“Bring them in,” Quinn said. “There’s no telling how much longer we have until he needs to eat again.”
William sat down beside her, resting his hand on Samuel’s little head. “If how he’s been so far is any indication, I’d give it half an hour, tops.”
Almost as soon as Nathaniel went out, Thomas appeared in the doorway, making Quinn chuckle. “You really were out there waiting for an all-clear, weren’t you?”
“I only have a limited time to spend with my nephew before you run off back to Philotheum with him.” He grinned. “I have to soak up every second I can get.”
William rolled his eyes. “You’re coming with us at first.”
“But only for the Naming Ceremony. I’m not staying.” Thomas’ eyes were on Samuel now. “You two and Linnea and Ben are going to have all the fun after that. Hand him over, Sis. It’s my turn.”
She thought about teasing him for a second, but then she saw the look in his eyes – behind all of the banter, he was quite serious – and she let William take the baby from her arms and hand him to his brother.
He was so natural with the baby; Quinn was reminded instantly of the first morning she’d ever known Thomas, when he’d so easily taken his youngest sister from his mother. Now, he held little Samuel in front of him so they were facing each other. For several moments he was silent, just studying his nephew, while the baby lay there contentedly. Finally, he bent down and kissed Samuel on the forehead before turning his attention back to them.
“I can’t believe you’re a father, Will.”
“No, neither can I. I always figured you would be the first one of the two of us – I was never sure I’d ever get to be one at all.” He sat down next to Quinn again, putting his hand on her knee.
Quinn couldn’t help rolling her eyes. “Whatever. You’re eighteen, Will. And Thomas, you’re sixteen. In my world, people would think you’re crazy for even talking about babies. If I went back there now, with him…” She shook her head. Truthfully, she couldn’t even imagine it. Her life in Bristlecone seemed like a million years ago now. In some ways it was as if she’d never lived there at all. “What’s your rush?”
Thomas shrugged and pulled the baby closer, cradling him against his chest. “If I’d lived as long in your world as I’ve lived here, I’d be somewhere around a hundred and sixty years old. You’d be a hundred and seventy. Somewhere in there, I think wanting a family is pretty normal.”
“Maybe.” Quinn still wasn’t sure.
“Do you regret marrying Will?”
William’s hand tightened on her knee, and she looked up at him. “No. Of course I don’t.”
“It just doesn’t stop you from imagining other possibilities, does it?” William asked quietly.
She shook her head. “It’s just…nothing prepared me for this, you know? It’s probably still the same school year in Bristlecone.”
“Yes,” William said, nodding. “It’s been less than two months there since the last time we came through the gate.”
“I will never wrap my head around that.”
“Showing up there now with a husband and a baby would present more problems than just your age.” Thomas chuckled.
“Uh, yeah, no kidding. Maybe it’s best I can’t actually go back right now.” But even just saying those words set off the ache in her chest again. Although outwardly she was still smiling, William’s hand moved from her knee to around her waist, pulling her closer to him, and she leaned against his side.
No, she didn’t regret her decision to marry him even a little bit.
“Can we come in?” a voice called from the doorway.
“Of course,” Quinn said, smiling at Charlotte and Stephen.
She pushed back the covers to stand up and go to them, but Charlotte held her hand up.
“You stay right there. It’s our job to wait on you for a few days.”
She sighed, but sank back against the pillows as William stood instead to go and hug his parents. “Will the waiting on me stop after a few days?”
Charlotte chuckled, and gave a wry shake of her head. “No.”
“You’re a queen now, Quinn,” Thomas said. “At some point, you’re just going to have to get used to it.”
“No promises,” she grumbled.
“If I can get used to it, so can you,” Charlotte said, though her attention was almost fully on the baby now, as she lifted him from Thomas’ arms. Sitting down on the edge of the bed with him, she held him up so she could rest his soft little cheek against hers, and then she cradled him again, kissing him gently on the nose.
