Bobby blows out a breath. He was just... staring at the man, wasn’t he? “Sorry, sorry, they’re saying their goodbyes. Please, come in.”
Bobby steps back so Demeroven can enter. He turns and closes the door, giving himself a moment. It’s like butterflies are fighting with razor blades in his stomach. And if this is his reaction just to seeing the man, how is he supposed to survive a day-long carriage ride with him?
“The family is in the sitting room,” he says, turning back to Demeroven with forced calm. “Have you met the baby yet?”
“Um, no,” Demeroven says, gesturing for Bobby to lead the way.
Bobby listens to Demeroven’s almost mouselike footfalls behind him. He leads Demeroven up the stairs, too many thoughts and questions piling up against his tongue, none of them elegant. They pause at the doorway to the sitting room, glancing awkwardly at each other. He has to say something, anything, just—
Before he manages even a word, Uncle Dashiell is up and ushering them in, clapping Demeroven on the back.
“James, please meet my son, Frederic,” he says, walking over to gently take the baby from a pouting Mrs.Stelm. “Oh, you’ll have him to yourself once the rest leave.”
Mrs.Gilpe laughs and tugs Mrs.Stelm back onto the armchair to begin planning their week. Something about a tournament of cards with the lord and lady.
Before he can listen for details, Bobby’s distracted by Demeroven approaching Uncle Dashiell and peering down at baby Frederic. The baby still looks a little squashed and indistinct, though Bobby thinks he’ll have Aunt Cordelia’s nose, and the light fuzz on his head does look like Uncle Dashiell’s blond.
“He’s a beautiful baby, sir,” Demeroven says.
Uncle Dashiell smiles and goes to hand him to Demeroven but Demeroven steps back, casting about the room for a viable reason not to hold the baby. Bobby doesn’t know if it’s fear or panic, but he can’t leave the man out to dry.
“Oh, is it my turn?” he asks, swooping in to steal Frederic from Uncle Dashiell’s arms, cuddling the soft, squirmy little boy close. “Yes, you just wanted your very favorite cousin, didn’t you?” he coos down at the baby.
“It is far too early for favorites,” Albie says from his seat in the armchair next to Beth. “I shall be teaching him to ride.”
“But I’ll be teaching him to fence—he’ll like that much better,” Gwen puts in quickly.
“He’ll be an archer, like me, actually,” Beth says. “And play duets with me and Mother.”
“Well, I’ll just have to teach him all the best hiding places in this house, then, won’t I?” Bobby says, putting his nose in the air. “We’ll share secrets about the lot of you.”
“It sounds like he’ll have a most wonderful childhood,” Demeroven says.
The room turns to look at him and Uncle Dashiell pats his shoulder. “Perhaps you can teach him the manners the rest of your peers seem to lack.”
“We are entirely proper all of the time every day,” Gwen says.
Aunt Cordelia snorts and Beth giggles, the two of them sharing a look.
“Fine. We’d best be going anyway,” Gwen says, standing and shrugging off Beth’s arm.
Beth rolls her eyes and leans in to kiss Aunt Cordelia’s cheek. Bobby looks down at baby Frederic while Albie and Demeroven speak with Uncle Dashiell. He’d rather like to stay just like this, all of them safe and together in Uncle Dashiell’s house.
Frederic meets his eyes, staring up at him with that piercing blue gaze, as if he knows Bobby’s feeling vulnerable and wants to comfort him.
“You’ll be good for your parents, won’t you?” he whispers, brushing his thumb along Frederic’s ear. “Don’t cry too much, and try and smile. I know Aunt Cordelia would love it if you started making more of your little sounds. Beth and Gwen too. So practice while we’re away, yeah?”
Frederic burbles and Bobby smiles, glancing up to find Demeroven watching him. He shrugs, a bit embarrassed, but Demeroven just blushes and looks away.
“I promise, your mother will be fine. I’ll take excellent care of her, and Mrs.Gilpe, Mrs.Stelm, and MissWilson won’t let anything happen to the baby,” Uncle Dashiell says.
Bobby turns back to the sitting area, watching Gwen and Beth stand together facing their parents. Their fingers are entwined so tightly that their knuckles are going white.
As much as he might like to stay here with the whole family, the time away will likely do all of them some good. He decides then that he’ll make it his mission for Beth and Gwen to have as much fun as possible while at Mason Manor.
“Finally, my turn,” Mrs.Stelm says, gently plucking Frederic from his arms.
Bobby misses his warmth immediately. He didn’t know he could enjoy holding a baby so much. Frederic has made him antsy for Albie and Meredith’s little one to arrive, as much for the joy of holding the baby as for Meredith’s health.
