A deep male voice said, “She has her mama’s temperament as well.”
Pippa turned to see the Duke of Hadleigh approaching in his long-limbed stride. He was a handsome fellow in his thirties with thick, dark hair and blue eyes. His navy frock coat and dove-grey trousers fit his virile form like a glove, his cravat a work of art beneath his chin.
“Good morning, my lady,” he said, bowing.
Pippa smiled and curtsied. “Your Grace.”
When she’d first met the duke years ago, he’d been a hardened rake, known for his excesses and volatile first marriage. A friend of Livy’s family, he’d attended many of the same functions Pippa had, and she’d noticed that, despite his black reputation, there’d been a special connection between him and Livy. A true and steadfast friendship despite their age difference. Last year, that friendship had blossomed into love…although Livy had confided that she’d had to work to convince Hadleigh to see her as a woman. As he had led a notorious life with his former duchess, Hadleigh had apparently believed Livy deserved a better man.
Seeing him now, the glowing contentment in his eyes as he kissed Livy before taking his daughter and tucking her in the crook of his arm, Pippa saw the evidence that love—true love—could change people. Heal them. Even if they had made bad choices in their past.
“You have the magic touch with Esme,” Livy told her husband. “She was determined to kick up a fuss with me. But look at her now, quiet as a mouse.”
The babe batted her eyelashes at Hadleigh, letting out a soft gurgle before falling asleep again. The duke looked at his daughter as if he couldn’t quite believe that she was real.
“I have experience handling headstrong ladies.” He winked at his wife. Then, he seemed to take note of the fact that Livy was dressed to go out in her rose-colored carriage dress and fur-lined cloak. “Where are you headed off to, my love?”
“Pippa and I are just running an errand,” Livy said breezily.
A bittoobreezily, for Hadleigh narrowed his eyes. “What kind of errand?”
“Oh, nothing of import.”
“If it is not important, why are you avoiding my question?”
“Because you don’t want to know the answer,” Livy muttered.
“Regardless, I must know.”
“Fine, but give Esme to Pippa, and we’ll talk in the study. Your shouting will wake the babe.”
Hadleigh looked offended. “I do not shout.”
“There’s a first time for everything,” Livy said under her breath.
Pippa carefully took Esme as the Hadleighs excused themselves. In the doorway, Livy turned back to give Pippa a wide-eyed look, drawing a finger across her neck. The universal sign forI’m in trouble now.
Knowing Livy rather enjoyed courting trouble with Hadleigh, Pippa smothered a smile. She cuddled Esme closer, breathing in the babe’s sweet, milky scent. In the distance, she heard the muffled sounds of a conversation.
Suddenly, Hadleigh’s voice rose to a roar. “What the devil? That place is a male brothel!”
More muffled words. Then everything went quiet.
Pippa guessed that Livy had found a more persuasive way than words to win the argument. Sure enough, when the pair returned a few minutes later, Livy was rosy and breathless, and Hadleigh’s cravat was rumpled.
“I’m ready to go,” Livy said cheerfully.
Taking Esme, Hadleigh gave his wife a warning look. “Send word when you are done with your errand, little queen. Themomentyou are done.”
“Yes, Your Grace,” Livy replied with a saucy curtsy.
As the carriage headed to The Enchanted Rose, Livy folded her hands atop her rose-colored skirts and said, “Tell me what happened with the Prince of Larks last night.”
Pippa filled Livy in on Ollie’s attack and the likely connection with Lady Hastings’s murder.
“The poor boy,” Livy exclaimed. “I’m so relieved he will be all right. And what about Mr. Cullen?”
There went that annoying stutter in Pippa’s heart. “What about him?”
