“From you mouth to God’s ears,” he replied. “I’d just started to believe that I was safe from the possibility of losing her in childbirth when she fell with child. Both of us had given up. After two years she had accepted she was barren and some of her happiness died. I just don’t want God to punish me because my first thought when she told me she was with child, was one of joy. It made her so happy. How could I deny her this? I selfishly rejoiced in the idea of a child too. To have a child with her… To give her what she wanted most is truly a gift from God after all this time. I keep thinking he will punish me for wanting this when it puts her at risk.”
Just then they heard footsteps coming down the corridor and the four men rose to their feet. You could cut the tension in the air with a highland sword. The door opened and a tired Mary stood there with a huge grin on her face. “Flora wants to know if you’ll come and meet”-
Mary didn’t even get to finish her sentence before Dougray raced from the room his heart thundering in his ears. He took the stairs two at a time.
On one last silent prayer he lifted the latch and entered the room. Flora lay propped up on the pillows, her eyes closed but a huge smile was on her lips. She looked pale and exhaustion marred her beautiful face. He began to walk quietly to her bedside but she heard him because her eyelids flickered open.
“Aren’t they beautiful,” and she pointed behind him. He slowly turned and saw Tessa with a sleeping bundle in her arms, and beside her the midwife with another bundle. He did a double take.
“We have twins, my darling. A boy
He swung to look at her with his mouth open. “
Doctor Mallard came forward. “Well done, Your Grace. Your wife is as healthy as one of your thoroughbred racehorses and she did a marvelous job. Being twins, the babes weren’t as big as I was expecting. The birthing went well.”
“I resent being compared to a horse,” his wife scolded. “But I did a marvelous job if I say so myself.”
Then Tessa approached and placed a squirming bundle in his arms. “Meet your bonny son.”
This was the first time he’d held a newborn. Connor had been over one-year-old when he finally found him near York. A local blacksmith, whose wife could not have children, had raised Connor. Dougray helped the husband and wife find another orphan to raise because they had been so upset to lose Connor, and he wanted to thank them for looking after his son so well.
Dougray stared at his newborn son with awe and pride. A son. He had an heir! Never had he let himself dream of this day. He could not believe how tiny the babe was. He tenderly took his son’s little hand in his and the babe gripped his thumb, his tiny fingers barely able to wrap around it. The boy opened his eyes and looked at him. He had Flora’s eyes. A bolt of pure love shot him in the heart.
He looked at his exhausted wife. “I should have learned by now that you are always right, my love. This joy I feel, this love… I am so happy I can barely think. This is worth the fear and angst.”
“Good, so you won’t be such a worry wart when I get with child again. Because seeing these two, I want a dozen more. Just give me another year to recover,” she joked.
“I don’t know about that. But I love you so much I’d do anything to make you happy.” He bent and pressed a kiss to her cheek. “Being with you every day makes me happy.”
He sat down on the bed beside her as the midwife placed his daughter in Flora’s eager arms.
“I hope you didn’t waste your time while I was working hard to bring these two into the world. Tell me the names you have selected.”
Just then there was a knock at the door and Connor’s head poked round the door. As he saw his father and Flora with the babes the concern on his face vanished.
“Come and meet your brother
When Connor reached his side he handed the young man his newborn son.
“You’re part of this family,” Flora said. “What do you think we should name them? Your father seems to be tongue tied.”
Connor held the wee baby as if he might crush it. “He’s so tiny.” He looked at Flora. “I can truly suggest his name?” She nodded. Connor thought on it for a while. “He has your fair hair, Flora, but I think he’s going to grow up to be big and strong like me. I think he should be called Finlay.”
Flora smiled. “That is a very apt name for him, it means white warrior.”
Meanwhile Dougray had scooped his daughter into his arms and she settled happily against his chest. “Then we shall name my daughter, Fiona, my white princess.”
