Page 78 of Binding Fate

Isabella took a breath. “Quairken and I have decided to have a baby.”

Aironell’s mouth twirled up into a grin.

“I’ve always wanted children but it wasn’t the time.”

Aironell reached out her hand and spoke. “Oh, Isabella I’m sorry.”

“Don’t you dare apologize. Quairken and I both feel blessed to have had the honor of raising you.”

Aironell’s eyes softened and nodded.

“Now that you’re grown and we have all returned, well, I’m expecting.”

“Isabella, that is remarkable.” She dashed toward Isabella and gave her a hug.

As she pulled back she continued. “You both will be great parents…you were for me.”

There was a slight tear in Isabella’s eyes, but she continued. “Aironell would you be our child’s godmother?

“Oh, yes! I would love that.” Isabella nodded and opened the door. Aironell couldn’t stop thinking about a little baby around the palace.Godmother.

She spun around, “Isabella, one thing.”

Isabella was already in the hall but she turned her head.

“Who will be the godfather?”

Isabella’s little mouth curled up. “Quairken has decided and will be asking Alzerion. I hope that won’t be an issue.” Her voice sounded playful. Aironell smiled and nodded. Then Isabella left.

This was shaping up to be a great morning. Isabella’s news and well her moment with Alzerion,ahh. Now she had to ready herself. With both hands facing out, the closet doors opened. Aironell moved so swiftly that she could have been floating on air. She knew what she wanted to wear. Snap. The nightgown was lying on her bed and the red dress was on her. She moved, quickly, to the mirror. Her hands felt the bumps of the beaded bodice as they smoothed out the creases. Aironell gripped a bit of the material as she turned side-to-side, as the bottom billowed.

The dress fit perfectly and she loved how it hugged all her features, in just the right places. Too bad Alzerion did not get to see her in that. Satisfied she sat at the little plump seat of her vanity and leaned forward. Her hands pinched and pulled at her skin. Aironell grabbed her lotion and applied that to her bare skin and then worked on her hair. She knew she needed to work fast so she snapped her fingers and the brush, make-up, and brushed floated around. Her hair was brushed out and braided. Aironell nodded and the brush went back into place and the butterfly clip soared around and clipped to the bottom of the braid. The make-up finished and she stood up and smiled. Her hair was in one long braid with a couple curly strays at each side of her face.

Aironell left her room and headed down the hall and the stairs to join her parents. As she opened the door the king and queen glanced up. Aironell walked in and sat at the table.

The king wiped away the crumbs of his biscuit. “Good morning, honey.”

“I’m glad you were able to join us,” the queen said. “We were starting to think you had other plans this morning.” Queen Evalyn used the knife to splatter a helping of raspberry jam over her biscuit.

“Your mother is right,” the king added. “What kept you?" Aironell grabbed a biscuit.Mmmm they smelled of banana-nut, her father’s favorite.Then she readied it as she spoke with them. “I’m sorry if I worried you, both. I had some visitors this morning.”

“Oh?” the king straightened up and Aironell caught his raised eyebrow.

“Doesn’t she look radiant?” the queen motioned to the king.

Aironell took one bite of her biscuit, eyes darting between the two of them.

“Sweetheart, you do look gorgeous. I’m sorry I’m still fixed on the comment about visitors. Who?”

Aironell swallowed. “Well, Alzerion came to say good morning and —”

“Alzerion?” King Francisco’s eyebrows drew even closer together. He sat still as he observed her.

What did I get myself into? She looked at her mother but she saw the wheels turning in her eyes.Great.

“Father, I’m sure you know that he escorted me into town the other day.”

“I do. I’m not sure why he would be visiting you so early in the morning. Surely, he has a number of other things to do?”

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