“I never thought anything would be as wonderful as snuggling my own babies,” she said softly. “But, oh, grandbabies might be even better.”
“Gee, thanks,” Thomas said, though he was still watching the baby with such wonder that it was obvious he wasn’t actually offended.
“Now that,” Stephen said, coming to stand beside Quinn, “is a beautiful baby. From an equally beautiful couple.”
“Thank you,” Quinn said.
“He’ll make a wonderful king someday.”
Though she smiled, the thought made her breath catch in her throat a little. He was so tiny – she wasn’t ready to imagine him as the heir to the throne.
“Hush, Stephen,” Charlotte said, handing the baby back to Quinn. “You should know better than that by now.” She nudged him gently with her elbow, rolling her eyes. “When Simon was born, I had to tell him that, outside of the Naming Ceremony, he wasn’t allowed to mention anything about my baby running a kingdom until he was at least walking. He’s been pretty good about holding back with Evelyn, but maybe he thinks you’re different because you’re the ruler.”
With the baby safely back in her arms, it was easier for Quinn to smile about that.
Charlotte rested her hand on Quinn’s shoulder. “Queen or not, you need time to just enjoy this little one without worrying about his future.”
“Sorry sweetheart. I’ll go back to my rightful place as doting grandfather,” Stephen said, resting his hand on the baby’s soft hair. “Thank you for making me one again.”
Suddenly, there was a lot of commotion in the doorway. “Oh! He’s so cute!” Emma exclaimed, running up to Quinn. “Can I hold him?”
“No, Emma,” Stephen said gently, laying his hand on his daughter’s shoulder. “You can look, but the baby needs to stay with Quinn for now, okay?”
“It’s okay, Em,” Quinn said softly. “Just come sit up here by me.”
“You too, Alex.” William lifted his little brother under the arms and up onto the mattress next to Emma. Both children gently touched the baby’s feet and cooed at him.
“Do you want to see too, Alice?” William asked, picking her up and holding her in his arms.
She nodded, but made no move to get down onto the bed. Instead, she laid her head against William’s shoulder while she stared at Samuel.
“He is cute,” she said.
“I think so,” William agreed.
“I love him.”
“He’s going to love you, too.”
“When he gets bigger.” Alice’s voice was very matter-of-fact.
William smiled. “Yes. He’s too tiny to notice very much right now. But he would love you if he understood who you were.”
“Can I kiss his head?”
“Of course you can.” Quinn shifted the infant up so Alice could reach better.
Alice didn’t leave William’s arms; he just held on and lowered her so she could lean over and plant a very soft kiss on the baby’s hair. “I love you, baby,” she whispered.
“Hey, quit pushing me. This is my spot!” Emma shrieked beside Quinn.
“Oops,” Stephen said, lifting her down from the bed in one swift motion and then reaching for Alex. “I think it’s time to head back to your lessons. Both of you.”
Emma gave an indignant huff, but neither of them argued.
Stephen turned back to his new grandson, running his finger gently down the side of
the baby’s face. “I’ll come back another time to enjoy a cuddle with this one who doesn’t squabble yet. Congratulations, again.”
Then he turned to William, pulling him into an enormous hug, before stepping back and looking at him, tears in the corners of his eyes. “I’m so proud of you, son. I always have been, in everything you’ve done – but this, William – seeing the kind of husband you are to Quinn, and what kind of father you already are to my grandson … this may be the proudest of you I have ever been.”
Quinn saw tears in William’s eyes, too, as he stood there with his father; the two of them were nearly the same height – she’d never noticed that before.
Stephen followed his younger children through the door at the same moment Linnea appeared there.
“I wondered when you were going to show up,” Quinn teased.
“Sorry,” Linnea said, smiling and walking toward the bed. “Nobody told me you were up for company yet – I just heard the stomping through the hallway,” she glanced back at the departing twins.
