“Yes. Yes. I promise, darling. You must stay calm.”
Air deflated her chest. “Thank you,” she whispered.
Brock dropped his forehead to the back of her hand. How had he let this woman slip from his grasp? He loved her so much it hurt. He raised his head and gazed at her closed eyes. The swelling would dissipate; the bruises would fade. She might have a scar, but her hair would grow back to hide it. Yet she was still the most beautiful woman in the world.
“Will you read to me?”
“Always,” he said.
Twenty-One
I
rene stood before Lorelei, rocking Nathan with a graceful sway of her body, back and forth, to and fro. “Lady Kimpton, I believe you are frightened of him.” Her scrutiny and her words sent a frisson of ice through Lorelei’s veins. The attempt to swallow was harbored by an unspeakable fear. She glanced around. Peg, Sarah, and Corinne were as still as statues. Even Cecilia stood unmoving, her thumb poised before her mouth. The rush started in Lorelei’s ears and progressed up, swarming her vision with bright then dark light.Bethie. Where was Bethie?
“Don’t worry, Lady Kimpton. I’ll stand right here and make sure you don’t drop him.” To her absolute horror, Irene moved forward and set the infant right in Lorelei’s lap.
“What are you doing?” Her voice was a staccato of pants.
Irene adjusted Nathan, making certain his head was cradled in the crook of one arm. She draped the other across the baby. “Hold him like this,” she said. She stood back to survey her work. “See? He is quite sturdy for a baby.”
The door crashed back, and Bethie was suddenly standing there, her face tight and strained.
“Look, Miss Bethie. Lady Kimpton is holding Nathan.” Irene’s statement jarred Lorelei. She looked down. Big blue eyes blinked up at her.
“Keep your arm under his head, my lady.”
Lorelei dared not move. He was too fragile. If she held him wrong, he could… he coulddie.
“Yer doin’ fine, my lady.” Bethie’s whisper was a prayer of hope. Lorelei’s eyes jerked to her. The older woman nodded slowly, encouragingly.
“He likes you, Lady Kimpton.” Irene’s smile beamed with pride.
Her gaze fell to the bundle in her arms. What did one say to such a tiny being?
Cecilia peered over the arm of the chair, looking at him. “I think he’s sleepy,” she said.
“How can you tell?” Lorelei was bemused.
“His blinks are slow. I blink slow when I’m sleepy too. Sometimes I count them.”
“Really?” She thought Cecilia might be duping her. She glanced at Irene.
Irene giggled. “She knows because I told her that’s how I could tellshewas sleepy.”
Her laugh caught Lorelei off guard, and tears burned. For the first time Lorelei could recall, she sounded so innocent, so sweet. Lorelei blinked.
“Are you sleepy too, Lady Kimpton?” Cecilia asked.
A quick crack of laughter burst from her, and she shook her head. There was a tap at the morning room door, and Peg peered in. “Lady Dankworth to see you, my lady.”
“Oh my.” Visitors. Lorelei hadn’t had visitors in so long, she’d quite forgotten how to receive them. “Thank you, Peg. Send in Mrs. Wells. And ring for tea.”
“Who is she?” Cecilia asked.
“A very interesting society lady,” Lorelei told her.
“Oh.” As if that answered all.
