The Un-Apparent Heir: A Royal Family Saga Romance (Spare Change Book 4)

1. Swimmers

Ed found doctor appointments uncomfortable. In his swimming days, he only saw physicians for possible career-ending injuries. It was never good news. In this case, Natalie and Ed expected the worst. She was on edge, but hopeful. She felt this was the right step, but Ed worried they’d end the day with her on the floor. They sat in the tiny white room awaiting the verdict.

Ed and Natalie swore they would take several months before trying for a baby after they wed. However, Natalie and Ed got lazy and a bit broody. What started as an “if it happens, it happens” situation soon turned into a habit of timed sex, monitoring, and obsession over ovulation. In six months, despite their usual feverish shagging, nothing happened.

Natalie was over thirty. Ed looked down the nose of forty. They needed help. Natalie called it. That was a red flag as Natalie was dreadful at calling in an assist. Her openness showed how much she wanted to be a mother. Ed was desperate to be a dad. He wanted to do this with Natalie.

Ed and Natalie found their feet as a married couple without incident. They were happy yet struggled to conceive. Ed was sure a baby was around the corner. Natalie assumed the problem was genetic, as her mother struggled with fertility issues. Still, getting that news was challenging. Ed knew confirmation would hit his wife hard.

The pressures of royal life were crushing. Things changed in unexpected ways. Since his first teenage Olympic medals, Ed was a recognisable public figure. However, this was other-worldly. He rarely had privacy, couldn’t go anywhere, and was expected to always be “on”.

It was worse for Natalie. Every day was “bump watch” in the rush towards their anniversary. They needed to produce an heir—and soon. If they made it to their first-anniversary bump-less, Natalie would take the hit. People would question the success of their marriage. Usually, she was the protector. But since their engagement, Ed needed to step in and help his wife. The press was brutal to women with infertility struggles. Natalie needed to be the perfect wife and eventual mother.

They stood to shake their consultant’s hand on entry. A pin drop could have rang loud as a bomb as they listened to the analysis. Natalie gripped Ed’s hand. He squeezed back, letting her know he was there. They were on the edge of their seats.

“So, I will get right to it,” Dr Yang explained. “I think we should go right to IVF. You both are young and good candidates.”

“We can’t just… do drugs?” Natalie asked, confused. “And try that first?”

“Unfortunately, that is unlikely to work in this case. While you are ovulating and not struggling per the tests and your history, Your Royal Highness, the Duke’s sperm quality needs help. Motility and count are low. This means that our best chance is a targeted approach. We can control conception much better this way.”

Ed felt out of breath. He said nothing, grasping at straws.

“It won’t be that dreadful. I promise you. And your likelihood of conception is high. You had good egg reserves.”

Ed finally choked out, “When you say low, what do you mean?”

“Not the worst I have seen by any means. However, they are not good. And since you are no longer competing and wear loose-fitting pants—per your health history assessment—I don’t think other modifications will change it. The good news? This procedure should overcome many hurdles. There is no reason to wait.”

Ed nodded, embarrassed.

“Baby, it’s not your fault,” Natalie sensed his feelings. “You cannot help it. We’ll overcome it. We always do.”

“But what if we don’t?” Ed asked.

“I cannot promise miracles,” Dr Yang confirmed. “However, I see a couple like you once a week sticking the landing within one or two cycles. You have a great profile for this. One of my favourites.”

Natalie smiled, encouraged.

Ed swallowed hard as the doctor handed information over to Natalie about their cycle and walked them to the nurse’s station. Natalie received scripts for her numerous jabs. She’d start the cycle in December. The transfer would happen in January. They would hopefully hear good news about the cycle before February—more than enough time to impress all on “bump watch” by their anniversary.

Natalie was positive as they left, but Ed blamed himself. Natalie could say what she wanted, but he failed her. After filing through a dozen hallways and climbing into a hospital service lift, they arrived at the waiting car.

“Edwin, please,” Natalie said. “You aren’t at fault here. I’m not upset with you.”

“This is quite literally my fault, baby?—”

“Ed, darling, it cannot be helped. You want the baby most of all. You didn’t self-sabotage. You’re going to make a wonderful dad. And it will work out. The doctor all but said that. Take heart.”

She rested her head on his shoulder lovingly, going on about their first cycle like it was some magical event. She was positive, but Ed felt this worry in the pit of his stomach he couldn’t buck.

“I love you,” Natalie said. “And I must trust it.”

“I love you, too. More than anything. I want this, Natalie. I will do whatever I can to make it happen.”

