Page 4 of Captivating the Earl (Lords and Ladies in Love 5)

“How was your journey?”

The two men sat across from Leah, who rested on a settee. As always, she had her hands placed in her lap, a soft smile on her face. Since his cousin was a forceful man, who emanated power and energy, Hawk had always been amazed that the lovely, refined Leah kept him happy.

Theirs had been a love match, and Wycliff had forced his hand with his parents who had not wanted him to marry Leah. She had been a wealthy merchant’s daughter, and they’d thought, as an Earl, he could have done much better.

Wycliff had won out. His parents eventually accepted his wife, and from what he could gather, Wycliff’s mother doted on her grandchildren. Only two years after they married, the old Earl had died, leaving Wycliff with the title, a large estate to manage, and a wife already carrying their second child.

A footman arrived, carrying a tea tray with an array of offerings. “Just set it over there, Smith.” Leah waved in the direction of a table against the wall, next to the pianoforte.

“Now that tea has arrived, I can safely bring in the children.”

At Hawk’s raised eyebrows, Leah laughed. “Food is a very good source of distraction for little ones. They tend to be fidgety and feeding them works quite well.”

“It’s been a while since I visited—”

“—too long.”

Hawk smiled. “Remind me the children’s names and ages.”

“Ellen is nine years, Dorothy eight, and the twins, David and Daniel, just saw their fifth birthday.”

“My goodness, your nurse must be quite busy.”

“Yes, I’m afraid she is, but we have one of the maids help her each day. And we have a governess, as well. Since it’s been so long since we’ve been honored with your presence, you have not met Miss Moore. She is a lovely young woman, has been with us for a while. The children love her.”

Leah rose and made her way to the door, leaving Hawk concerned that they were about to be invaded by a terrorizing horde, ready to grab food with both hands from the tea tray. Perhaps he should have had that brandy.

“How do you find fatherhood?” Hawk studied his cousin, who did not look at all daunted at the coming invasion.

“Wonderful, just wonderful. You must try it some time.” His parental glow lit up the room. “’Tis an extraordinary thing to watch a tiny speck of a person grow into a real individual. One who looks like you, that you see traits of yourself in.”

He wasn’t certain he’d care to see some of his traits replicated in another. “Frightening things, I find them.” Hawk rested his ankle on his bent knee. “I always thought when the time came I would make sure I had sufficient help in the nursery to keep me from having to deal too much with them.” He ran his finger around the inside of his cravat. “Frankly, they terrify me.”

“Ah, but when you have one of your own, all of that nonsense leaves you.” Wycliff glanced up, over Hawk’s shoulder. “Here they come now.”

It had not been necessary for his cousin to announce their presence, since noise from shrill voices raised the hairs on the back of his neck. He stood, feeling more in control when he was on his feet.

“Here are your cousins, my lord.” Leah laid her hand on the tallest child’s head. “This is your cousin, Ellen.” The little girl did a rather elegant curtsy. “This is Dorothy.” Her curtsy, while adorable, needed a bit of work. “And the twins, Daniel and David. Children, this is your cousin, Lord Hawkins.”

She had no need to announce the twins since they looked exactly alike. Two pairs of deep blue eyes studied him, making him even more uncomfortable. The last time he had seen that look had been during a vingt-et-un game just as he’d won a hundred pounds from the notoriously strapped Lord Dankins.

“Good afternoon, children. It is my pleasure to re-acquaint myself with you.”

“Why are you so tall?” one of the twins asked, almost falling over backward trying to see to the top of Hawk’s head. “You’re even taller than my papa.” He made it sound as though Hawk had purposely grown to this height to best their father. Wycliff had always been a bit on the short side, and next to Hawk’s more than six feet, he probably did appear a bit diminutive to the child.

A lovely woman whom he had not noticed leaned toward the child, taking his little face in her hands. “Daniel, ’tis not well-mannered to ask personal questions.”

How the devil did she know who was who? They were even dressed alike.

“But he’s so big.” The other twin raised his hand up in the air.

Wycliff chuckled, and Leah gazed at the two hellions with love and pride.

Hawk shuddered.

He glanced up at the governess, who was regarding him with mirth. Had she witnessed his shudder? It was the first time he looked fully at her, so focused had he been on the children.

“Lord Hawkins, may I make known to you Miss Lizzie Moore?” She turned toward Miss Moore. “The Earl of Hawkins is Lord Wycliff’s cousin.”