“I think it’s time for us to get out of here for a while,” Charlotte said, reaching to take Alice from William. She then bent down and kissed Quinn on the head. “Let us know if you need anything. We love you – all three of you.”
“We will, Mother,” William said, following her back to the door. “We love you, too.”
“So do I get to hold the little prince?” Linnea asked, climbing up to sit near Quinn’s feet.
William helped transfer the baby from Quinn’s arms to Linnea’s.
“Yup. Pretty much perfect,” Linnea said. “Wow, Quinn.”
“I know. I’m still having a hard time believing we made him – that this was what was kicking around inside me. He felt so much bigger in there than he looks out here.”
While Linnea was holding the baby, William handed Quinn one of the glasses of juice and set a small bowl of fruit in her lap.
“Where’s Ben?” Quinn asked, dutifully taking a bite.
“Working. I think he and Marcus are making a perimeter run of the castle.”
Quinn frowned. “He does know that I don’t expect him to work every day of his honeymoon, doesn’t he? I know I’ve told him that. This castle isn’t even his job anymore.”
“He knows. You know him, though – he can’t go that long without feeling like he’s contributing. Besides, I think he was afraid I was going to ask him to come in here with me.”
“Why wouldn’t you? He doesn’t want to come and meet his nephew?”
“Of course he does,” Linnea said, nuzzling her cheek next to the baby’s. “It’s just … he’s still a guard. Even though you’re family now, I think the idea of walking into his queen’s bedchamber the morning after she’s had a baby might be a little too much for him.”
“I don’t think about it that way,” Quinn said.
William rubbed her back. “You may not, but Ben’s pretty traditional. Which is kind of the polar opposite of you, Linnea. You two still surprise me with that.”
She shrugged. “I don’t understand it either, but he’s great.” The warm glow that lit Linnea’s cheeks right then told Quinn that her sister-in-law’s happiness was very real.
“Do I intimidate everyone now?” Quinn asked. She looked over at Thomas. “Is that why Mia isn’t here, either?”
“Relax, Your Majesty,” Thomas said, grinning and walking back over to her. “Yes, you intimidate some people. You’re the queen of Philotheum. You’re supposed to, you know. The guards and servants, yes, are a little more comfortable if they know how to respond to you. You’ll get used to it.”
“Maybe.” She wasn’t so sure.
“Anyway, you did just have a baby. Maybe you’re all happy and awake about it right now – but give it a few hours, and you might appreciate the privacy a little more.”
At that moment, the baby stirred, grunted, and then let out a wail that was shockingly loud. His whole face turned red as he batted at his mouth with his little curled-up fist.
“All right then.” Linnea stretched him instantly back toward Quinn. William whisked the dishes from her hands so she could take him. “This one doesn’t give much of a warning. I think he’s hungry.”
Quinn nodded, cradling the little bundle toward her chest. He calmed a little when she held him tightly, but he immediately turned his head, searching for food.
“See what I mean?” Thomas asked. “This, I think, is our cue to leave for a little while.”
After William had closed the door behind Thomas and Linnea, he came to sit back down beside Quinn and the baby, who was now happily nursing.
“Since I’m the queen now, do you suppose I can just order people to treat me like I’m normal?”
He chuckled. “Warn me in advance before you try it, because I really want to watch.”
She picked up a pillow and lobbed it toward his head. He ducked, catching it and grinning. Little Samuel let out another wail, announcing his displeasure at the sudden movement.
Laughing again, William handed the pillow back to her and helped her get him settled. “I have a feeling we’re going to find out really quickly which one of us in this room is actually in charge.”
* * *
“So, Nay … when am I going to get a niece or nephew from you?” Thomas teased, once he and Linnea were halfway down the hallway after leaving Quinn and William.
She turned and stuck her tongue out at him. “You could be a little more patient, you know. Ben and I have only been married for two weeks.”
