I was exhausted and relieved when my folks decided to make an early night of it. It gave us an excuse to ditch yet another mind-numbing gathering where champagne flowed like a river, mostly because it had to for everyone to stand each other.
Which was another reason I was glad to leave. Auggie started drinking from the time we left his bedroom until the time we all got into the helicopter to head back to Castlewick.
I didn’t see Cillian or Caz again before we left, for which I was especially grateful.
Our entire group was exhausted heading for home. I sensed that my parents were longing for something a little more normal. As magnanimous as the queen was to do all this for us, it wasn’t the same.
But there was little we could do to make up for it. The day after the gala was the official start of the holiday season. Despite having a couple of weeks left on my “maternity leave,” I found myself pulled into the next round of royal duties, starting with my son’s christening.
That, coupled with preparing Castlewick for the Holiday Open House, and coordinating our move to Castlegate in the interim, kept me busy the first two weeks of December, so busy in fact that Hannah’s presence became far less annoying.
Auggie traveled back and forth between Castlewick and Shimmering Falls so much that he added a piloting course to his list of studies, just so he could fly himself eventually, rather than rely on Sean or Audra to pilot him. This meant more time away, generally in the evening, when I would spend time in the McPhee wing with Hannah and Jack as opposed to hanging out in our apartment all alone. Now that Dash was regaining his mobility on his recovering ankle, there was plenty to do in that busier wing of Castlewick.
Oddly, it helped me feel normal. All the people I loved were the same, just in a different order.
Fern was there a few days a week but spent most of her time with Gav in Cochrann. They had found a lovely house on the outskirts of town, one on a hill with a view of Unity Lake, so they were busy preparing to move into their first house in addition to starting their full-time work as instructors at the Sofie Agassi Dance Academy, all the while planning their wedding.
I missed her terribly, but I knew I’d miss her even more when the McPhees, Auggie, Jack and I (and Hannah) went to stay on Mercy Island in between the christening and the New Year.
Honestly, I couldn’t wait. The press waited for us daily just outside the gates of Castlewick, eager to catch a glimpse of Jack. Every photo hound in the country wanted to be the first to release the newest photo of the newest prince.
I blamed Christopher for this, because PING had begun a whisper campaign to question why we hadn’t released any new photos of the baby since his birth. “He didn’t even attend a gala thrown in his honor,” the hateful articles suggested. “What are they hiding? Complications from his ‘early’ birth?”
It was the liberal use of irony quotes I found particularly offensive.
Even worse were the articles that ran with Auggie’s comment at the gala. “Why would two virtual strangers be planning a new baby right away?”
I loathed what they were suggesting. Let’s just say Cillian wasn’t the first to use the “heir and a spare” issue comment and leave it at that.
When Auggie joined me for my first postpartum appointment with Dr. Hamish, she reiterated what she had said on the terrace the night of the gala. I was glad that it came from her first, because Auggie could hardly argue the wisdom of her advice. To do anything other than what she was suggesting could invite disaster and heartache.
Unfortunately, however, the news only frustrated my already overwrought husband, who had so been looking forward to filling our large home with another baby. My Duke of Mayhem had faced yet another limitation, and he clearly didn’t do too well with those. Worse, he began turning once again to a drink instead of me for comfort.
In those moments, my mind would return to the things Cillian had said on the terrace, questioning why it was so urgent for Auggie to have another baby. “Maybe the future king wants to make sure he has a legitimate heir,” his hateful voice would repeat, like some needle stuck in a scratch across an old vinyl record.
I knew better than to pose the question to Auggie.
Truthfully, Jack was the one who kept me sane in the chaos. Those few moments when I would be with him, napping with him, breastfeeding him, or just stealing a quiet moment when I could just watch him sleep so innocently in the truest peace he’d ever know; they restored me.
I needed more and more as my royal duties began to mount. There was the christening, of course, open houses at both Castlewick and Greystone, a parade, a concert, the Christmas Benefit Ball, Christmas Eve Mass, and the “family” dinner that preceded it.
Much of it meant more time with the Byrnes. Frankly, I was over it.
This all culminated with a New Year’s Eve bash at Shimmering Falls, and then a two-week vacation in Ademar as a reward.
The whole family was going, but it felt like another honeymoon. It was a much-needed vacation before “real life” set in. We had Fern’s February wedding to finish planning and I got to start work on one of the Queen’s many committees, working closely with the Dance Academy, the Cancer Center and, of course, Princess Giselle’s Independent Living Academy, all places I would tirelessly plan a variety of events to raise money and awareness well into the new year.
We also would prepare for Aldays, which lasted through the month of February, culminating on the 28th to celebrate their grand history as a country. It was one of the biggest nights of the year.
I hoped this would suitably distract Auggie from any new babies he couldn’t stop dreaming about.
By the second week of December, he was already itching to try again. Every night he would snuggle up to me, his hands everywhere, his hushed whispers against my neck and my ear, his hard body straining for me, even when I was too tired to fend him off. “We can’t,” I’d remind him again and again. “Not yet.”
