Crewe

London had her arm tucked in the crook of mine as I guided her through the party. We already said our pleasantries to most of the guests, but we had a few more on our list. London looked beautiful in a strapless gold gown. With her deep brown hair and emerald eyes, she looked like a jewel.

When I turned to the right, I came face-to-face with Josephine. With thick cheeks and a neck not nearly as elegant as before, she looked at me with the same look of guilt. Her stomach was extended through her dress, her belly swollen with her first child. When I heard about her pregnancy, I couldn’t have cared less. “Hello, Lady Josephine.” I always addressed her formally because there was nothing informal between us. It was strange to think she could have given birth to my child.

Thank god that never happened.

“Hello, Lord Donoghue.” She leaned in and accepted the kiss I gave her on the cheek. “Nice to see you.” She turned to London next, her dislike written in her expression.

“Nice to see you, Lady London,” I corrected, demanding that my wife get the same respect I received.

Josephine’s cheeks reddened in embarrassment. “Of course…Lady.”

I eyed her stomach. “Congratulations. This must be an exciting time for you.”

“It is,” Josephine answered. “Andrew and I are very excited.” She looked around the room to find him, and to no one’s surprise, he was speaking with one of the young waitresses. She turned back to us like she hadn’t noticed.

I actually felt bad for her. “Have a good evening. My wife and I have a few more people to say hello to.”

“Of course.” Josephine moved her hand to her stomach then turned away.

London moved farther into me. “Karma’s a bitch, ain’t it?” After all this time, my wife was still fiercely protective of me. “Looks like she can’t keep that husband of hers on a tight leash.”

“It doesn’t surprise me.” The queen had just finished greeting the Duke of Rosenthal and she had an opening. I pulled London with me, and we said our greetings.

London was an expert at royalty. She knew exactly what to say and how to carry herself. Even the queen didn’t intimidate her. London belonged in this life more than I did. After chatting for ten minutes, I excused us so we wouldn’t overstay our welcome. “Having a good time?”

“I am…” She sighed and looked down at her wine.

“Doesn’t sound like it,” I said with a smile.

“I guess I just miss the kids. Is that stupid?”

“No.” I rubbed her back then pulled her into me, planting a kiss on her hairline. “Not at all.”

“I’m with them all the time, but when they’re gone, I can’t stop thinking about them.”

“I miss them too.”

“So…can we blow off this party?”

I took a look around, realizing I’d said hello to all the important people who mattered. “Yeah, I think that would be fine.”

London’s face lit up like I’d just said the magic words to make her the happiest woman in the world. “I’ll tell Dunbar to get the car.”

London walked through the doors first then headed into the grand living room where the enormous hearth sat underneath the TV. Joseph had the baby on his chest while Christopher played with his blocks on the floor.

“You look so comfortable right now,” London said with a chuckle.

Joseph’s eyes were lidded and heavy, and he didn’t seem to be watching the TV even though it was still on. “It took me, like, an hour to change his diaper. And that shit smelled.”

“No cussing around the kids.” London grabbed Alan and held him against his chest. “How’s my baby?” She spoke in a soft voice, in a way she only did with the kids. “Mommy and Daddy missed you.” She rubbed her nose against his and made him giggle.

I watched my wife, transfixed by the blessing I had right in front of me. I had a perfect wife and two healthy kids. Christopher had my eyes and facial features. Alan looked more like London, with soft features that were still masculine.

“They were pretty good,” Joseph said. “Christopher played with the blocks the whole time.”

“You had fun with Uncle Joseph?” London asked Alan.

“Of course he did.” Joseph stood up and gave Alan’s foot a gentle squeeze. “They love their uncle. They’ll love me even more when I take them driving and to pick up women.”

“I hope you’ll have a family of your own when they’re that age, Joseph.” London sat down and laid the baby in her lap. She touched both of his hands then smiled down at our son. “I’d be concerned if you didn’t.”

Joseph walked up to me and extended his hand. “How was the ball?”

I shook it. “It wasn’t a ball. A birthday party.”

“Sounds like a ball to me.” He nodded to Christopher. “They were both good kids. Pretty damn cute too.”

“They get that from your sister.” I kneeled down and picked up Christopher. “Hey, little guy.” He was two years old, walking around the house and saying a few words here and there. While I worked during the day, London watched them and taught them everything under the sun. Sometimes I hated being at work because I missed out on finger painting, story time, exercise. “Have fun.”

He stared at me before he reached his hand out and grabbed my nose.

I let him do whatever he wanted, being a pushover father like London predicted.

Christopher let out a giggle when I smiled.

Joseph patted me on the back. “I’m gonna head out. I’ll see you guys later.”

“Bye,” I said without taking my eyes off my son.

“Bye, Joey.” London didn’t look at him either. “Let’s get these kids to bed. They’re already up later than they should be.”

“Thanks to their asshole uncle,” I jabbed.

“Hey,” Joseph said as he walked out of the living room. “I’m the best uncle in the world, and you both know it.”

We carried the kids upstairs, placing Christopher in the crib in his bedroom and the baby in the bed with us. I didn’t like giving up my alone time with London. We usually made love before we went to sleep and again in the morning. Fortunately, we made time during the day just for the two of us. We took a long lunch in our bedroom, eating in private and fucking when we were full. It wasn’t so bad.

London took off her makeup and got undressed while I watched Alan. I changed his diaper, putting him in his pajamas, and placed him in the center of the bed where he couldn’t roll away.

London got into bed a moment later, wearing one of my t-shirts with her hair pulled up. She wasn’t in lingerie like she used to be, but she was still beautiful. She got under the covers and snuggled next to the baby, her hand resting on his stomach so she could feel him at all times. Her eyes closed, and she immediately drifted off.

Instead of turning off the bedside lamp, I left it on so I could watch London and Alan sleep together. Their chests rose and fell at the exact same rate, and I thought it was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen.

I had my own family.

I missed my parents and my brother, but their absence didn’t feel so painful anymore. Now that hole didn’t feel so deep. It had been filled with the family London gave to me. I had two incredible sons, and I intended to have two more children when she was ready to make more babies.

I was a king.

Now I had a queen.

And two perfect little princes.

This castle felt like a home. I still ran the scotch business, dominated the world of liquor, but now, I was so much more. With more money than I knew what to do with, I was a very lucky man.

But I truly felt privileged with this family.

I was the scotch king—and I was definitely blessed.