Her gaze went to Irene, still soundly sleeping where he’d been sitting.
“Once again, you’ve lost me, Lord Maudsley,” she said faintly. Surely he did not intend to toss him in the air. “Please be careful, my lord. H-he is just a newborn.”
A wicked grin tipped his lips. “Fear not, Lady Kimpton. Sit and I shall hand him to you.” She lowered herself to the chair, partly because her legs refused to support her any longer. “I’m surprised Irene didn’t show you the basics. She was quite engaging to watch with Cecilia. Had a mother’s instinct, even at the age of four.” He chuckled, settling Nathan in her arms.
“She tried. Irene, I mean.” Her voice shook appallingly. “My nerves are quite frayed, my lord. What with not knowing why we are here.”
Maudsley went back to his chair, took Irene, and cradled her against his chest once again. His eyes took on a faraway gleam. “I had great plans for Cecilia. But Irene shall have to do.” He looked down at her, smiling tenderly. “I shall miss her. She’s a lovely girl.”
A cold knot of fear formed in Lorelei’s stomach, and her fingers turned to ice. She rocked Nathan, keeping her eyes fastened on Irene. Her sleep remained peaceful and undisturbed, thank heavens. “She will be fine right here with me, my lord.” Her voice cracked with terror.
Something dire shifted in the air. Maudsley’s manner went from tender to hard and malevolent. “Her mother should never have lied to me regarding her parentage.”
Confusion, then shock, jolted through her. “That’s preposterous. Ginny… Ginny would never—”
The menacing hatred altered back to the carefree parley from moments before. “Now that I’ve discovered my daughter, I shall legally claim her. I’ll be petitioning Parliament to recognize the babe there”—he pointed to the child she held—“as my heir. All quite simple really.”
Lorelei shook her head. The whole scheme was confusing and ludicrous, the rules set, or so she believed. “Entailed property is inherited by direct descendants, Lord Maudsley. Male heir to male heir, the Crown is most specific.” Nathan’s whimpers were small but painful to endure. She smoothed a trembling hand over his head, moved her thumb to his mouth. He suckled greedily. “How is that possible?”
“There are no male heirs. No long-lost nephews, no flagellant cousins waiting to kill me off to take over my holdings. Just this one malechild.” Hatred glittered from his eyes. “There is no need to worry about Corinne. She has been promised to Welton.”
“Welton!” Her sharpness startled Nathan. He sucked in a deep breath and let loose a wail that could be heard clear to Edinburgh.
He smiled. “Brandy will help, my dear.”
“H-he’s a newborn,” she whispered.
He picked up his tumbler and brought it to her. “Suit yourself. It might be awhile before I return.”
“This doesn’t seem wise.” She looked at the dark-gold liquid, then back at him. “Are you certain it won’t hurt him?”
“Just a little to calm him. Surely you don’t believe I mean the child harm.”
No, that much she believed. He wanted the baby. She dipped her finger into the glass and put it to Nathan’s lips. He suckled furiously, and she gave him another taste. Blessed quiet ensued.
“There, you see?” He smiled. “Now, I must leave for a bit. But rest assured, I shall return.” He moved to a bookcase and reached above, still cradling Irene.
Her stomach dropped, fear reasserting itself. “Irene should stay with me.”
“I fear there are other plans for my precious Irene.” He spoke softly, his gaze on the child in his arms.
An odd sort of revulsion convulsed through her. “What sort of plans?” Her voice was a broken whisper.
“I fear the cost for the babe is Irene’s innocence.”
Maudsley’s insanity struck her with the force of a pugilist’s fist to her abdomen. “My lord, please think about what you are saying—what you are about to do.” She spoke quickly, anything to dissuade him. But he slipped a key in a lock and turned it. The door swung back without a sound, or perhaps it was the roaring in her ears that deafened her.
“I won’t be long, my dear. There is still Corinne’s arrival to manage.”
“Please,” she begged. “Won’t you leave Irene with me?”
“I’m afraid that’s impossible, my dear. Her future is already paid for.” The door shut on Lorelei’s cry and Nathan’s renewed and vigorous wails with a solid thud.
Too terrified to move, Lorelei sat for a long time. Fear held her in its steel-trapped jaws. She didn’t know how to hold a baby. Her arms trembled too violently to raise him from her lap. Horrified images of dropping him immobilized her. After a moment, she clutched his curled fingers in one hand. Ice-cold.
She couldn’t just sit here and wait for that wastrel to return. She gazed down at the tiny infant. “I’m sorry,” she whispered to him. A tear fell to his chin. She stroked it away. “I-I don’t know what to do.” She closed her eyes, forced herself to picture Irene’s stern instructions.
Hold him firmly, Lady Kimpton. You won’t hurt him. See? He likes you. Look. Watch how I hold him to my shoulder. He’s most sturdy. Now you try it.
