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.”

at this, though I work

Cora

And if Cora can’t give him children… Henry meets, my eyes, perhaps understanding the direction

mysteries, Ella,” he says quietly. “Don’t think too hard on her messages they often present themselves in the

–

chair, smiling down at my baby, who’s staring up at me with his wide eyes, which are just starting to turn green. “Besides, today is about this little one.

over at him again. “And his future is very, very bright. This I know for

later that evening, and my heart is full to bursting to see all of them – especially Isabel, James, and Sadie, who I think I hugged for a solid fifteen minutes when they arrived.

I wanted to, as I 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 to let me know that she has our visitors in good hands.

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 it seemed right

don’t know. I’ve never held

says, coming up behind me, looking gorgeous in his tuxedo. He rests two reassuring hands on my shoulders. “Everything is in

ways than one. “I just want everything to go smoothly, and everyone to have a nice time, and to make sure that everyone gets enough time with Rafe

They’re here to help you. You could have come down in pajamas ten minutes before the ceremony, with baby vomit streaked down your shirt,

turning on him with

mean, Ella, is that you should just calm down and enjoy the night. It’s for us, as much as for him.

down at my happy baby in my arms. “I need

the door. “It’s good

to take us all out in the woods. “Oh, Dominic!” I say, spinning in his arms