Three and a third years after The Lethe Elixir

Elise blew a weary yet happy sigh when Healer Althea placed her and Seanian’s newborn twins in her arms—another boy and girl just like three years ago this summer. They’d known she was carrying twins again from the double heartbeats Healer Althea had sensed over six months ago, but they’d not asked the witch healer the twins’ genders. Cuddling the tiny twins close, she kissed their soft, red cheeks before beaming up at Seanian.

Hovering beside their bed, Seanian was white and strained despite his soft smile as he gazed at her and their newest twins. Her protective husband hated her enduring childbirth, although he never left her side and sent her heartening thoughts throughout it. Not that either of hers had been terrible. Both times she’d only been in labor four hours, and Healer Althea had dampened the pain with her healing magic. But Seanian had still hated what she’d had to endure.

As Healer Althea left to give them privacy, Elise beamed brighter up at her dearest husband. “Come greet Gernand and Genevieve, my love.” Since they’d named their first twins after Seanian’s childhood best friends, they’d agreed they’d name these twins after her family, using those two names if they’d a boy and a girl. Gernand, her family’s surname, for her father, and Genevieve after her mother. That way, Edouard could still use Father’s name for his son, appropriate given how like Father her twin was, and Gernand and Genevieve sounded better together anyway.

Once Seanian sat beside her with a sigh and kissed the twins, he leaned over and gently kissed her as well. “We’ve another pair of adorable children—only to be expected with you as their mother.”

Warmth suffusing her chest, she chuckled. “No, because you’re their father.”

Smiling, Seanian kissed her again then murmured against her lips, “Thanks, my love.” He straightened. “But despite our adorable children, I think we should wear contraceptive charms until we’re too old to conceive. We’ve the eight children you’ve always wanted now.”

Elise hummed. So they did—half natural children and half adopted ones, ranging in age from newborn to almost eight. And making Seanian endure her giving birth again would be cruel when they’d so many children already. She smiled up at Seanian. “Yes, we’ll start wearing contraceptive charms again.”

Seanian relaxed and kissed her over their newborn twins once more. “Good. So our family is complete then?”

She slanted Seanian a narrow glance. He’d felt the signs from the Goddess as strongly as she had. “You know it isn’t.”

Seanian exhaled as Genevieve began smacking her lips, obviously wanting to nurse. He replied, “Gallant and the triplets.”

She nodded while she handed Gernand to Seanian. They’d met the four struggling teenagers through Kit and Mel this month and had felt instantly drawn toward them. Orphaned early in the year, Gallant and his three identical sisters were impoverished gentry who’d begun fetching food from almskitchens every day since they’d no money after their parents died. At fifteen-and-a-half, Gallant was fiercely protective of his nearly fourteen-year-old sisters, reminding her of Seanian. The eldest triplet, Grace was warmly gracious, reminding her of herself. The middle triplet, Hope was brightly bubbly, reminding her of Pippa. And the youngest triplet, Honor was deeply serious, reminding her of Edouard. Four teenagers so reminiscent of various family members must be children the Goddess meant for them to adopt.

Elise lifted Genevieve to her breast, and once the tiny infant was successfully nursing, she looked up at Seanian. “I know you prefer adding to our family farther apart to avoid overwhelming us, but we must adopt Gallant and the triplets now. Goddess knows what could happen to them if we wait. I wanted to discuss adopting them the afternoon we met them, but my false labor began, and Healer Althea insisted on bedrest until I gave birth, so I knew we couldn’t discuss adopting anyone until after the twins were born.”

Seanian grimaced. “No, I was too focused on your health to discuss adopting Gallant and his sisters, although I did think of them often. And I asked Jebb to send them food every day and keep an eye on them then report if anything changed.”

She beamed up at her always attentive husband. Not surprising that he’d quietly arranged to take care of their soon-to-be children. “So you’ll bring them back to Farson House in the morning?” Unfortunately, ’twas much too late tonight.

Narrowing his eyes at her, Seanian rocked Gernand when the tiny infant began to fuss and smack his lips. “I shall if you promise to remember to rest. I can handle getting Gallant and the triplets settled as well as taking care of the other children. Arvan and Melody shall help.”

