“Baby?” Gantry and Daniel said the word at the same time.
Daniel paced. “I’m happy for you, Duke, but are you sure? My wife hasn’t mentioned anything.”
“Mine is keeping it close to the vest. But her lady’s maid informed me that something is late, seven weeks late today.”
Gantry, with his chestnut hair falling out of the poorly done ribbon at the back, looked as if he wanted to knock some manner of sense in the duke. “You had a maid spy on your wife to report such things?”
“Yes. What? That’s not normal, to ensure the health of my top recruit?”
Daniel offered a frown to the viscount, who shook his head even as he rocked Hope. “That’s your friend, sir. Not that I’m in position to dictate proper care and handling of a wife.”
“Ashbrook,” the duke said, “I don’t need the duchess climbing trees or going to gaming hells or whatever your crazy aunt has her doing when she thinks she’s sneaking out without my notice.”
A soldier came and stood at the door. “They’re burglarizing the Lincoln’s Inn again, sir.”
“My office again?”
“Yes, Ashbrook. That means they climbed those trees again. Do me a favor, leave a key out so if they have to return, you can at least make it easy.”
Face aching, feeling stupid, knowing Jemina was given to falling, Daniel sighed like his lungs deflated. “Why are they breaking into my office? Lady Shrewsbury wouldn’t send them back again, not so soon.”
“That means their running their own operation. They’re rogues.” The duke rolled back and then went to his desk. “You know what they are looking for. I suggest you go there and make sure they get it. Then bring our wives home safe. Gantry, you go too.”
“But Hope?”
Gantry handed her into the duke’s arms.
He waved for them to leave while he hummed Jemina’s lullaby. “ ‘There was once a little boat.Ohé! Ohé! Matelot. Ohé! Ohé! Matelot.’ ”
Daniel’s nerves eased. The man would do well with a daughter as he did with Lionel. “Send for Mrs. Gallick if you can’t handle things. Hope has nightmares.”
“Go, I have the maid spies upstairs. Does this one wet too?”
“Only if she’s scared. I suggest you smile a lot and sing.”
“I can help.” Lady Bodonel stood at the door with her jewels and a large feathery bonnet. She was either heading to or returning from a party. “I can help with a girl, Busick, darling. Son, I didn’t know you and Patience—”
“Yes, our family is growing unless the earl’s foolishness has caused my wife harm.”
Gantry nudged Daniel toward the door. “Come on, Ashbrook. You’re part of the henpecked club now.”
“Cock-a-doodle-do, gentlemen.” Lady Bodonel flapped her arms and crowed softly as she looked over the duke’s shoulder.
Gantry ran a hand over his scalp, undoing his hair. “You two fools have wives, not minions or sycophants, but able helpmates. Keep them, make things right before they abandon you.”
He bent and scooped up his fallen ribbon. His regret mirrored the deep frown lines in his gaunt face. The man suffered greatly. “Let’s go, Ashbrook.”
Daniel hoped he hadn’t made one too many mistakes with his helpmate, his Jemina.
CHAPTER 49
JEMINA—ANYTRUTHWILLDO
Nothing. Nothing was in Daniel’s bottom drawer. I rubbed my hands. “I don’t see the passenger list. Where would he put it?”
Patience didn’t move on the sofa.
“Are you sleep, Your Grace?”