“Yeah, I’m pretty sure Quinn was pregnant by then. You’re slacking.” He opened a door to another section of the hallway and held it for her.
“I don’t need to worry about producing an heir. I’m also not sure I’d mind getting moved and settled in Philotheum before I’m throwing up everywhere. I think Quinn would take that back if she could.”
Thomas paused in front of another door and tilted his head. “I don’t think she’d take anything about that baby back now – he’s just about perfect.”
“Not that you’re biased.”
“What? It’s not my fault the Maker decided to give all of the best nephews in the kingdom to me. I would kind of like a niece now, though.” He opened the door, which led into one of the circular stairwells.
She couldn’t help smiling as she followed him down the steps. “Ben said he wants a little girl first.”
“See? I knew what I was doing when I chose a brother-in-law.”
“Yeah, that was all you, T. I had nothing to do with it at all.”
He chuckled, opening the door at the bottom of the stairs. Linnea stepped out, right onto the corner of the main patio. There were still small patches of white in the shady spots, and everything was wet from the snow that had already melted, but the early afternoon was warm, and the sunshine felt good on her face.
“Well, whoever’s responsible – it was a good choice.”
“I think so.”
“You two are awfully happy, aren’t you?”
“I don’t know about your sister, but I am.” Ben’s voice in Linnea’s ear startled her, and she spun around to face him; he caught her under her arms and kissed her on the nose.
“Hey you,” she said, putting her hand on his cheek. “How do you always manage to sneak up on me like that?”
“It’s my job.” He shrugged. “Besides, I took my armor off already.”
“You’re done working?”
“I told you it would be an hour or two. It’s been an hour.”
“You mean your father sent you away.”
“No, Linnea. I mean that everything looks secure out here for now, and I wanted to get back to spending time with you.” He pulled her tighter against his chest with one arm, and with his other hand he ran his fingers down the side of her face, gently tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Okay?”
She nodded. “I’ll take you however I can get you, Ben. It’s okay with me if you want to work, too.”
“I kno
w that, sweetheart. But what I want right now is to be with you. I haven’t gotten to hear the answer to Thomas’ question yet.”
“What’s that?”
“Whether you’re happy.”
She looked up into his eyes. “Yes, I am. Very happy.”
“Good.” He kissed her on the lips this time.
When she turned back to Thomas, he was grinning, but there was also a sort of faraway, speculative look in his eyes. Whatever it was had been weighing on his mind for a couple of days now, but she hadn’t managed to get him to spill it yet. She had an idea of one thing that was bothering him, but there was more to this look than just that. “Let’s walk down to the stables,” she said. “All of us. I haven’t seen Snow in a couple of days.”
Ben had probably just been at the stables, had probably checked every corner of Snow’s stall, and fed her a treat, but he just nodded and took Linnea’s hand. Though he had removed most of his body armor, he still carried a dagger at his belt.
They were about halfway to the stables when Thomas cleared his throat. “So, Ben … what is going on that has you all worried but you’re not telling Quinn?”
“Pardon?” Ben’s expression didn’t change, and his voice was steady, but the hand that was entwined with Linnea’s grew slightly damp.
“All of the extra patrols, the meetings, the birds flying back and forth from Philotheum constantly…”
“Well, with two monarchs under one roof…”
“No. That explains some of it, but not all – and it definitely doesn’t explain why it got so much more intense about a week ago. What’s going on?”
Ben sighed and looked all around them. Linnea felt her own palms beginning to get sweaty.
“I don’t know exactly, Thomas. We’ve heard some rumors, had some odd things… It’s just making us nervous.”
Linnea stopped cold in the middle of the path, taking a step back from him. “What kind of rumors and odd things?”
“Nothing definitive right now. We’ve been dealing with hostilities in some of the villages in Philotheum really since the coronation. You know there are those who were loyal to Hector and Tolliver.”
“Right – that’s nothing new.”
Canes of Divergence (Dusk Gate Chronicles) Page 3