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“I am not sure I would do him justice, but if Lady Maxine agrees I will certainly try.”

*

Edward did not announce his arrival home at Warrington House. He came into the house the same way he exited and put up a silencing finger to his lips when a footman stirred on the landing. He went straight to his room, disrobing on his way to his bed. He tugged off his own boots and fell into bed with just his shirt on. He did not want to wake his valet, and so he slid into the cold bed with his cold heart and closed his eyes. Even then, the sounds of painful screams swirled around his mind. Lucinda’s mixed with Victoria’s. He wanted to sleep, was desperate for a reprieve from the mess of his life, but when the screams changed to a baby’s cry, he pulled the pillow over his head and wept.

He was not the first in the breakfast room the next morning. Rose stood when he entered the room, and he waved her to sit.

“Good morning, Your Grace,” she said, her tone light.

When he said nothing and picked up his plate, she came to stand next to him. He looked down at her and wished he had not. Small golden curls framed her beautiful face, and her lovely eyes focused on him. “I see it is not a good morning for you. Are you well?”

“I am fine, but I thank you for your concern.”

He finally sat at his place at the end of the long mahogany table, his plate piled high with twice as much food as usual, due to her distracting him. He could hear footsteps and steeled himself against the oncoming armada, also known as his mother and sister.

Rose handed him his newspaper. “For hiding behind,” she said before turning towards the buffet table with her plate.

Damned cheeky baggage.

“Ah, there you are, my dear boy. Thought you had gone for good last night.”

“Gone for good?”

“Yes, hied off to Scotland or the Continent.”

“Sorry to disappoint, Mother dear.”

“Oh, I’m quite used to it,” she said before sitting herself at the table and motioning for tea.

She was used to being disappointed? In him? Or in everyone? Most likely, just him. It was not as though he had been needed here. He was not required to pace the floor while holding his brother’s hand, and the babe came naturally without his attendance. “Excellent.”

“Shall I tell you all that you missed yesterday?”

“No. Thank you.”

“But I must. You see, you have a new nephew. William George.”

He gave a cynical laugh. “Fitting, I suppose.” Thankfully, he was sitting so his sister could not see the relief he felt weakening his knees.

“You do not like the name?” Rose asked.

“I have nothing against it.”

“Only?” she prodded.

“Only I was hoping they would call him Edwardo, as they once said was their pick.” There was a faint sarcastic turn to his lips.

“Oh, I do not think that sweet child should be saddled with such a name. He would get picked on at Eton for sure,” Marianne chimed in.

“Lucky then that our father had a totally innocuous, one might say, boring name.”

Marianne sipped her tea before saying, “Lucinda is well, in case you were wondering.”

“Good, that is good,” he said.

“Where were you last night?” Marianne asked him.

“Out,” he replied.