Epilogue
ELIZA
Ifound out very quickly that being heavily pregnant made something that used to be as simple as walking through a castle less casual and more strategic. Moving slowly down the corridor with one hand braced against the small of my back, I went in search of my husband.
The Westwoods had arrived a few days ago, a few of the brothers, their wives, and Jesse. It’d been surprisingly comfortable having them here. A few months ago, that would have been unimaginable, but time—and a lot of difficult conversations—had done their work.
Will and Jesse had taken those months to smooth over their relationship after everything that had happened, but now, they were thick as thieves again, meaning that Will had rarely been where I’d left him since his twin had arrived.
I reached the private sitting room just as another wave of voices and laughter rose from within, and I smiled as I stepped into baby central. There were blankets and baskets, tiny clothes that made my heart do alarming things, and the two cutest babies in the world cooing on a playmat.
Kate and Jane sat near the fireplace, having turned this room into their base of operations and rarely leaving it. Kate grinned when she saw me. “There you are. We were just talking about you.”
“That’s never a good sign,” I joked as I waddled into the room. “Were you talking about how very much I’ve come to resemble a whale?”
“No.” Jane smiled. “We were wondering if you’ve chosen a name yet, but now that you’ve mentioned it, how are you feeling?”
“Large, slightly betrayed by my own spine, and uncertain if my brain is even where I left it.”
Kate laughed. “You might feel like a whale, but you don’t look like one. Promise.”
As I started taking another step, I stopped moving, my eyebrows mashing together. Something suddenly felt off. There was a strange, sudden warmth between my legs, a shift deep down inside.
“Crap, did I just wet myself?” I blinked and looked down, realizing then that this hadn’t been a bladder control issue. “Oh.”
“Did your water just break?” Kate asked, eyes wide.
“Yes,” I said numbly. “I think it did.”
Jane was already on her feet, racing toward me. “Here, honey. Lean on me. It’s going to be fine.”
I stared at the floor, then looked back at them. “I have at least three more weeks to go.”
Kate stood up and took my other arm, gently leading me to the door. “Not anymore you don’t.”
“We’re not in London,” I said, because it felt important to share that information. “We were supposed to be in London when this happened.”
“No, you’re not in London, but you do have a perfectly capable clinic in the village, remember? Will said so at dinner last night.”
I blinked again, my brain still trying to catch up to my body. The baby seemed to have decided to make some executive decisions without consulting me and I honestly felt dumbstruck.
“Okay,” I said slowly when I finally managed to speak again. “Okay, that’s fine. Has anyone seen Will?”
A few hours later, the world seemed soft around the edges when I woke. For a second, I didn’t move, just lying there and letting the haze lift slowly, the events of the past few hours filtering back in piece by piece.
There had been rain, a light, summer drizzle that’d felt so good against my overheated skin when they’d led me to the car. Pain. Will’s voice, steady in my ear, his hands holding mine. Breathing exercises, except these hadn’t only been exercises.
My eyes finally drifted open when it occurred to me that they hadn’t only been exercises. Moonlight was spilling in through the window, pale and soft against the walls of the cozy, normally quiet village clinic.
It sure hadn’t been quiet today, though. Almost all the Westwoods had relocated here when they’d learned the baby was on the way.
There were only two Westwoods I wanted right now, though. “Will?”
My voice came out as more of a croak as I looked around wildly, but only for a moment before I saw him standing near the bassinet. He was moving carefully, like everything in the world had narrowed down to this one, fragile moment as he lifted our son into his arms.
He smiled as he turned toward me. “Welcome back, Mommy. Good nap?”
Seeing them together made the strangest thing happen to my chest, like it was expanding into a different dimension altogether. My gaze swept across Will’s features until it came to a rest on the angelic, gorgeous face of my son.
Bennet Westwood Roderick. One day, the Seventh Earl of Roderick, but right now, he was just ours, a tiny, perfect piece of both of us.
Will crossed the room carefully with the baby. “Say hi to Mommy, little one.”
“Hi,” I murmured, my voice still a little sleepy. “How is he doing?”
He sat on the edge of the bed, settling Bennet gently in his arms before leaning in to press a kiss to my forehead. “He’s doing so well, baby. There’s still a few minutes before he needs another feed, so you can go back to sleep if you want. I’ll wake you.”
A soft laugh came out of me. “Thanks, I feel like I got hit by a carriage.”
He brushed his thumb lightly against my cheek, his shoulders finally starting to relax after what had turned into an insane day. “That seems reasonable, but you did it, Eliza. You were so amazing.”
“We did it,” I corrected.
He smiled, glancing down at our son again. “Yeah. Yeah, I guess we did.”
A soft knock sounded at the door and we both looked up. Will quietly called, “Come in.”