“Why not?” he’d argue, his hands sliding against my skin until I damn near had to push him away.
“You remember what Dr. Hamish said,” I would remind him. “We should wait until I get on birth control.”
“And when will that be?” he growled.
“After my first period,” I repeated and again.
More than once he got annoyed to the point that he left the bedroom entirely. When I’d go to find him, he’d be in the conservatory, banging out angry music as he drank bottles of Yaars.
Mostly bottles of Yaars. He had grown quite a taste for Duchess Peach Bourbon as well. I could smell it on his breath when he’d come to bed near dawn, to pass out for a few hours before his day would start again with more classes, more drills, more exercises.
I wondered more than once if that was one of the reasons that he had become so surly. He was an artist, not a soldier. A lover, not a fighter.
And he was deprived both those outlets in the name of duty.
The day of the christening was exactly six weeks from Jack’s birth, so I had planned a romantic evening to finally make love with my husband after all postpartum restrictions had lifted. I hadn’t had my period yet, which I was told could take a little longer due to my breastfeeding. Dr. Hamish gave me a clean bill of health the day before, but we were much too busy to think about it with all the prep and planning that needed to be done. Like our wedding day, Jack’s christening was more about Aldayne.
Frankly, I was relieved. I wasn’t sure how he’d feel about wearing a condom having sex with his own wife. I was glad I had more time to warm him to the idea.
Sean would drive us to Greystone Cathedral that morning for the ceremony, and then all the guests would head to Greystone for the official lunch where all the extended family would meet Jack at last.
We would return home to Castlewick twelve hours after we left it, where I planned to surprise Auggie with a private dinner just for us in our apartment.
I thought about letting Hannah watch Jack for the evening, to give us more time
alone, but it wouldn’t have been right without him nearby. And I had lost plenty enough time with my son already.
The queen had carefully planned the transport. My family would be in one car, with Hannah. Auggie, Jack and I would make the two-hour trek to Greystone Cathedral in our own private car. The windows were tinted, so that when we got to the church, we would officially present Jack in King Riordan’s ivory christening gown for his second official appearance with the press.
I could tell by the news that Aldayneans were already lining our path to greet us as we sped towards the church. Perhaps it was that, or sexual frustration, or the fact Jack had woken up colicky and fussy, that made Auggie particularly grumpy that morning. We dressed in our finest daytime wear for such an event, with me feeling more matronly than I wanted to feel in my royal purple dress and hat, with a suede ivory overcoat. He was in his dress uniform, which had a few more medals these days.
I tried to cheer him up by cozying up to him. “And what’s this one for?”
“Marksmanship,” he clipped.
With that tragic thought of Benji, we were on our way.
Auggie comforted Jack by singing to him, new stuff I hadn’t heard before, a song about someone who had changed his life and brought him joy when nothing else did, and how just thinking of that special someone could help him through the entire day.
“That’s lovely, Auggie. Is it new?”
His eyes met mine. “I’ve had a lot of sleepless nights to create.”
I sighed. “Can we please not fight?”
“Who’s fighting?” he wanted to know, turning his attention back to Jack.
I let it drop. I wasn’t about to make this day any more difficult than it threatened to be, especially with Cillian on the guest list.
The one shining ray of light was that Viv was coming stag. Even she knew better than to bring her boy toy to a christening.
Instead I focused on the people who lined the roads on either side, who cheered and waved their flags in support of the newest prince. There were protesters among them, as well, which was getting harder and harder to ignore.
Which was the point of a protest, I supposed.
Jack finally quieted down about a half-hour away from the church. We used that time to prepare for the ceremony. We had little to do, except provide his name for the minister when asked. Other than that, we would recite our promises to care for and protect our child and raise him with the love and character of Christ.
I wasn’t a huge believer in child baptism, as I personally felt that faith was something an individual got to choose for themselves when they reached the age of reason. But it was a ritual expected of him as prince and child of Aldayne.
Best of all, no one could question his legitimacy once established by the church. If Christopher decided to make a play for custody, he’d have to go through the court, which would demand he show proof.
If that were a way God could protect my kid, I was all for it.
The car pulled to a stop behind a long line of black luxury Aldas. The paparazzi went nuts as each car emptied of the VIP guest list for this private christening. We were due to arrive just after the Queen and the Princesses.
I spent those remaining moments getting Jack camera ready before Sean opened the door.
Flashes went off as Auggie exited the car first. He reached back to help me out as I cradled Jack gently in my arms. Despite the touchy mood on the way to the cathedral, we both adopted happy, proud smiles as we faced the press.
Finally, I turned Jack towards his adoring public. He was quite puzzled by the brouhaha and immediately started to cry. Auggie laughed as he bent down to sing to his favorite audience of one. Immediately Jack settled, concentrating those thoughtful eyes on his daddy, his own mouth moving as he mirrored Auggie’s expression while he sang.
“Your number one fan!” someone called out. Auggie’s eyes met mine. He grabbed my hand.
“One of,” he agreed.
I nearly sighed in relief.
