Page 83 of The Duke's Mysterious Lover
“No nostrils,” she agreed in a whisper, her mouth inches from his.
Rosie chose that moment to latch her mouth onto his chin.
Thorne reared back. “What is she doing?” he asked, only it came out as “At ishe ooin?” because he didn’t want to move his mouth too much.
Chuckling, Kit stepped back with hands raised, palms outward, as if to say he was on his own here. “It looks as if she’s trying to bite you, but considering her age, I’m more likely to think she’s mistaken your chin for her mama and is latching on.”
While trying to work his finger between Rosie’s lips to break the seal, Thorne glared at Kit. “I dinnae suppose I can ask ye to keep this to yerself.”
“Not even close, Your Grace,” she teased, eyes twinkling.
And that was the opportune moment Bull announced from the doorway, “We’re here! What’d we miss? Thorne, why is that baby eating ye? Demon, are you starving your baby?”
The arrival of Bull and his stepfather Griffin caused another commotion, not the least of which was Demon bounding to his feet and bellowing, “Rose! Get that chin out of yer mouth! Ye dinnae ken where that chin’sbeen!”
As Demon stalked across the room, Kit murmured, “Face licking,” and ducked behind Thorne.
One might’ve thought any baby, when faced with a horribly scarred, spitting madDemon, might be forgiven a cry or two. But wee Rosie merely disengaged Thorne’s chin with an audiblepopand, burbling happily, reached eagerly for her father.
Thorne was more than a little relieved to turn her over to him.
After sending a quick glance at Kit to make certain she’d be alright standing by herself, Thorne turned to greet Griffin with a welcoming handshake. “It’s good to see ye,Yer Grace,” he teased.
“Bah, dinnae call me that.” Griffin, the only man in Scotland grumpier than Demon, scowled. “I’ll start callingyeStroke, see how ye like it.”
Thorne feigned horror. “Anything but that!”
“Ye’re the one dumb enough to be born the nephew to a Duke of Stroken.”
“Aye, but ye’re the Duke of Peasgoode, so if ye call me Stroke, I’ll start calling yePiss.”
Bull shook his head, the gold coin flipping across his knuckles again. “We tried that, he just gives us a lecture on legumes.”
Thorne lightly punched the lad’s shoulder. “And have ye brought yer da up on everything that’s been happening in London?”
Griffin’s scowl deepened. “Ye mean how, after I pleaded with ye for the love of God to keep the little shite out of trouble, ye allowed him to walkaloneinto Blackrose’s lair?”
“Yep,” declared Bull cheerfully, grinning at Thorne. “Though I wasnae alone. Didnae fash, Thorne, I told him everything.”
“Obviously,” Thorne muttered.
“If I didnae ken the laddie could take care of himself, Thorne, I’d be rather more pissed off.”
Thorne sighed, scrubbing a hand across his face. “I tried, Griffin, God kens I tried to keep him out of it.”
“He really did,” Bull said sympathetically to his stepfather. “But I’m the brilliant one around here, and it was my plan.”
“And he was in disguise,” Thorne offered. “Pleasetell me he told ye about his disguise.”
“Aye, he did.” Griffin eyed the lad with bemusement. “Thatled to some interesting discussions, let me tell ye.”
“Marcia’s angry because I was prettier than her,” Bull faux-whispered to Thorne.
“Nay, Marcia’s angry because she hasn’t had her official come-out yet, andyegot to go to a ball,” his father corrected him. “Although I still cannae keep track of why the lassie would want to go to a ball.”
Thorne opened his mouth—although he wasn’t certain if he’d been planning on defending the practice or continue teasing—when the sound of a throat clearing interrupted him.
He turned to see Fawkes standing there, Danielle on his arm, looking…somber.
