me to pick up the pieces, then knocked me up back-to-back with the boys. It is not my fault they were both Velcro babies and the whole thing was a blur. Izzy often preferred you,” Sabine said of her youngest.

“What are we calling her? Baby Sanchez?” Malcolm wondered. “She deserves at least a nickname.”

“Sanchez Ferguson–no hyphen,” Rita replied, looking to Bruno, who nodded.

“Mexican women don’t take their husband’s names. We might come up with another name to call a family or couple–a portmanteau or a nickname–to keep a group of people together in our minds. So, we’d call you the Lauderdales, maybe? Children have maternal and paternal last names. The paternal name actually goes first. Maternal last. But if she were in school in Mexico, she’d be addressed by Sanchez.”

“Here, they’ll assume it’s Ferguson,” Malcolm said.

“Said the man who has a wife who did not take his last name.”

“She doesn’t have a last name, Sabine! You came to me without a last name.”

Sabine shrugged. Rita’s parents still fought. It always made Bruno laugh.

“I am fine with them assuming it is Ferguson,” Bruno said. “Probably easier for her to be Ferguson than Sanchez.”

“Baby Sanchez Ferguson is altogether too long,” Malcolm said.

Rita looked at Bruno, “Well, she has a name… I think?”

“Yeah, we think we named her. It was surprisingly easy. I had a name I liked. Mairead said it was fine as long as she got to pick out the middle names which, she did. And there we were,” Bruno said.

“Well, what on earth are we calling this belated grandchild?” Malcolm wondered. “I am dying to know. She deserves a proper name.”

“Nina. Well, that is what we are calling her. She’ll be Bernadina Vanora Silvia Ferguson Sanchez.” Rita was quite proud of the fifty names

“Nina is sweet,” Sabine said. “Finally, a granddaughter!”

Malcolm chuckled. “It’s a hell of a name for a little girl. What is the significance of Bernadina?”

“It’s my paternal grandmother’s name and my late great-grandmother’s name–sort of–on my mother’s side. It’s funny. My Mom’s grandmother in Switzerland was Bernadette. Both of them are strong, fierce women. It is fitting.”

“And I thought it was lovely- especially after meeting her fiery namesake,” Rita laughed. “So, Bernadina it is.”

Malcolm grinned. “I love it. Nina. We will have a girl. Girls are easier than boys. I swear they are.”

“I think you would have vehemently disagreed with that statement when Rita hit puberty, Malcolm.”

“Puberty in my fifties will be a bitch.” Rita groaned.

“You get over it,” Malcolm assured her. “It will be a blessing. It is a blessing.”

“I think I need a new car,” Bruno sighed.

“Well, certainly another car. Yes. You cannot put a baby in your Lotus. You can’t drive the boys in it. And I am sick of letting you borrow mine.”

“As if you don’t love switching cars with me. Please, Rita. Cry me a river.”

“You have plenty of time to purchase cars after the wedding,” Sabine said. “Focus on that and the honeymoon. Speaking of which, have you two finalised those arrangements?”

Bruno almost replied about their upcoming trip when Rita’s phone vibrated.

She answered, “Lady Vanora Morgan, tell me good news.”

“That greeting still slays me,” Vanna said. “Robbie got off the phone with Duncan and Beth. She’s out of surgery. It went well. She’s coming out now. Keir is with her in the ICU. It’s all gone really well. She’s tough.”

“No one tougher. Well, that is a true relief.”

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