“I am up to nothing.” She smirked. “I just think Nicholas ought to find Alicia so she does not miss out on the gathering, is all. It is all very innocent.”
“I am sure.” He raised an eyebrow. “Whatever it is you are doing, I want to know, so we can do it together. Let me be cunning with you.”
But before Sibyl could lean in to whisper her matchmaking plans, Gabriel’s attention was snagged by Rosie. He shot to his feet, crying out.
“Sibyl, Sibyl! She is doing it—she is doing it!” Laughter spilled out of him as they both watched Rosie hunch over, trying to push up to her feet.
Sibyl stood slowly, covering her mouth in shock. “Oh, Heavens,” she whispered. “She is going to take her first steps.”
Around them, her family cheered gently for the baby, and Rosie blinked at them all as she unsteadily righted herself.
Gabriel extended his hands towards her. “Come to me, sweet girl,” he encouraged. “Come on over here, can you do that? Can you take those few steps for me?”
He kneeled, still holding out his arms to either catch Rosie or scoop her up when she made it to him.
Hesitantly, Rosie took one step, then another, then another. A giggle bubbled from her tiny mouth as she waddled over to him, clumsy and heavy-footed but successful.
Sibyl wept a little while Gabriel kept encouraging their daughter.
Rosie giggled again, her fingers clenching and unclenching. “Papa!”
“That is right,” Gabriel half laughed, half cried. “Come to Papa.”
Finally, Rosie stumbled into his arms, and he lifted her high in the air, kissing her cheek.
“Oh, my Rosie,” he cooed. “I am so, so proud of you. We shall have you sprinting through the manor in no time.” He glanced atSibyl, pulling a face. “Or perhaps not. Not if you are a little terror and run away from us, rather than to us.”
Sibyl laughed as she wrapped her arms around them both, holding her family tightly.
“What did I miss? I heard a commotion,” Alicia’s voice came from the doorway, a scowl on her face as she stepped away from Nicholas.
“Rosie took her first steps!” Sibyl exclaimed.
“Ah.” Alicia smiled brightly, but it was clear she did not see the appeal. “Very good, Rosie.”
Nicholas snorted behind her, before coughing to cover it up. “You don’t like children?”
“I prefer dogs,” Alicia snapped, stalking away from him. As she approached Sibyl, she muttered, “That man is the most infuriating person I have ever known, and I cannot bear to be within two feet of him.”
Sibyl only laughed, holding her sister’s hand. But she noticed how Alicia’s eyes flicked back to Nicholas, how a blush bloomed in her cheeks, before her scowl returned when he grinned at her.
“All I said,” he called out, “was that you should not snoop.”
“And as I said, it is none of your business what I do.”
“Did you even get the lemonade?” Charles sighed next to Hermia, and they all laughed.
“I am certain the Marquess can be so kind,” Alicia said drily. “Seeing as he likes to look for things that are apparently missing.”
“That does not make any sense, Lady Alicia.” Nicholas exhaled, shaking his head. “Regardless, do join me in finishing your task.”
“No.”
Alicia whirled away, and he smiled again.
Sibyl remained steadfast in her opinion. The two would challenge one another, and they would have a very exciting life if it went anywhere.
Gabriel caught her eye, cocking his head as he rocked Rosie. “Is it just me, or might they make a good… Oh.”
