Page 121 of The English Queen

Natalie laughed. “She’s so goofy. Sweet but goofy.”

“That’s the best part about babies. They don’t care what they are or aren’t. They’re just little potatoes. Go, find yer mam. And enjoy it. It’s your party.”

The clan gathered to celebrate the eighteenth birthday of the twins and their cousin Victoria. The children were now eighteen. Margaux’s eighteenth birthday tiara had been willed to Natalie. Maggie would have fawned over her granddaughter’s appearance on this evening. She was growing into such a strong young woman. A year before, Natalie enrolled in the Royal Air Force at Cranwell. She was on her way to becoming an airman and the first in her generation to enter military service. Her brother would follow after graduating from Eton. He’d probably serve a year or two before attending Oxford or Cambridge. George was never going to last long in the military. That wasn’t his bag. However, Natalie was a brilliant pilot. Keir couldn’t have been prouder of the fierce little lass. Nor could her parents or her Uncle Duncan who had taught her to fly.

Keir still held the baby, looking out the window at attendees arriving from near and far as Robbie approached with George at his side. George hadn’t quite gotten his father’s height. He was only about 5’10’’. All of Keir’s boys had been over six-foot. After some time being nothing but legs, elbows, and feet, George was growing into himself. Boys took longer. Natalie and Victoria had looked grown for a few years now.

“Beth went that way. She looks lovely,” Keir said. “Vanna is down there. Beth just went to drop the girls off. Well, minus this little lass.”

“Aren’t you precious as ever?” Robbie cooed at his niece.

“She’s getting chonky. I swear she did overnight,” George noted.

The young man always helped care for the younger family members—from his younger sister, Kiersten, to all the baby cousins.

“She is a hearty lass. You look dapper, wee man.”

“Thanks, Pa,” George flushed red.

“You and your sister look like real grownups. It’s a special night. Enjoy it.”

“I will,” George agreed. “I will try.”

“Of course, you will,” Robbie patted his son’s back. “Go find your Mum and sister and see if you can tear them away.”

George nodded and was off.

Robbie shook his head. “They’re grown. I saw Natalie. She looks lovely. The tiara… I can’t get over it.”

“She could have been Beth at that age. Or, I suspect, Magpie. She’ll be a great beauty.”

“Yes, I suspect. Although, to hear her tell it, she’s an ogre. Being a girl is difficult.”

“Well, they turned out okay, son. Be proud of the work you’ve put in to raise them.”

“The first ones out in the world. I am proud of them. They’re both wonderful people,” Robbie sounded choked up. “Vanna has already cried so many times today.”

“She is always a sensitive lass. Where is Duncan?”

“I think with Rebecca and Victoria.”

Victoria was Duncan’s eldest biological child. Victoria was born within a few hours of the twins.

“She’ll look lovely, too, in that tiara Margaux left her,” Keir said. “Where did the time go?”

“I don’t know, but it doesn’t slow down. I think Mum would have been the happiest on this day. To see them all getting older.”

“She knows, Robbie,” Keir assured his son. “She’d be so happy how well you’ve sailed the ship since then. And the grandkids? They could do anything. Commit murder. She would still have been their greatest fan.”

Robbie chuckled. “True. Although with ones this adorable, who could fault her for it?”

“She’s precious,” Keir cooed.

“Hard to believe we’re still having another one before it’s over.”

“You assume it’s over, then? Nah. I think they’ll have a sixth to round it out. Beth is still young.”

“I don’t envy Louis. Madness. I’m exhausted with just Kiersten.”

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