Javenia nodded. “Of course.”
Algenon held the door open for his wife and she passed through. He moved to follow, then stopped. “I do not recall any Alvins in your family. How did you come by the name?”
She smiled softly. “I named him after his brother, or as you might say, his cousin brother.”
Algenon gripped the door tighter, leaning against the frame. His chest expanded and a suspicious sting in his eyes caused his vision to blur. “I am honored, Louisa.”
“Yes, well, you shall have to share the honor with your wife, since his name is a mixture of the two. “
Javenia peeked back in the room. “Truly?”
Louisa nodded. “I never would have made it through the last few months without the both of you. If only David could have seen and accepted how good you’d be for each other.” She ran a finger over her son’s face and the babe quieted, blinking up at his mother. Then she looked up. “He did love you, Algenon, but when your life started to resemble his brother’s, it frightened him.”
Algenon swallowed hard. He had come to the same conclusion, but that did not mean the pain from his distrust would easily fade. It was a comfort, however, to know that he’d acted out of love, as misguided as his actions had been.
A small hand settled on his arm, and he glanced down at Javenia. Her gentle smile soothed away the ache.
He took a deep breath. “Thank you, Louisa. I know he loved you, too.”
The door between Javenia and Algenon’s rooms opened as her lady’s maid clasped a bracelet around her wrist. The mirror reflected his admiration so clearly, and she wondered why she’d not seen it sooner.
“I am almost ready,” she said.
The maid picked up a locket, but Algenon waved her away. “I can help with the rest of my wife’s toilette.”
Surprised, the young woman set the necklace back on the dressing table and scurried from the room.
Javenia turned to look at him. “You should be careful. You might start rumors below stairs.”
He crossed to the dressing table and picked up the locket. “Like how the master of the house is unapologetically in love with the mistress?”
She faced the mirror and smiled. “Or some such thing.”
Algenon gently placed the chain around her neck and did up the box clasp. The locket settled neatly in the dip of her throat. His fingers trailed along the sides of her neck until they rested on her shoulders. Warmth permeated her skin everywhere he’d touched.
He leaned down and placed a kiss to the side of her neck. “There. I believe you are ready.”
“Mmmm…” was all she could manage.
“Careful, Lady Roberts. We are expected to dine at seven. Reactions such as those might make us late.”
She battled the urge to giggle like a schoolgirl and rose from her seat. “Don’t you dare make us late. I want to cuddle Melior’s baby before we are expected downstairs for dinner.”
Algenon smiled. “Not enough babies to cuddle at home. Didn’t we just come from holding an infant?”
“It’s not the same.” Javenia’s smile faltered and she gently took his hands. “You know how hard the last loss was on Melior—” She paused and glanced down at their intertwined fingers. “How hard her loss was on me.”
He dropped one of her hands and hooked a finger under her chin, raising her face to look into his eyes. Compassion filled their hazel depths.
“I know, Vee. We won’t be late.”
Her shoulders slowly relaxed.
“Besides.” Algenon stepped back. “I need to give the lad some advice where women are concerned.”
Javenia rolled her eyes. “He’s barely three months old. Why would a three-month-old need advice about women? Especially from you.”
He chuckled. “Did you not see the way little Nathan made eyes at Aurelia? I should warn Eddie.”
