The Elusive Earl

by Eva Andrews

  “I’m just overly tired, can you take me home?” She asked sweetly.

  “Of course, I’ll get the carriage ordered, just give me a few moments,” leaning down, he kissed her head and walked out of the library.

  Helena crossed her arms and scolded her friend, “Genevieve Elizabeth, you tell him now!”

  “There is no need to alarm him if I’ve got until tonight before it happens Helena,” she countered, looking over at Gideon and Alastair who were still watching them.

  Within moments Luke walked back in to see the ladies quietly whispering to each other, “What else does she need to tell me Helena?” He knew who to ask.

  “Don’t you dare tell him Helena!” Genevieve ordered, crossing her arms over her rotund stomach.

  Alastair and Gideon joined Luke by the couch, eager to get in on the commotion.

  “Pray tell what is going on?” Gideon asked, overly amused at Luke’s growing irritation.

  Crossing his arms yet again, Luke looked over at his brother, “It appears our wives are keeping secrets again!”

  “I’m not keeping a secret, I want her to share…but I’ve been forbidden, you’ll have to convince your wife to share the news, not me. I am but a messenger.” She said, smiling, knowing he’d catch on.

  The men swung their eyes to Helena, and Luke asked, “You had a vision, didn’t you Helena?” All she did was smile and look at her friend beside her, who was currently sighing loudly.

  Kneeling down by the couch, “Tell me Vieve.” He pleaded.

  Shaking her head and smiling, it was hard to refuse him when he was so sweet, “Helena has had a vision of me having our child tonight. That is why I asked for her to bring the men over with her, so you’d truly stay out of my hair.”

  Standing up, looking down at her and then back to Genevieve, “Tonight?” He asked, boarding on panic.

  “Yes Luke, but not right this moment, much later. Relax! Take Vieve home and let her sleep as long as she can, we’ll be over tonight. Tonight, a new little Somerset will be born!” Helena exclaimed.

  Helena and Gideon along with Alastair watched Luke quickly usher her out of the townhouse and into the awaiting carriage. They all promised to show up after dinner to check on the couple. She refused to let Luke call any doctors before labor started, she quickly told him to stop overreacting and to calm down. Which made the entire group chuckle as she scolded the normally levelheaded Luke.

  Many hours later Helena and the men showed up to Luke and Genevieve’s lovely townhouse, along with Amelia, Hero, Annabella and Lady Selina. Genevieve had banished Luke downstairs to greet their guests and send up the ladies when they arrived. He had been hovering over her since the moment she told him, when contractions began, the man damn near lost his mind.

  The ladies all went upstairs in search of Genevieve who was in the master suite awaiting their arrival. Happy to have them with her, she settled in for a long night.

  As predicted, everything went perfectly fine. The labor ended up being long and difficult, but Genevieve was strong and rested for the intensive delivery. The ladies beside her helped her as she delivered a wailing baby boy, followed by his sister.

  Twins, she had suspected all along but never voiced her thoughts. She was amazed as they were placed in her arms, both perfectly beautiful. It appeared both her and Luke were right about the sex of the baby, they got one of each!

  Her son had inherited her emerald eyes, while her daughter’s eyes mirrored her handsome father. She held them in her arms as tears of joy flowed over her cheeks, her mother was crying, Helena was hugging Annabelle as they shed tears of joy as well. Hero and Amelia were drying each other’s tears as everyone fawned over the babies. She was so blessed to be surrounded by loving women, they were her family and friends.

  Knowing Luke was downstairs worried sick over her, the ladies placed kisses on the newborn babes. Tears and hugs, laughter and genuine love flowed through the room as the ladies took their leave.

  Helena told Genevieve she’d send up Luke right away, they were all aware he was pacing like a lion downstairs. Amelia had been the messenger between the birthing room and the library where the men were stationed, but no one had yet announced the babes were born, or that there were twins. Genevieve wanted to have the joy of sharing that with her husband herself.

  Lady Selina, Helena, along with Annabelle, Amelia and Hero descended the stairs, all with joyful tears in their eyes at watching such a miracle occur when Luke heard the voices in the hallway. Bursting out of the library, he saw the crying ladies and assumed the worst.

  “What happened?” He asked, clearly worried, bordering on panic.

  “All is well son, go see your wife,” Lady Selina said as she walked up to her son-in-law, and kissed his cheek.

  Nodding to the ladies, Luke bypassed them and took the stairs two at a time. He hadn’t laid eyes on his wife in over seven hours, even after several attempts to enter the room during her labor.

  Arriving at their door, it had been left open a little, inside he could hear her sweet voice talking to their child. Gently opening the door, he looked into his room to find his glowing wife sitting up in bed with two sweet little faces swaddled in her arms.

  There was no way he could prepare for the rush of emotion that rolled over him as he laid eyes on his family for the first time, Genevieve’s smile and glittering eyes pulled at his very soul.

  “We were both right my love, we have a son and a daughter.”

  “Twins? We have twins? Oh Genevieve, they are beautiful! You look amazing kitten, I was so worried about you,” he said as he walked up to the bed and sat beside her, taking the little girl wrapped in a pink blanket that Amelia had knitted.

  Sitting next to his wife, he held up his sweet little daughter and saw she had his very eyes, “Oh Vieve, she has my eyes!” He said excitedly, his eyes brimmed with tears of joy.

  Leaning her head against Luke’s shoulder, she took in the sight of him falling in love with his daughter; she knew he’d be such a loving father. He had been such a wonderful uncle to little Theodore these past months.

  “Would you like to hold both of them?” She asked, scooting over a tad more so he could swaddle both children in his arms easier.

  “Of course, I can’t believe this Vieve, twins!” He stated, enthralled as she placed their son in his strong arms next to his little sister.

  Since they had both been adamant about the sex of the baby, they had picked out a boy and a girl name weeks ago. Everett Michael Somerset and Claire Juliet Somerset, the names pulled from both of their parents.

  Genevieve wrapped her arms around her husband as he cradled their children lovingly in his arms; her soul had never been more at peace. Her life was complete, as she watched Luke kiss his children’s sweet little faces, promising them love and happiness in their future. He spoke to them about their homes, the ponies he’d buy for them and the fun they’d all have as a family. Her heart burst with pride as she witnessed her husband become a father, a greater love could never be known.

  Looking up from the babes, he searched his wife’s face, “I love you Genevieve Elizabeth. You are my world, forever and always.”

  “Forever and always Luke, forever and always.” She whispered back.