Elise sighed but inclined her head. “I promise.” Remembering to rest was necessary after childbirth but so difficult when she wanted to resume lovingly managing their family like usual. Yet Seanian could handle taking care of them, especially with Arvan and Melody.

At twenty, Arvan now lived on his own and managed Golddell affairs himself, although he’d asked Seanian to remain Golddell’s royal councilor since he’d rather be riding than handling politics. Despite being independent, Arvan had offered to stay with them for the next few weeks to help with the children. He’d promised to take the older four with him on his morning rides even if Seanian couldn’t join them.

Ten years Arvan’s senior, Melody had been Seanian’s deputy at the Ministry of Internal Relations for the past three years. She was the middle daughter of the Merryweathers from Oakmoor, and the Duke of Oakmoor had suggested Melody as Seanian’s deputy when they’d returned to court that spring. They and the assured lady had become close over the years, so she’d agreed to help with the children like Arvan even though ’twasn’t part of her duties and she returned to her husband at night.

Once Genevieve finished nursing, Elise and Seanian traded twins, and she nursed Gernand like she had his sister before they gave both twins to their nursemaids. Then Seanian insisted she eat, and she insisted he join her. He did, and after they ate, he slid into bed beside her and wrapped her in his arms with a tender kiss. They fell asleep nestled together like usual, although they woke every few hours when the nursemaids brought Gernand and Genevieve to nurse. Although she obviously handled the nursing, Seanian handled the burping afterward as well as comforting the non-nursing twin.

‘Twas well past dawn when they typically woke that Seanian kissed her awake. While they had infants, their daily routine was vastly different than normal. Although she did insist her active husband go on a morning ride at least two or three times a week, for both their sanities. Seanian became too restless if he didn’t. Sadly, she couldn’t join him for the first couple months or make love with him either.

Not long after she and Seanian finished eating breakfast, the nursemaids brought Gernand and Genevieve back to nurse again, then Arvan and Melody brought the other children to visit and meet the newborn twins.

Despite being the youngest besides Gernand and Genevieve, the almost three-year-old twins Faras and Rosalind were the first children to enter once Arvan opened the door. Faras was a determined little boy who was hard to sway from whatever he’d decided to do, while Rosalind was a curious little girl who was always into everything and asking questions. They burst inside, shouting, “Mama, Papa! Mama, Papa!”

Almost six-year-old Hazel and four-and-a-half-year-old Willow entered close behind but at a much more sedate pace. Elise and Seanian had adopted the just orphaned half-mara sisters during the early Longnight season a year and a half ago when the nightmara Tree Herd and their mara clan had visited Arvan. Hazel and Willow’s mother had been a non-mara woman, and her daughters took more after her, although they both did adore horses. Hazel was bookish and always carried whatever she was reading with her, while Willow was elegant and always wore neatly modish dresses. Their mara clan hadn’t known quite how to handle them, but Elise and Seanian had felt instantly drawn to the lost little girls, so they’d asked to adopt them, which had overjoyed and relieved their mara clan.

Directly behind Hazel and Willow, almost eight-year-old Noah and five-year-old Asher strode inside with Melody following them. Elise and Seanian had adopted the orphaned brothers last summer after Noah and Asher had moved to Waterstreet Orphanage from another in Ormas. Despite being orphaned several years earlier, both Noah and Asher were often smiling. The calm Noah’s smiles were soft and steady, while the friendly Asher’s were warm and welcoming. Like with the other children the Goddess meant for them to adopt, Elise and Seanian had felt instantly drawn to the hopeful little boys when volunteering at the orphanage, so they’d soon asked Hawke and Wren if they could adopt them.

After embracing and kissing all their six older children, Elise and Seanian introduced them to Gernand and Genevieve.

Rosalind squinted at the nursing Genevieve and the waiting Gernand. “When can they play with us?”

Elise and the other adults chuckling, Seanian smiled and rumbled, “Not for a while yet.”

Elise traded twins with Seanian. Once Gernand began nursing, she beamed at her older children. “But your father shall be bringing home some new siblings this morning that can play with you now.”

