Chapter 4
“Oh, a baby,” saidLord Peter Sidwin, his tone flat while gazing disdainfully at the infant in Bonnie’s arms.
Bonnie removed his quizzing glass from little William’s hand and stared down through the slimy lens at the dissipated aristocrat who dared look upon his son with contempt.
Sidwin scurried off to enjoy a brandy with the other confirmed bachelors before his fitting began.
“A fine lad there,” said Lord Edward Stone, just in from the street. “And now a good deal more hair than at his baptism.”
Lord Edward ruffled William’s blond curls playfully. Blond curls that perfectly matched those sported by Bonnie in his baby portrait displayed at the ducal seat. But that estate was safelytucked away in Scotland, so the child’s paternity was sufficiently settled.
“His papa would be glad to see him in such good hands, I’m sure,” said Lord Edward, his grip firm and reassuring on Bonnie’s bicep.
“I’m fortunate to be able to step in for William Trenchard. In all ways,” said Bonnie, gazing at the baby.
“I understand congratulations are in order,” said Lord Edward. “First a baby and now a wedding, Mrs. Trenchard — Lady Banastre has had quite the year.”
“She has been a marvel,” said Bonnie, looking around the bustling shop, now more successful than ever. “I should take young Will here to his Mama. Would you like to say hello?”
They slipped into a corridor that led to the cozy office where Molly handled the accounts and calls of a personal nature that happened during the work day. She was reclining on a chaise longue, momentarily closing her eyes between tasks when the men entered.
She wore buckskin breeches of her own design with a dress bodice on top. Bonnie admired the smooth lines of her pants, as always, not broken by drawers or smallclothes. From her bodice, her bountiful breasts rose, covered by a fichu during work hours for the sake of orderly shopping and fittings.
“My favorite boys, my only loves,” she said, extending her arms to take William from his father. “Has he been fussy?”
“Only when forced to converse with snooty aristocrats,” said Bonnie.
“You won’t mind terribly if I feed him before he begins wailing, would you, Lord Edward?” she said.
He gave assurances that he wouldn’t be put off by the sight of a woman feeding her child and settled in a high-backed chair next to the fire.
Molly adjusted her bodice while turned away from the men, allowing William to latch on before directing her attention back to them.
They watched her nurse baby Will, their eyes slightly glassy and jaws slack.
Soon, the child was sleeping despite his earlier greedy gulps. Bonnie delivered him to his nursemaid, who saw him safely upstairs to the bassinet.
“As expected, you look beautiful with a baby at your breast,” said Lord Edward.
Molly reclined on the chaise, her bodice still disarranged due to nursing William.
“Thank you, my lord,” she said as Bonnie returned to the office.
“It’s the funniest thing, Edward, the boy fell asleep before he could sample from both tits, imagine,” said Bonnie. “Poor Molly ends up in pain unless I ensure her supply is even.”
Bonnie sat on the chaise with Molly and withdrew her engorged breast.
“Hurts, does it?” he asked her.
She nodded.
Bonnie took her nipple into his mouth and sucked. He smiled widely, showing a hint of the milk he’d extracted.
“It looks delicious,” said Lord Edward, maintaining tight control on himself.
“Would you like to sample milk from the source? I find that my wife requires special attention at this time of the day and I could use a hand,” said Bonnie.
Lord Edward moved to the chaise as if in a trance. Molly arranged him flat on his back with a pillow below his head. She offered up her full breast to his mouth, and he quickly began feeding from her.
