#Chapter 493- Three Cousins
Henry nods and looks consideringly at the kids. “Will you let me do a bit of research, son?” he asks, smiling at them, “and get back to you on it? I hate to be cryptic, but I want very much to make sure that I’m right before I send you on a wild goose chase.”
“I think that’s just fine,” I sigh, reaching down and gathering my daughter up into my arms as Rafe rolls over and starts to burble at Jesse, who gives a little squeak of happiness and starts to laugh, reaching to grab at his cousin’s shirt. “I don’t think I have the energy to hear anything new just now.”
“You’re right,” Cora sighs. “We should let you get some rest. But…could I just…”
And I look up to see my sister clutching her hands against her chest, biting her lip, clearly dying to hold the baby but not wanting to make me giver her up if I don’t want to.
“Cora!” I laugh, holding Ariel up, “of course you can!”
Cora sighs happily as she gathers Ariel into her arms, murmuring sweet things to her. Of course, she was holding Ariel before – but this time it’s as an aunt, not a doctor. “Hey, sweet baby Ariel,” Cora coos, smiling down at her first niece as tears gather in her eyes. “I’m so excited to meet you!” She leans forward and kisses Ariel on her head. ” I’m going to be your favorite,” she whispers.
“No way,” Roger counters, leaning close to study our little girl. “She’s going to be a daddy’s girl, so favorite clearly transfers to nearest uncle.”
Cora just rolls her eyes at him but I smile, loving it to see my family play- fight over who is going to love our daughter the most.
Cora and Roger take a few more minutes with Ariel before passing her to Henry, who rocks her gently as I lean my head against Sinclair.
“She’s very beautiful, Dominic, Ella,” Henry says, looking up at us with moist eyes. “How lucky you are.”
“We are lucky,” Sinclair agrees, leaning forward to scoop Rafe into his arms, as he’s getting a little rambunctious with Jesse. “Little family of four. Sounds familiar, dad?”
Henry grins at Sinclair but Roger just laughs, scooping up his own happy baby. “You know that makes you the girl in that scenario, right little brother?”
“And is that a bad thing?” I ask, raising my eyebrows at my brother-in- law as Henry hands Ariel back into my arms.
Roger laughs and blushes, instantly realizing his mistake.
“All of that ends right now,” I say, pointing my finger at the men in the family. “Ariel is going to have enough trouble growing up as the youngest girl cousin with Rafe and Jesse – I’m not going to tolerate any comments about what she can and can’t do because she’s a girl.”
Roger nods, smiling at me, on board with the plan. Sinclair surprises me, though, by sighing and turning towards the windows. “As progressive as we’d like to be,” he says quietly, “I do wonder how pigeon-holed she’s going to be by dint of being a Princess. The world will enjoy a tomboy Princess for a couple of years, if that’s how Ariel turns out to be, but eventually…I think our dear girl is going to face a lot of expectations regarding pretty smiles and silk dresses and tiaras.”
I sigh and lean closer to him as I realize that he’s right. Our family can only do so much – Ariel’s going to get all sorts of messages about who she’s supposed to be from the rest of the world as well as her family, just like the rest of us.
“We’ll just have to do our very best,” Cora says with a firm nod, and I turn to smile up at her.
“Actually,” Henry says, his voice considering. “Before you take your rest, Ella…”
“Hmm?” I ask, turning towards him, curious.
“Well,” he says, hesitating, looking me up and down and clearly assessing how presentable I am, “they have been waiting out there for hours.”
“Oh,” I say, my eyebrows going up as I turn towards the windows again, realizing that Henry is right. Our people – they’ve been gathered for a long time, hoping for a glimpse of her.
“She just gave birth,” Cora protests, putting her hands out, “Ella should be allowed to rest.”
“No, Henry’s right,” I say, working to sit up and swinging my feet over the edge of the bed. “They’ve all been so nice, wanting to see the baby – ”
“Ella,” Cora hesitates, her voice worried. “As your doctor – ”
“As a magical self-healer,” I say, my voice dry as I get to my feet, “I’m good, Cora, to go step onto the terrace for a moment. Will you help me put on something nice?”
“Something nice?” she gasps, her eyes going wide at the idea.
“Like a nice robe,” I say, rolling my eyes at her and handing the baby off to Sinclair. “Honestly, this whole thing will take four minutes, and then I’ll be back to bed!”
My sister rolls her eyes at me, clearly objecting to the plan, but three minutes later I’m dressed in a very pretty white robe, my hair neatly tied back, my crown perched on my head honestly as a practical afterthought rather than a serious accessory. My hair is not the neatest it’s ever been, and the crown functions as a very useful headband.
Sinclair passes the baby to me and wraps an arm around my waist, Rafe on his hip as we leave our bedroom. As we walk down the hall with Cora, Roger, Jesse, and Henry following close behind, I frown a bit at Sinclair’s crown and then Rafe’s – which he amazingly consents to wear.
“Ariel’s going to need a crown too,” I murmur, jealous for her sake. “She can have six, if she wants them,” my mate replies, smirking at me a little bit. “But if she’s as much of a tomboy as you’re projecting she’ll be, I don’t know if she’ll wear them.”
“True, ” I sigh, smiling down at my little girl and dropping yet another kiss to her perfect little head. “You be as girly as you want, little Princess,” I murmur to her, and she gives a fussy little scrunch of her face that makes me laugh as she passes sleepy vibes down our bond. “But yes, you’re going to get some pretty crowns. And mama will get more, all matching – ”
“All right,” Sinclair says, his voice dry. “This is starting to get expensive.”
“Don’t get cheap on us now, Sinclair,” I reply, bumping my shoulder into him as we reach the front of the palace, where the crowds are starting to shout. Guards have already started to line the terrace, so they know something is up.
“I would never,” Sinclair sighs, moving his hand from my waist to my shoulder and leaning down to press a quick kiss to my mouth. “Ready?” he asks, looking from me, to Ariel, to Rafe our whole little family.
“Ready,” I say with a nod, reaching out to swipe a quick finger down the length of Rafe’s perfect, chubby little cheek. He squeaks happily and bounces in his dad’s arm, waving at me. I blow him a quick kiss before turning towards the doors.
Sinclair gives a quick glance over his shoulder at his father, and the Duke and the Duchess with their son, and then, smiling, pushes the double doors open. Together, we all step outside.