Then she and Seanian told the children about Gallant and the triplets.

Hazel blinked then shifted her book to her other arm. “That means there’ll be twelve of us. Seven girls and five boys.”

As Elise and Seanian nodded, Asher beamed. “How exciting! We’ll help get their chambers ready while Father fetches them.”

Elise beamed back at her friendly son as she finished nursing Gernand. “What an excellent plan.”

Handing Genevieve to a nursemaid, Seanian took Gernand and began burping him. “Very. I’ll get all of you started before I leave.” He glanced at Elise and mentally added, :That way, you can rest while I’m gone.:

She smiled back at her loving husband. :Thanks, my love.:

While Seanian finished burping Gernand and Melody began leading the older children out, Arvan smirked at Elise and Seanian and drawled, “Somehow I’m not surprised that eight children weren’t enough for you. I wonder if twelve shall be.” He blew a teasing sigh. “But even twelve children shan’t curb your improper kissing. Unfortunate.”

As Arvan winked then strode out behind Faras who was the last of their older children to leave, Seanian handed Gernand to a nursemaid before briefly kissing Elise. “I’ll be back this afternoon.” Then Seanian followed Arvan and the children out.

Elise rose not long afterward then washed and changed with Ann’s help. She spent the day alternating between resting in bed and walking about her and Seanian’s chambers to regain her strength. And throughout the day, Melody brought one or two of the children to visit quietly with her.

She was resting in bed again when Seanian returned with Gallant and his sisters in the middle of the afternoon.

Although the girls were smiling—even Honor—Gallant was shuttered as Seanian ushered them inside. ‘Twould take time for the wary eldest sibling to learn to trust her and Seanian.

Elise warmly smiled and opened her arms. “Come over so I can welcome you properly.” Once she’d embraced and kissed their new teenage children, she added, “I’m so glad you’re all here, and I hope you’ll be happy with us. If you need anything at all, please tell us.” She studied them. “What are your favorite activities?”

She and Seanian traded smiles when the teenagers said they enjoyed riding. How could they not, given the Goddess meant for them to be part of their horse-mad family? Gallant also admitted to enjoying sword fighting, while Grace enjoyed embroidery, Hope dancing, and Honor playing the keyharp.

Elise and Seanian talked with Gallant and the triplets for a while, then Seanian took them to meet the other children before dinner.

Regrettably, she had to eat her own dinner alone in their chambers since Seanian needed to eat with the children and she was still recovering. But tomorrow, she should be well enough to join the others, thank the Goddess.

After dinner, Seanian returned and joined her in bed. Wrapping her in his arms, he kissed her. “How was your day, my love? I feel like we spent most of it apart.”

Elise carded a hand through Seanian’s soft hair. Because they had. “Well enough. I’ll be able to join everyone downstairs tomorrow. Tell me how settling in Gallant and his sisters went.”

Seanian did. The teenagers had meshed with the younger children remarkably well. Gallant had been pleased how excited Noah and Asher were to have an elder brother who enjoyed sword fighting. Grace and Willow were fast friends, as were Honor and Hazel. And Hope had quickly bonded with Faras and Rosalind.

Elise grinned. The day had gone as well as she’d hoped. “I can’t wait to see them all together in person tomorrow.”

Humming, Seanian kissed her again. “Just remember not to do too much when you do.”

She caressed Seanian’s bearded jaw to reassure him. “I promise to be careful.”

Seanian sighed. “Good.” He arched his brow at her. “Do you think our large family is complete now?”

Elise quirked a wry smile. Hopefully. “That depends if we feel any more signs from the Goddess, although I suspect we shan’t. Twelve children is plenty even for us.”

Seanian brushed his lips against hers once more. “But you’ll be an amazing mother and lovingly managing matriarch to them all.”

She beamed. She was so blessed to have married such a wonderful gentleman. “And you’ll be the most steadfastly devoted father. I love you, my dearest Seanian.”

Her beloved husband drew her closer against him. “And I love you, my darling Elise.” Then he gently kissed her yet again.