Gantry went to the door, his head shaking as if it would wobble off. “Good night, Duke. Master Jordan.”
Unwilling to give the viscount the satisfaction of knowing that being alone with the baby was a tiny bit unnerving, Busick proceeded to hold Lionel as if he cradled a snug blunderbuss flintlock, one that had been freshly oiled and cleaned. But this one smelled a little stale. He must need more oil.
“We’ll hire help, Gantry. As soon as morning arrives, we’ll send out inquiries.”
The viscount leaned against the door, yawning as if all the air in his lungs had left him in that moment. “I’ll relieve you in a few hours. Don’t crush or drop the boy. And here.” He walked back and handed him a cloth. “You might need this.”
Busick took it and pulled it about the wide-eyed child like a blanket.
Gantry mumbled under his breath something that sounded likeamateur. “That’s not for that end. That’s a napkin to dry him when he wets himself or worse. Night, Your Grace.”
Wet or worse?“A waste basin. Gantry, get it from the desk.”
His smug friend did so, putting it close to the sofa, then went to the threshold. “Good night.”
The door shut, and Busick was alone with the boy he’d chased these past six weeks. He lifted him high in both hands. “And so this begins. I’m your guardian, Lionel.”
The boy didn’t cry. He seemed to stare back with wide hazel eyes and long lashes. His light olive face had pink poked-out lips. It was sort of cute, if Busick were to note such things.
He settled the boy in his arms. And right before he could navigate to a more comfortable position on the sofa, the child sprung a leak.
“So it begins, little one. So it does.” Busick took off the napkin tied on Lionel’s bottom and held him over the waste basin.
“First thing in the morning, I’m hiring a woman for your personal care. Your first valet, a baby valet.”
Waiting for the watering to end, he determined that addressing this particular need of the child wasn’t something he’d be good at. “Lionel Jordan, we’ll win this war together. We’ll get you a proper nanny and put you on a schedule. My friends say a schedule is important for proper child-rearing.”
The boy blinked his big eyes, innocent and wondrous.
“We’ll get along nicely, young man.”
With an old nanny serving as the boy’s valet, one who adhered to schedules and rules, there could be no way to fail. Busick patted and dried his ward and purposed to hire one right away.
CHAPTER 6
WHENWOMENPLOT
Istewed over an empty cup at the countess’s kitchen table waiting for her to return. The lady’s nephew, the barrister who freed me and Jemina from Bedlam had barged in. Mr. Thackery seemed different than I remembered. I didn’t remember that the medium-build man was about my height. I thought him taller. I suppose everyone looked taller when I was chained to a wall.
He and the countess went for a private conversation.
My hope was that Lady Shrewsbury hadn’t changed her mind and was not currently giving the barrister instructions to recommit me to Bedlam.
The door swung open. Chuckling, she came back into the room. “Thackery is such a dear. He sends his regards and his wishes for you to be diligent and show more care. He worked hard to obtain your freedom.”
Doubt filled me. My stomach fell, and I waited for the words,You’re going back.
I counted to ten, held my breath, but no condemnation came.
In my softest voice, I said. “I just want my son. Tell me how to put my world back together. Tell me how to get my baby from the army you sent.”
Lady Shrewsbury leaned over and clutched my fingers. “I requested His Grace, but Repington, the military man, brought his troops. I told him that Lionel Jordan, his ward, was at Hamlin Hall. He’s your son’s true guardian per the will my nephew uncovered when we researched your identity. Mrs. St. Maur is not the most reliable witness, but she was correct about you.”
“Jemina is a dear. I owe her everything.”
“She is, but let’s focus on you, Patience. Mr. Markham planted false clues and had Repington chasingyouand the babe all over England.”
“Repington was Colin’s grandfather, and he’s dead. The man I met tonight is very much alive.”
