Page 149 of The Bachelor Spy
Frederick stared down at the baby, who’d begun to quiet against Grace’s skin.Theirson. With a shock of dark hair plastered to his tiny skull.
He was perfect.
Frederick’s vision blurred, and he reached up to wipe at his eyes, suddenly aware that he’d had his spectacles on the entire time. He pushed them up to rest on his head and leaned near to the pair.
“He’s so beautiful,” Grace whispered, tears streaming down her face. “And tiny. Look how tiny he is.”
“Yes,” was all Frederick could seem to say, all his emotions allowed.
Grace’s breath shivered out, and she shook her head. “He didn’t feel that tiny.”
Frederick chuckled, a wavering sound, as he wiped at his eyes. Then he pressed his face into Grace’s hair, one hand carefully touching their son’s tiny head.
So small.
With infinite care, he slid a finger over the baby’s tiny hand, and those infant fingers wrapped around his, the action gripping him in his very soul.
“We have an heir.” Grace looked up at Frederick in wonder. “A son for Havensbrooke.”
“We have a healthy baby,” Frederick corrected, his thumb tracing their baby’s cheek. “That’s all that matters.”
He kissed her smile in full view of Dr. Ross and Mrs. Powell.
Neither seemed to mind.
“Perhaps you could send a message to Zahra and Lily,” Grace murmured, her attention fastened fully on the quiet bundle in her arms. “I know they’ll be worried.”
“Good idea.” He pressed a kiss to Grace’s forehead, then to their son’s. “I won’t be long.”
He straightened to a stand, his entire body trembling from all the powerful feelings he’d experienced over the past hours. His hand felt bruised from Grace’s grip, and he almost laughed as he stepped into the quiet corridor, the cool air from the hallway bathing his face in refreshing relief.
The quiet.
The reality rushed over him in an inexpressible wave of gratitude.
He leaned against the wall for a moment, catching his breath, gathering his composure, thanking God.
A son.
They had a son.
And Grace had been magnificent.
“My lord!” Dr. Ross’ voice called from inside the room. Tense. Urgent. “My lord, come quickly.”
Frederick spun around, crossing the threshold in an instant.
His attention moved from Grace, whose brow had creased in what looked like pain, to the baby in her arms, and then back to Dr. Ross.
The man held his gaze. “Something’s wrong.”
“Something’s wrong?” Grace repeated, attempting a quick inventory of her body as best she could.
She felt entirely bruised from the inside out. The little baby on her chest squirmed against her, his tiny fingers flexing and tightening as if searching for something.
Everything seemed fine. Better than fine. Miraculous!
But as soon as Frederick had stepped away, another pain sliced through her middle.
