Romancing Lady Stone (A School of Gallantry Novella) (23 page)

Giselle giggled, bit her lip, gathered her skirts and darted out of the room.

Cecilia turned toward Konstantin and sighed. “The day hasn’t even started and yet I am exhausted. Thoroughly exhausted.”

Konstantin tossed the book he was holding onto the chaise and jumped to his feet. Adjusting his grey morning coat, he strode over. “And yet you keep asking me for another babe? I keep telling you, it is not wise for us to be trying so soon. It has only been six months.”

“I am past forty,” she argued. “If we don’t have the last one now, it will never happen.”

“I can assure you, it will happen. All we have to do is try at midnight and you are done.”

She snorted. “Midnight can only help a woman my age so much.”

“Ba, ba…
ba
,” Gérard offered, waving about a frantic hand.

Konstantin grinned and reached out and took Gérard from her arms, nuzzling the boy’s head. “Yes. Exactly. You tell her. You tell her I refuse to exhaust her.”

Cecilia stood up on toes and kissed Konstantin’s cheek soundly. “Can we not try for another babe?
Please
? I am done waiting. You are being needlessly stubborn.”

Using Gérard’s pudgy little hand, Konstantin pointed at her accusingly. “You are not listening to what I said.”

She sighed, knowing there was no use arguing with him about it. Drat him. “We have to go. The girls are waiting.”

“Are you angry with me?”

“A little.”

“I cannot have that. Come here.” He leaned down captured her lips, lingering.

She closed her eyes, melting into that kiss in the way she always did.

A small hand frantically patted its way toward her breast and tugged on her décolletage.

A bubble of a laugh escaped her as she broke away and re-opened her eyes. Whilst she was glad she didn’t hire a wet nurse, as ladies in her circle always did, the duty of feeding sometimes came at the most inconvenient times. “Apparently, Gérard is hungry.” She wagged her hands toward him. “Give him here. I will feed him before we leave.”

Konstantin glanced down at their boy and tsked. “So much for our picnic. He is making his own.” Depositing Gérard into her arms, he searched her face. “You have not had
your
Russian lesson today.”

“You know how utterly hopeless I am at Russian. I try but nothing ever comes of it.”

“That is because you are not practicing.
Vot moe serdtse. Ono polno lubvi
.” He searched her face again. “Now translate.”

She quirked a brow. “I never heard that one before. How can I translate?”

He shifted toward her. “
Here is my heart. It is full of love
.” He smiled boyishly. “Now say it back to me in Russian.”

She rolled her eyes. “I can’t even remember the first word. But I do love you. In case you were wondering.”

“I was wondering. And I genuinely think more lessons are in order.”

She laughed. “I look forward to learning the entire Russian alphabet. But in the meantime, tell the girls I need a few minutes to feed Gérard. Now off with you.”

He smiled, inclined his head and adjusted his coat, striding toward the doorway. Pulling out his watch, he checked the time and paused. His smile faded.

She seated herself in a chair and unpinned the front of her gown, letting Gérard latch onto her breast. “What is it?”

He glanced back at her, his green eyes capturing hers. He wagged the watch at her, rattling the silver chain attached to his pocket. “My watch ceased ticking. Again. It stopped at the hour of twelve. Again. It never wants to go past the hour.”

She glanced up. “Did you not have it fixed by a clockmaker a week ago?”

“Yes. That makes for nine times I have taken it in the past few weeks.
Nine
.”

She cradled Gérard. “It is rather old. I suggest you retire Miss Bane’s watch into a glass case we can display it as a family heirloom.”

“I think I will have to.” After a long moment, he turned back toward her and observed her feeding Gérard. He eventually said, “I think Miss Bane is telling us it’s time for another baby. What do you think?”

Wonders never ceased. He was saying yes to another baby.

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