Page 18 of A Baby to Seal the Duke’s Fate

There was a heavy silence. Leopold noticed that the young woman’s collected manner never outwardly faltered, but her face was pale, and he caught a nervous glance at Barnaby. Leopold stared at his friend, clearing his throat, but Barnaby continued to ignore him.

With a resigned sigh, Leopold went to the desk and picked up the letter from the agency. “The agency sent this.”

Miss Redmond stood with her hands folded neatly in front of her. “Yes, Your Grace.”

“Along with a recommendation for Miss Phoebe Redmond.”

Her expression did not change, but he saw tension around her mouth. “Yes, Your Grace.”

“The agency warned that placement might be delayed, whether it be due to an illness, confusion, or too few acceptable applicants who would be willing to travel on short notice. You arrived earlier than expected.”

“Yes.”

He looked at her over the paper. She was, indeed, earlier by a few days. Still, they had promised Miss Redmond would come as soon as arrangements allowed.

He had expected delay.

He had not expected eagerness. “Why?” he asked.

There was a pause, brief but not empty.

“I took the earlier coach,” she said.

“Why?”

She held his eyes. “Because I wished to begin at once.”

Leopold studied her for a moment longer. “Most applicants prefer to wait until they are certain a position exists.”

“Most applicants are not told there is an infant in urgent need of care.”

“You were told that?”

Miss Redmond’s fingers tightened around her gloves. “The agency letter suggested as much.”

“Suggested?”

“It said the matter was pressing.”

Barnaby cleared his throat. “That is one way of describing a baby who has brought an entire ducal household to heel.”

Miss Redmond glanced at him despite herself.

Leopold ignored Barnaby. “And that was enough to bring you here ahead of schedule?”

“A crying child does not improve because adults keep to timetables, Your Grace.”

The answer was quiet but clean. Leopold found himself looking at her more closely than he had intended.

Barnaby made a sound that might have been approval or amusement. Leopold ignored it, just as Barnaby had been ignoring him.

Leopold read the letter more carefully. The hand was respectable, the phrasing ordinary enough, and the recommendation described Miss Redmond as capable, discreet, and experienced with children. The only discrepancy seemed to be Miss Redmond’s arrival date.

Leopold set the letter down. “You have worked in nurseries before?”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“For how long?”