Accidental Surrogate

“Well,” Henry answers, hesitating. “Cora and Roger will see the prophecy.”

My face falls a little when I realize the implications of this. “Really? Unfair,” I declare, pouting.

Henry laughs a little along with me. “It will bring them closer to him, give them a bond.”

“Well,” I sigh, “I want them to have that. What sort of things do you learn, though? Do you share them with the parents?”

“If you choose,” Henry shrugs. “I always did. And Sinclair and Roger’s godparents shared with me, for which I was grateful.”

“What did they tell you?” I ask, curious.

“That Sinclair would be a great leader of men,” Henry says, looking down at the baby again, clearly remembering his baby who looked so like this one. “That was no surprise. But Roger, that was…”

I pause, curious, suddenly fascinated. “What did they say?”

He hesitates and then meets my eye. “I never even told Roger about it. But they told me that his destiny laid less with who he was, and more with the children he would sire. The many children, who would be…” he looks away a bit, trying to sort his thoughts, “it was hard to understand. But something about a set of extraordinary children who would bring much joy to the world.”

stomach drops at this, though I work hard to keep

guess Cora was right.

his destiny, even. And if Cora can’t give him children… Henry meets, my eyes, perhaps

too hard on her messages they often present themselves in the most

–

a little smile, fighting against my own disappointment. I sit up straighter in my chair, smiling down at my baby, who’s staring up at me

at him again. “And his future

is filled with people later that evening, and my heart is full to bursting to see all of them – especially Isabel,

have to greet all of our guests and introduce Rafe around to his new friends and family. But still, Isabel and I make plans to have a good long talk later this week before Cora comes to stand with her, giving me a wink

I picked expressly for the occasion. It’s perhaps too much for a trip to the woods, but we’ll be having champagne later – and then everyone coming back to the house to celebrate all evening – so

don’t know. I’ve never held a midnight

two reassuring hands on my shoulders. “Everything is in order, Ella

that my mate can read my mind in more ways than one. “I just want everything to go smoothly, and everyone to have a nice time, and to make sure that

be everything to everyone, trouble. They’re here to help you. You

cared,” I say, turning

“What I mean, Ella, is that you should just calm down and enjoy the night. It’s for us,

at my happy

around my shoulders and moving towards the door. “It’s good that you figured that out now, because it’s time

I say, surprised, looking around at everyone who is likewise streaming towards the entrance, towards the two vans waiting to take us all out in the woods. “Oh, Dominic!” I say, spinning in his arms and looking towards the kitchen. “Did we remember the champagne – and all the glasses –”