“How’s his health?” someone else wanted to know. “Any complications from the early birth?”
“He was a little early, but he’s been in excellent health,” Auggie assured. “He was just in a hurry to get here. What Jack wants; Jack gets.”
“Does he want a little brother or sister?” someone else asked.
Auggie smiled. “He wants a whole houseful. Stay tuned.”
With that we stopped taking questions and headed into the church, which was already full of all our guests.
Gav and Fern waited at the front of the church, along with my parents, Dallas, Dash, Audra, and Archer. My grandparents were in the front row, sitting next to the queen and the princesses. Papa still looked worse for wear, a little paler, and thinner, than before.
Or maybe that was just how I saw him now, knowing he was mortal just like the rest of us.
And maybe that was how Dad saw him, too, as he had begun to make regular visits to his parents, trying to repair the rift between them. I couldn’t tell if the Queen’s insistence on inviting them to all these grand ceremonies helped or hurt.
We joined the elderly priest by the font filled with water from the river Jordan. “Welcome,” he greeted us all. “Today is truly a joyous day, as we prepare for the baptism of this new baby in this company of reverent witnesses. We will welcome this child into the family of God as a new shining light in this world. With the love and support of everyone gathered here, we will help protect him and guide him and love him as Jesus loves him, so that he may go forward and do great things in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ.”
I struck me for a moment just how prophetic that could prove to be for the baby in my arms. His parents would be sovereign rulers and he would be a leader himself one day, in possibly the same way Auggie and I were expected to lead. It was a heady thought. Despite my own secular leanings, my eyes welled with tears as I listened.
The minister continued, with one of my favorite Biblical verses. “In Matthew 19:13, children were brought before Jesus to be blessed, but his disciples rebuked them. It was Jesus who said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’”
The minister then guided us through a prayer before we got to the meat of the ceremony. “Augustine and Peaches, you are presenting your child for baptism. By doing so, do you declare that you are people of faith, who serve almighty God, and accept Jesus as Lord and King?”
“We do declare.”
“Do you declare that you will raise this child in the ways and laws of God, with mercy and with patience, with wisdom and with grace, with God’s abiding love?”
“We do declare.”
“Do you declare that you will provide a home of faith in which to nurture and protect this child?”
“We do declare.”
“And finally, do you declare that the love of God already abides in the heart of this child?”
I looked down into Jack’s angelic face. How could I not?
“We do declare.”
“Have you chosen godparents for this child?”
“Yes, we have,” we answered in unison, making room for Gav and Fern as they stepped forward.
“Do you, the godparents, promise you will do all you can to help bring up this child in the faith and love of Almighty God?”
“We do,” Gav and Fern answered together.
The minister turned his attention to the full congregation. “And do you, all witnesses who are present here, promise to love and support this family as they progress forward in faith?”
My eyes met my grandparents. “We do,” the congregation said together.
I quickly turned away from Cillian’s stare.
“What name have you chosen for this child?”
Auggie spoke loud and true. “Jackson Roan Quinn Agassi McPhee.”
In that moment, in front of God and everyone watching, Jack became Auggie’s son. Tears slipped down my cheeks when the mini
ster confirmed, “So be it. May you grow strong in the light of God’s love and the mercy and grace of Jesus Christ.” He used the holy water to make the cross on Jack’s head as he spoke. “By the authority of the Aldaynean Church, I baptize you Jackson Roan Quinn Agassi McPhee in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
He concluded with a prayer. “Heavenly Father, we praise you for the gift of this child and pray that you surround him all of his life with an outpouring of your blessings. May he be protected from all that is evil and cling to all that is good for the rest of his days. Amen.”
With that, Jack let out a loud cry to let us know he had had enough of this stuffy, religious affair. The congregation laughed, as did the minister. I wanted to reach up and kiss Auggie, but I knew we weren’t allowed to do that.
I also knew that there would be no shagging in the church like Auggie once threatened.
Instead we were ushered back outside the cathedral where our car waited for us to take us to Greystone. The public cheered as we appeared, chanting, “Prince Jack! Prince Jack!” as we passed the press line and got back into the car. The minute we were behind the tinted windows, I reached for a kiss. “Good job, Dad,” I smiled.
There was a look of wonder on his face as he glanced down at Jack, who fussily let us know that he was not happy about being cold and wet. We laughed through reverent tears as we tended our son.
Chapter Twenty-Two
We reached Greystone ahead of our guests. Kelly was already waiting for us in the large drawing room, next to the centuries-old royal cradle in purple velvet. A fire crackled in the fireplace nearby, so I made sure Jack was toasty warm by the time the family began to arrive. Those who lived with us played host to those who had yet to meet the baby. Nobody enjoyed this role better than Dash. He was on crutches by then and easily swung himself around to greet those who were permitted inside to meet the young prince at last, with Hannah shadowing him to ensure he didn’t re-injure himself.
Once visitors came in and paid their respects, they were given free reign of the castle where a large brunch was offered in the main dining hall.
The Duke Takes a Bride (The Rocking Royal Trilogy Book 2) Page 22