Joseph said nothing, making mental notes of all the people he would now compensate. A larger payment to the Boyds for the disruption of a newborn, some significant compensation to Perry’s mother in Surrey, money to the doctor. Stoker provided for Sabine and would not tolerate payment to her, but Joseph would make some gesture.
“Equal to the idea of the spoon,” Tessa continued, “was Perry’s mother’s suggestion that we try goat’s milk. Apparently, cow’s milk can upset a newborn. She was correct, as you can see, he loves it. So I’ve actually splurged and bought a female goat.”
Joseph blinked at her and she laughed.
“It’s true. She lives in the mews with the Boyds’ horses. Perry milks her every day. Or I do.”
Joseph closed his eyes at the thought of his beautiful wife on a stool milking a goat to feed her baby. “I’m sorry, Tessa,” he whispered. The words sounded insufficient, so woefully insufficient.
Tessa opened her mouth to speak but then closed it. She looked down at her son and then up at Joseph. She nodded. “I appreciate that, Joseph. Thank you for saying so.” She took a deep breath and returned her attention to the baby. “We managed, didn’t we, Dollop? The gift of a name and legitimacy is no small thing. Oh, and the money, of course.”
Not nearly enough,Joseph thought. He opened his mouth to tell her this, but Christian suddenly let out an imperious squawk and turned his head to the side, refusing the next spoonful.
“And it seems luncheon has come to its rightful end,” sighed Tessa. “All full up, are you, Dollop?” She dropped her spoon into the teacup with a smile and turned the baby onto her shoulder to pat his back. Within seconds, he released a healthy belch.
“Lovely, darling,” Tessa encouraged.
Joseph chuckled, enjoying the sight of her with the fat, round baby on her shoulder. Suddenly, he felt an insistent urge to hold the baby.
“May I?” He set the cup aside.
Tessa could not hide her surprise, but she said nothing. She leaned forward to arrange the linen napkin on Joseph’s shoulder and followed it with the drowsy baby.
“Give him a pat or two.” She modeled how to burp him.
“What is his schedule after he eats?”
“Oh, Perry will put him down for a nap. And we may go, if you still—”
“May I?” Joseph asked.
“May you...?”
“Put him down for his nap?”
Tessa blinked several times, almost as if she hadn’t understood. “If you like.” A little laugh. She leaned forward, and for a thrilling second, he thought she meant to kiss him. But she dropped a kiss on the baby’s cheek. She was so close, Joseph could smell her familiar, soft floral scent. Joseph forced himself to sit perfectly still, if he moved—moved at all—the floodgates of self-control would snap, and he would tip forward and nuzzle her cheek.
When she moved away, his head felt light. He held on to the solid weight of the baby and cleared his throat. “Where do I...?”
She was thoughtful for a moment, and then she said, “I will allow Perry to demonstrate naptime, if you don’t mind.”
He rose. “Alright. But if you would rather me not—?”
“I am pleased you want to do it, but I have a tendency to take over when I am in the room. If you really want to learn, I should remain back.” She cleared her throat. “One of the lovely things about Perry is that she is never far. She has a tendency to be everywhere at once.”
She looked at the door.“Per—”
The maid popped into the room. “Yes, miss?”
Tessa gave a knowing smile. “Perry, Mr. Chance would like to assist you in putting the baby down for his nap. Would you be so kind as to show him how it’s done?”
The maid gave a gasp and clapped her hands together. “Oh, yes, Mr. Chance. It’s only right through here, if you please. How masterfully you are holding him, if you don’t mind me saying.”
Joseph glanced back at Tessa, but she had turned away. She looked out the window, resting a pensive hand on her mouth.
Chapter Nineteen
The September wind blew from the north with the first hint of winter, and Tessa wished for her wool pelisse. Inconveniently, her winter cloaks were all made of bright fabric, sunny yellow and dusty purple and pearly ivory. She hadn’t wanted to spend money to replace them when her wardrobe turned drab. The pregnancy had kept her confined most of the previous winter, but this year she would have to sort out some alternative. Today, she would shiver.
