Page 109 of The English Queen

“He was, yes. A monster as a toddler, though. Too big and strong for his own good. Let’s hope it is a boy, but one with some sense.”

“I don’t care either way. I’d relish a first-time Queen Regnant, though.”

To Beth, it was wild to think George stood in view of the camera knowing he would be in his father’s shoes one day. It had been hard enough to be in Vanna’s shoes on her wedding day. Beth adjusted to being Queen. She hoped Vanna felt the same. George, though, would process all of this in adolescence. It was too much for one little boy to take on. Beth realised the moment her child was born, he or she would be like George now. It was the first time she considered this baby insider her would be the next monarch.

“I don’t care,” Beth said. “I think boys are easier. But I will say this, if we have one girl, I hope we can give her a sister. I spent my entire childhood wishing for a sister within a herd of boys. I was desperate to attach myself to Vanna when she appeared. I’d wanted nothing more.”

“I’d rather have anything than two girls.” Elise pulled a face.

“Well, it’s not your choice—or mine, mother. Two girls would be fine with me. I will be happy with whatever children we are blessed with. They will be precious no matter what.”

“Louis, people prefer male monarchs.”

“People prefer a line of succession to none at all. They will be excited at the prospect of a new Queen as a new King someday.”

The trumpets went off with the proclamation, “His Majesty King Robert II of the United Kingdom.”

There it was, final and clear.

“God Save the King! God Save the King.”

“It’s a lot of pomp,” Beth said. “Fuck. Mother may be struggling today, but it went fine.”

“Your mother should be proud. She produced a sitting king and a queen consort. Is there anything a mother wants more?” Elise asked.

“I mean, maybe a Nobel Prize, a cure for cancer? Mum is proud of him. Me? Who knows.”

“She is proud of you,” Louis insisted. “Everyone envies you for your bravery, Beth. She’s just shitty at saying it.”

Beth patted Louis’s cheek sweetly. “Thanks, darling. You are, as always, my most loyal supporter.”

“I should be, Bethany!”

“I suppose, yes,” Beth agreed.

“It is a good day for Robert. And a good day for the institution. It endures,” Louis said. “May he have a long, healthy life at the helm and give those kids time to grow up. I will try to do the same for ours.”

Impending Motherhood

Louis was never as relieved upon seeing his first child on an ultrasound screen. Beth was also happy, but Louis was elated. This was the best news. Louis had given up hope for children when he met Beth. Now, here he was years later staring at the screen as a heartbeat flickered. This was their baby. A few weeks ago, she had nothing in there. Now, inside was a human being. While the baby was an aberration that probably stemmed from too much wine, it was real to Louis. Louis expected relief, but never anticipated the sheer joy that overcame him.

“We did this,” he said to Beth over the next few weeks anytime he passed the ultrasound printout she shoved into the side of the bedroom dresser mirror. Anytime Louis found her as she was getting ready in the morning, he’d pass and say it. That became the way of life. Beth was lucky that, for the most part, her first trimester had been “easy”. She was sick all the time. The seizures were being better held at bay by her medication. Overall, as thing progressed, she rested easier.

Beth said she wouldn’t be excited until she passed the first trimester, and all was well. The second scan was critical. Louis tried not to overdo it with his own excitement about the pregnancy. He began annoying his exhausted wife. The last thing she needed was additional stress.

The ultrasound took place early the morning they were scheduled to travel to Ghent. There were contingency plans in case of bad news. Beth was superstitious. After the seizure on camera, she contingency planned for everything. Things seemed forever changed for her. The scan was touch and go at first. The baby was uncooperative. However, after some fighting to get him or her into proper view, they got a first profile shot of their little nugget. Heart beating strong, they saw the little nose taking shape.

The baby looked human. Beth broke into to a wide grin as the specialist told them the baby looked good. Louis kissed on the top of Beth’s head. That was it. They were seemingly out of the woods. Leaving with beautiful ultrasound photos, Beth and Louis worked on a news release all the way to Ghent. He wanted to shout it from the rooftops. Beth was on-board. It wasn’t as if she had a choice. Signs of her pregnancy showed. No matter how carefully her team dressed her, it was difficult to hide.

The release would go out in the morning in time to set an interesting tone for their weekend. It set the stage for the conversation which began on the way home.

“This is going to be quite the surprise given what we’ll be doing on Saturday,” Beth said.

“I will try not to think about it too much,” Louis admitted.

“Oh, come on, if this isn’t the very definition of successfully marking your territory, I don’t know what is, darling.”

Louis turned beet red.

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