Jesse appeared in the doorway, lingering for a second like he wasn’t entirely sure he belonged here. It was such a stark contrast to the version of him I’d first met, the brash, untouchable confidence and sharp edges, that I almost didn’t recognize him these days.
He held a small bouquet of flowers in one hand. “Hey, guys. How’s everyone doing?”
“Hey,” Will said, waving him in. “What’re you just standing there for? Come meet your nephew.”
He stepped inside slowly, his gaze flicking between us before settling on the baby in Will’s arms. “I didn’t come earlier because I thought I’d just get in the way. Plus, I haven’t really been able to breathe all day and I figured that was a bad sign in a medical setting.”
Will smirked. “Yeah, you might’ve given the docs quite a scare, but you’re here now and they’re both fine. We’re all fine. I promise.”
“You wouldn’t have been in the way,” I assured him gently. “Are you breathing okay now, though?”
Jesse nodded and took another step forward, moving slowly until he was standing beside the bed, looking down at his nephew for the first time. Something shifted in him as he stared at the baby. I swore, I saw it happen, clear as day.
The uncertainty didn’t disappear, but it eased, giving way to something that looked a lot like awe. “Oh. Wow. He’s real.”
I smiled when he leaned in slightly, like he was afraid to get too close. “Go on, Jesse. You won’t hurt him. Babies are more resilient than they seem.”
“He’s…” Jesse trailed off, shaking his head as he blinked rapidly. “Wow. Just wow.”
Will chuckled. “Right?”
For a few moments, I just watched them together. This side of Jesse, the softer side, was rare, but ever since he and Will had been growing closer again, I felt honored to get to see it more and more often. Their bond truly was something even I treasured.
“How does it feel?” he asked, glancing at Will. “Being a father.”
Will looked down at Bennet, his expression so openly marveling that I felt my heart squeeze. “It’s almost as good as being a husband.”
I let out a quiet laugh and Jesse snorted, but there was a warmth to him now that I never thought I’d see. He leaned down, giving Will’s shoulder a brief, slightly awkward hug. Then he turned to me but didn’t lean in.
“I’ll hug you when you’re up and about again, but congratulations.”
“Thank you,” I said.
Will motioned Jesse into a chair beside the bed. “Sit down. Why are you just standing there?”
Jesse blinked hard. “What?”
“Sit,” Will repeated. “You’re holding him.”
Jesse froze as suddenly as if he’d turned into a statue. “I, no, uh. I don’t think that’s a good idea. I don’t know how and I just wanted to say hi. I—”
“You’re sitting,” Will said calmly.
“I’m not…” He trailed off again. “What if I drop him?”
“You won’t.”
“How do you know?”
“Because I’m right here and I won’t let you.”
Jesse hesitated, but only for another moment before he slowly sat down. Will carefully placed Bennet into Jesse’s arms, guiding him just enough to make sure he didn’t immediately panic.
“There,” Will said. “See? Not so bad.”
Jesse stared down at the baby like he’d just been handed something priceless, which he had, but I wouldn’t have thought he’d be so affected by it. He exhaled shakily, his gaze never lifting away from our son’s. “This is a terrible idea, guys. Seriously.”
“It’s not.” I smiled, watching the way his shoulders slowly, almost imperceptibly, began to relax. “You’ve got this, Jess. You’re his godfather. One of these days, you’re even going to have to change a nappy.”
As he laughed, it looked like his grip was steadying, something in him starting to give. He and Will, in certain ways, were so much alike that in moments like these, it made me feel like I understood him better than most.
I realized then, as I watched him, that this moment might matter more than any of us fully comprehended. Jesse finally looked back up at his brother. “What’s his full name? I mean, how does that work with him being the heir and all?”
Will glanced at me, his hand finding mine above the blanket. He gave it a small squeeze and I nodded, answering his unspoken question. Yes, I think we’re ready.
He nodded and turned to face Jesse again. “Bennet is actually one of his middle names.”
Jesse frowned. “So what’s his first name? Earl?”
“Jesse.” Will’s mouth curved.
“Yeah?”
“No, that’s the answer to your question. His name is Jesse Bennet. Jesse Bennet Westwood Roderick. Technically, he’s Viscount Roderick, if we’re being formal about it.”
For an extended minute, Jesse just stared at him, then at me, then let out a short, disbelieving laugh. “You’re joking.”
“We’re not,” I said softly. “If it hadn’t been for you, he might not have been here, but more than that, you’re important to us, Jesse. A part of this little family of ours. We wanted to honor that.”
He shook his head, still laughing, but I didn’t miss the tears glinting in his eyes. “Wow.”
He looked down at the baby, Jesse Bennet, and my chest suddenly started aching as I saw the longing that crossed his features. It was like a door had just cracked open, allowing us to see something that it seemed like he was only realizing himself for the first time right now.
I leaned into Will slightly, my fingers threading through his as I wondered if it was possible that Jesse could be next—perhaps even willingly this time.
***