“I know you will. You always give a hundred and fifty per cent, baby. You put up with me.”

He chuckled. “I love you, Natalie. Without you, I’d be bored.”

“I don’t mean to make a joke here, but it’s just such low-hanging fruit.”

“What?”

Natalie snickered. “You know it’s ironic that the Swimmer of the Century—the man who swims miles daily—is struggling with lazy swimmers.”

Ed could have cried, but it wasn’t within him.

He laughed. “You’re right, my love. The irony.”

“We’ll be fine, Edwin. I love you. We will make it work,” Natalie said.

If he didn’t laugh, Ed would cry. She was right somehow. They always made it out okay—no matter how bleak things looked. He loved her persistence. It was what he admired most about Natalie. She was the best thing to ever happen to him. If it weren’t for her, he wouldn’t even want this.

Lucy sighedwhile entering her house in Berkshire. The day was long. She was training a new assistant. Unfortunately, using the government’s email client wasn’t her strong suit. The girl double-booked Natalie twice the next day leaving Lucy to take the afternoon trying to apologise to leaders of charities that the Princess was sorry for the double-booking. It was a social minefield, but Lucy’s normal.

After six months off to recover from childbirth, Lucy was back in full fighting force as Natalie’s private secretary. Or rather, she was back in her new form. Though constantly exhausted, Lucy struggled to leave her son every morning. He was nearly a year old and in a “mummy phase” of life where he cried uncontrollably upon her exit. She joined Natalie in the car to London most mornings, fighting tears.

Being a mother was different than Lucy pictured it. She loved her son more than anything. Malcolm was the love of their lives. He made it all sweeter. Watching Winston bond with their son only made Lucy love him harder. People told her she’d feel like this, but she never imagined how intense these feelings would be.

It hit differently now. Unconvinced she could be as good at her job as before, Lucy worried. It wasn’t that motherhood took away her edge, but it made her prioritise the life of her son and husband above work.

“Is that Mummy?” Lucy heard Winston’s voice from the kitchen.

There, in a small little playpen was Baby Malcolm. He greeted her excitedly with a toy, demanding to be picked up. Lucy scooped him up and covered his cheeks in kisses.

“Were you good for Daddy?” Lucy cooed.

“He is always good.” Winston stepped over to kiss Lucy.

“Good. It’s great to be home.”

“Sit. I”ll get you a glass of wine, Lulu.”

“Thanks, sweetie.”

Lucy sat with Malcolm on her lap. He pounded his little fists on the table excitedly before turning to her.

“How was work?” Lucy asked. “And how was Bruno?”

“I got a lot done on that commission,” Winston replied. “Bruno was happy as ever to help out.”

He’d needed to work on a painting and had sequestered himself in his garden-facing studio to finish. Working on art with an infant wasn’t easy. His stepfather, Bruno, volunteered to help.

“I think it is a good time to look for a nanny, Tony. I can get a good list?—”

“I have never liked that idea. Mum always took care of us.”

“Winston, your mum never had a job outside the home. She managed the estate and was a stay-at-home-parent.”

“Well, I should probably do more with the estate. And I dunno. Commissions don’t fill my tank as they used to, my love.”

“It’s up to you,” Lucy said, feeling a pang of guilt. “I’m not quitting my job.”

“I am not saying you should do that, Luce! God, don’t say that.”

Winston brought her a glass of wine.

“Thank you, baby,” Lucy said, pushing the stemless glass across the table to keep it out of grabby little hands.

“I’m just saying, I would rather spend time with this little guy while life is still new and simple than hire someone. I enjoy it more.”

“It”s upto you. I don’t want you feeling miserable or bored. We can hire a nanny?—”

“I know, I know. When we have a second one, we’ll have more to do.”

Lucy tried not to recoil, annoyed. Winston was desperate for baby number two. Lucy wasn’t interested.

“In a long time,” Winston said.

He didn’t mean it, adding the remark to cover his ass.

“Uh-huh.”

Lucy kissed her baby boy’s head. She took in the sweet smell of his ginger hair and wanted to stay this way forever. She longed for him to forever be this precious, tiny ball of energy. She wanted life to be simple, even if balancing challenged her. Nights like this at home with Winston cooking dinner and her baby greeting her with big smiles made it worth it.

“Hey Nat,”Lucy looked up from her desk.

Natalie popped into Lucy’s office and closed the door. In her head, she’d broached this conversation dozens of times. It felt different in the moment.

“Hi, darling,” Natalie smiled.

“Big doings?” Lucy asked.

