The morning sun filtered through the canopy of trees lining the bustling street, casting a warm glow over the city as Amelia, Alister, and Ethan stepped out of their carriage. Today was supposed to be a simple shopping trip to gather some essentials for the baby, but Amelia had an inkling that with her two overprotective and wealthy companions, things might not go as planned.
"Alright, remember, we're here to get a few things for the baby," Amelia said, looking pointedly at Alister and Ethan. "Just a few things."
"Of course," Alister replied, a mischievous twinkle in his eye. "We'll be perfectly reasonable."
Ethan nodded, trying to look serious but failing to hide his grin. "Absolutely. Only the essentials."
Amelia sighed, knowing that their definition of "essentials" was vastly different from hers. Still, she couldn't help but smile at their enthusiasm. As they walked down the street, the three of them drew curious glances from passersby. It wasn't every day that the Duke and his entourage went shopping like common folk.
Their first stop was a quaint little boutique filled with baby clothes and toys. Amelia's eyes lit up as she spotted a soft, hand-knitted blanket in pastel colors.
"Oh, look at this," she said, picking up the blanket and running her fingers over the soft yarn. "The baby would love this."
Alister immediately signaled to the shopkeeper. "We'll take the whole shop."
The shopkeeper's eyes widened in surprise and delight. "The whole shop, Your Grace?"
"Yes, everything," Alister confirmed, turning to Amelia with a triumphant smile. "Anything for our baby."
Amelia's mouth fell open. "Alister, you can't just buy the entire shop because I like one blanket!"
Ethan, not to be outdone, pointed to a collection of plush toys. "And we'll need all of these too."
Amelia turned to him, exasperated. "Ethan, we don't need all the toys. One or two will be more than enough."
But Ethan was already pulling out his coin purse. "You can never have too many toys. Besides, the baby might want variety."
Amelia shook her head, feeling a headache coming on. "Please, can we just stick to what we need?"
The next shop they visited was a tiny bookstore filled with children's books and educational materials. Amelia's eyes sparkled as she picked up a beautifully illustrated storybook.
"This would be perfect for bedtime stories," she said, flipping through the pages.
Alister and Ethan exchanged a glance. Without missing a beat, Alister announced, "We'll take the entire inventory."
The bookstore owner nearly fainted with joy. "The entire inventory? This is a dream come true!"
Amelia rubbed her temples. "Alister, really? We don't need all these books."
Alister shrugged, unrepentant. "Better to have too many than not enough. We want our child to be well-read, don't we?"
Ethan nodded sagely. "Absolutely. A broad library is essential for a well-rounded education."
As they moved from shop to shop, the pattern repeated. Every time Amelia expressed even the slightest interest in an item, Alister and Ethan would buy the entire shop. By midday, they had acquired an overwhelming collection of baby clothes, toys, books, furniture, and more.
Their final stop was a charming little bakery. Amelia's eyes lit up at the sight of the delicious pastries and cakes displayed in the window.
"Maybe we should get some treats for later," she suggested, trying to keep things simple.
Before she could say another word, Alister and Ethan were already negotiating with the baker to buy out the entire stock. Amelia watched in disbelief as they handed over a small fortune for all the pastries.
"That's it," Amelia said, throwing up her hands in defeat. "You've bought everything in sight. What are you going to do next, buy the whole street?"
Ethan and Alister exchanged a look, grins spreading across their faces.
"Why not?" Alister said, clearly amused.
"Exactly," Ethan agreed. "It would make it easier for future shopping trips."
Amelia stared at them, utterly speechless. She could see that they were only half-joking, which was the most worrying part.
"Alright, enough," she said, her voice firm. "You can't just buy everything. We need to be practical. The baby doesn't need an entire street of shops, just a few essentials."
Alister and Ethan both looked chastened, but she could see the amusement still dancing in their eyes.
"You're right, Amelia," Alister said, pulling her into a gentle hug. "We'll try to be more reasonable."
Ethan nodded, though he still wore a playful smirk. "We just want the best for you and the baby."
Amelia sighed, feeling a mixture of exasperation and affection for the two men. "I know, and I appreciate it. But let's focus on what we really need, alright?"
They spent the rest of the afternoon actually shopping for essentials, much to Amelia's relief. They picked out practical items like a crib, baby clothes, and a stroller, all while trying to restrain their over-the-top impulses.
By the time they returned home, the carriage was overflowing with goods, but at least they hadn't bought out any more entire shops.
As they unloaded their purchases, Amelia couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of the day. Alister and Ethan might be overprotective and prone to excess, but their hearts were in the right place.
"Thank you for today," she said, hugging them both. "It was... eventful, to say the least."
Alister chuckled, kissing the top of her head. "Anything for you, my love."
Ethan grinned, giving her a playful nudge. "Just wait until the baby gets here. The real fun will begin then."
Amelia smiled, feeling a warmth spread through her chest. Despite their antics, she wouldn't trade these moments for anything