Page 48 of A Very Bookish Murder
‘Well, I’ve seen a few mammals give birth in my time,’ he said with a grin.
‘And do you know what was really nice?’ Ally asked.
‘I’ve got a feeling you’re going to tell me!’ Ross was struggling into his jeans.
‘It’s particularly apt that these boys have been born up there, in the castle, the ancestral seat, and not in some soulless maternity clinic somewhere.’
Ross nodded. ‘She was extremely lucky, Ally. I mean Magda was getting on a bit to be a first-time mother.’
‘No older than I was,’ Ally reminded him.
‘Maybe, but you had one at a time over a couple of years! Don’t forget she’s delivered two good-sized, healthy boys in one go with the minimum of fuss.’
‘You’re right,’ Ally agreed. ‘She’s obviously designed for this. I wonder how many more she might produce!’ Ally laughed. ‘All I have to produce now is breakfast!’
NINETEEN
Ally’s guests at the B&B were enchanted when she told them the news later that morning.
Even Penelope was impressed. ‘My God, they’re big for twins!’ she boomed. ‘Mine were only three-and-a-half and four-and-a-half pounds, although they’re thundering great chaps now!’
‘And you helped to deliver the earl’s babies?’ Millie asked Ally.
‘Ross did much more than I did,’ Ally said, ‘but then he’s had plenty of practice! Insists that one birth is pretty much the same as another, except that humans are a lot noisier!’
‘George and I have never been lucky enough to have children,’ Brigitte said with a sigh.
‘We’ve enjoyed trying though,’ George confirmed, munching on a sausage.
Brigitte turned to Millie. ‘I can’t remember if you told us if you had children or not?’
Millie buttered some toast. ‘I have a daughter,’ she said but offered no further information and so the conversation turned to names.
There followed many ooohs and aaahs as Ally told them about Kenneth James and William Alan.
‘So what titles do they have?’ George asked. ‘Earlets?’
Ally laughed. ‘What a brilliant idea! No, for the moment they’ll just be addressed as “the Honourable”.’
Brigitte sniffed. ‘The English, they have these strange titles.’
‘You could get deported for saying things like that,’ shouted Penelope. ‘Don’t forget that you’re inScotlandnow, madame!’
‘Ooh, sorry… I really meant the Englishlanguage!’ Brigitte said, placing a manicured finger across her lips.
Ally escaped to the kitchen while the conversation carried on around the subject of the aristocracy and their titles, Penelope enlightening them with her superior knowledge.
If the women were enthralled with the news, Morag was rendered speechless for a matter of minutes after her arrival. Ally had never seen her struck dumb before.
‘What?’ Morag asked when she finally regained her voice. ‘You and Ross were there when she was havin’ the bairns?’
‘We were,’ Ally confirmed.
‘Oh my! Just wait till I tell Murdo!’ She looked hopefully at the door, but there was as yet no sign of the postman. ‘Ah, now that’ll be why the earl had the flag flyin’ up on the castle this mornin’.’
‘Yes,’ Ally agreed and gave her a brief account of the night’s events.
‘So the earl’s missus had two boys! Well, well!’ She paused for a moment before adding, ‘Ye couldnae make it up.’ She seemed to be trying to assimilate this stupendous event before filling the kettle. ‘I’m goin’ to be needin’ a cup of tea before I start. Two boys, eh?’