Natalie plopped into the chair before Lucy’s desk.

“Uh, I need to say something and not sure how to say it, so just saying it.”

Lucy nodded, concerned.

“Remember when I said I scheduled an annual visit with my consultant?”

“Sure,” Lucy agreed.

“Well, we saw a fertility specialist.”

Lucy did a double-take.

“It was a positive experience. We’re having some issues. Ed is beating himself up over it because it’s a ‘sperm quality issue.” I’m feeling a bit like a broodmare.”

“I’m so sorry, Natalie,” Lucy said.

She got up and walked around to hug Natalie. “Are you okay?”

“I don’t even know? Like, I’m hopeful. The doctor was positive. Ed is just… he’s shattered. I need to stay positive and believe in it, but he’s so down.”

“He will be okay,” Lucy assured. “He will get over it. Once you two have a baby, it will just be a blip. What do you need to do?”

“We’re going to undergo treatment. IVF. I must keep this under wraps and build all these tests into our schedule.”

“I can help but… don’t you want to tell your mum? She would understand?”

Natalie pulled a face.

“Oh, Nat, she loves you. She is trustworthy.”

“I know,” Natalie said. “It’s not Mum. It’s putting her in a bad position with Dad. She’s pretty much obligated to tell him. And she will keep to her word and not squawk, but that weighs on her.”

“I think your Dad would?—”

“He would worry. His worry would worry me. And that would be the end of it. I would feel worse, Ed would feel immense pressure, and we don’t need that. Trust me when I say I have thought about this. I feel it best.”

Lucy nodded. “Of course. I trust you have. I know it. Poor Ed. Guys don’t handle this stuff well.”

“Especially not buff guys who could be mistaken for Greek gods but have now been brought down to Earth.”

Lucy giggled. “Oh, Nat. You are still mercilessly in love with that man. You still thirst.”

“I hope I always will,” Natalie said. “Is that not normal? I mean, he’s my husband?—”

Lucy looked down and shrugged.

“Oh, oh. What is going on? Wait, are you and Winston having problems?” Natalie realised she may have overstepped. She pulled back. “Not that I want to pry…”

“No, no. God, I’m so frustrated. It’s not that I struggle with attraction. I want Winston. I think about him now probably as much as ever—if not more—but by the end of the day, we’re both so exhausted that we have nothing left within. He wants to try for another baby and I have no desire to make that happen right now.”

“What do you need from him?”

“I need him to… I dunno…”

“Well, you should tell him what you need him to do, Luce. Men aren’t mind readers. It’s unfair.”

“Isn’t it like implied? I need him to fuck me—and soon—before I lose my damn mind!”

“The Countess has spoken!” Natalie rubbed her hands together. “Shall I call my dear cousin and tell him to properly service his wife before she loses it?”

Lucy pulled a face.

“Tell him what you want?—”

“We make plans. I tell him. Then, he gets busy with the baby, or we both get run down.”

“You know what you need?”

“What?” Lucy groaned. “A new vibrator?”

“That is exactly what you do not need. No. You need a trip. A couple of nights away. Time to reconnect.”

“What?”

“Yes. Call it time to reconnect. Take a trip to Paris or something. Fly somewhere. Go up to Scotland. Something. Go to Anmer. I don’t care. I want you both to be happy. It’s important to connect properly, okay?”

Lucy shook her head. “He refuses to hire a nanny?—”

“Luce, let Ed and I handle the baby, okay? It’s good practice for us. We’re going to be parents hopefully within a year. We could use it.”

“I couldn’t ask you to bother.”

“Why? You couldn’t ask us to crash at your palatial stately home only five minutes from us and watch the baby for a couple of days. Ed loves Malcolm. It will be good.”

“Really?” Lucy looked confused.

“Lucy, I am his godmother and your best mate. It is the least I can do. Besides, I miss the dogs.”

“You could take or leave the baby?” Lucy giggled.

“Oh my God, no! Malcolm is darling. But I do love the furbabies.”

“Just admit that you prefer dogs to human children.”

“Never tell Ed, but yes. I am sure I will feel differently about ours.”

Lucy smiled. “You will. It will be the most intense, beautiful love you have ever felt.”

Natalie looked forward to it. She wondered if their child might look more like Ed or her. She contemplated if they would be good at sports or would want to be a pilot—maybe both? She thought about how beautiful it would feel to hold a baby—their baby—for the first time and bring it home. She pictured their parents over the moon and obsessed.

It was all so close. Natalie crossed her fingers and toes it didn’t take too long.