But when Malum slid her a sideways glance, intent on apologizing on behalf of his charge, he noticed her shoulders shaking.
By God, she was laughing.
“He’s like that little statue in Brussels,Manneken Pis. Isn’t he?” she asked, her voice light with amusement as she wiped the front of her gown with one of the clean linens.
“You’ve seen it?” Malum asked, his brow arching as he focused on keeping Ernest’s wriggling legs under control.
“We traveled to the continent years ago.” The smile she sent him was a little crooked—just as he’d thought before—but it fell so quickly he could have imagined it. “There was also an article in theGazettea few months ago, along with an artist’s rendering.”
As she spoke, her shoulder brushed his arm, a fleeting touch that neither acknowledged. Ernest’s little hands, meanwhile, had found one of Malum’s fingers and clung to it with surprising strength.
“Pesky little things,” Malum replied, his tone dry but his gaze briefly flicking to the curve of her cheek.
“Indeed.” Her lips twitched, betraying a hint of humor as their hands worked in sync, passing linens and managing the squirming infant.
Not even twenty-four hours had passed since Ernest had been left on Malum’s doorstep, and yet, here he was, discussing, of all things, the male appendage, with a woman he would never have been properly introduced to.
The sort of woman he’d normally avoid like the plague.
Because they are trouble, he thought even as he wanted to lean closer, just enough to catch that faint scent of roses and lemon.
It was… surreal.
“Something about being exposed to the air, perhaps,” Malum murmured, his attention only half on his charge as he watched Lady Melanie’s quiet focus.
After a few minutes of fumbling—hands brushing, linens exchanged—they managed to get Ernest dry and clean without him soaking anyone else.
“He’s so tiny,” Lady Melanie said.
“Born a fortnight ago, according to the note.” Malum took a step back and watched as this curious young woman washed her hands and then proceeded to wrap a clean blanket around Ernest, who initially resisted it, but once bound rather tightly, appeared oddly content.
She made a shushing sound, bouncing him gently.
“Newly born, aren’t you? And left to the mercies of strangers twice now…” She spoke so softly, Malum almost didn’t hear.
And then he realized…
Hewas one of those strangers who’d failed the infant.
Blast it all, this wasn’t something he’d invited upon himself. “TheWellington Household Placement Agency isthe best in England.”
She somehow managed a teasing glance that carried more than an ounce of accusation. “You should have met with her.”
“I know.” The admission came out harshly. He was just so out of sorts.
In the ensuing silence, she turned to study him, looking quite serious as she stared over Ernest’s head to meet Malum’s eyes.
“You aren’t at all what I expected,” she said.
Ignoring the weight in his chest, Malum curved his lips into a cynical smile. "What did you expect, my lady?”
Her throat moved just before she licked her lips. “The papers say you’re a monster.”
It didn’t surprise him—it shouldn’t surprise him. And yet, the weight of her words dropped into his gut.
“The papers say a lot of things,” Malum replied, his tone dry as he gave her a pointed look. “But perhaps you shouldn’t believe everything you read.” He shook his head. “Monsters, after all, tend to be more straightforward.”
He clamped his mouth closed.
