Page 14 of Embracing the Earl (The St. Clairs 3)

Chapter Five

Luke finished hisscone and told Evan to make his excuses to the women. Rachel was used to him dropping in and out so it wouldn’t surprise her that her brother was gone. He had a most important errand to run and then research to conduct. He retrieved his horse and only had to ride a few blocks to the St. Clair townhouse. It was fortunate the three siblings lived so close to one another in London and that Leah and Alex were also located nearby. He’d enlist their help in his endeavor to win Caroline Andrews’ hand—after he spoke with Jeremy and Catherine.

He arrived and handed his horse off to a groom and then knocked on the front door. Barton, the Everton butler, invited him in.

“It’s good to see you again, Lord Mayfield.” Barton cleared his throat. “The Duke and Duchess are... indisposed at the moment.”

Barton’s words were code that let him know his brother and sister-in-law were upstairs frolicking in their bedchamber.

“I’m here to see the children first,” he said. “Hopefully, they will see fit to come out before I leave.”

Knowing that Catherine must have been recently cleared by her doctor to resume marital relations since Philip had been born just over eight weeks ago, Luke knew his brother was making up for lost time. If the couple didn’t appear within an hour, he would make a nuisance of himself and pound upon their door until they answered.

He climbed to the top floor of the house, where the nursery and schoolroom were located. Opening the door, he saw Sara, the nursemaid, rocking young Philip. Jenny played with two dolls while the twins were building something with blocks. They’d both gone block mad after Merrifield had brought new blocks to Timothy. His nephew was kind enough to share with his sister, though Luke knew the headstrong Delia would have barreled her way in and demanded to play if her brother hadn’t been so accommodating. Sometimes, Luke thought Delia would be the most stubborn St. Clair of them all.

She was the first to see him. “Uncle Luke!”

Both twins ran to him, wrapping their arms around each of his legs. Jenny glanced up and smiled sweetly before returning to her dolls.

“Play with us,” Timothy insisted.

“I will,” he promised. “As soon as I spend a few minutes with your little brother.”

They released him and returned to the floor, where he supposed two hundred blocks had been spread out. Delia began stacking them while Timothy started counting some.

He went to Sara and held out his arms. “May I?”

“Of course, my lord.”

She rose and carefully handed the baby to him. Luke took her place in the chair and gazed down at the boy. Though he supposed all babies looked somewhat alike, he thought Philip and Seth favored each other. He envied them, being so close in age. They would be sent to school together after forming a close bond in their early years. Jeremy had been years older than Luke, having been the result from the duke’s first marriage, and so they hadn’t spent much time together in childhood. Luke had been closer to Rachel, who was four years his junior and came from their father’s third wife. All three women had died in childbirth, giving birth to the three St. Clair children. Thank goodness Catherine, Rachel, and Leah were made of hardier stock.

Philip opened his eyes and yawned sleepily. Luke proceeded to tell his nephew a story, one which he borrowed from a book Catherine had authored just last year. The other three children gathered at his feet as he did so, entranced at his use of different voices for the various characters. When he finished, Delia demanded it was her time with Uncle Luke and so he reluctantly returned Philip to Sara. Jenny went back to her dolls and Luke sprawled on the floor.

“What are we building?” he asked.

“The Tower of London,” Delia proclaimed.

“We better start with Tower Bridge then so people can get to it,” he said.

For half an hour they worked on the structure. Both twins declared the bridge sound. While Timothy was content to go on building, Delia, who was the more active of the two, demanded a horsey ride. Luke said only if everyone shared in a turn, which his niece agreed to—as long as she went first. As he got down on all fours and she climbed onto his back, he knew this St. Clair would be one who always got her way.

Delia was on her third ride when Luke noticed Jeremy and Catherine standing in the nursery’s doorway. Timothy and Jenny went to greet them but not Delia. She had her hands fisted in his hair and was determined to make the most of her ride.

“Enough, Delia,” Catherine said. “It’s time for your supper. Let poor Uncle Luke up.”

She released her hold on him and slid from his back. “Thank you, Uncle. Will you come back and help finish the Tower?”

“I certainly will. And I might bring a friend,” he added.

“Merrifield?” Timothy asked, his face lighting up.

“Maybe,” Luke said mysteriously. “Enjoy your meal.”

He pushed himself to his feet and ran his fingers through his hair before joining Jeremy and Catherine in the corridor.

“I notice you’re also combing your fingers through your hair,” he told his brother. “I suppose you’ve also been giving rides this afternoon.” Luke winked at Catherine, who blushed to her auburn roots.

“Duchess, should I throw out this rude bastard?” Jeremy asked, capturing her hand and bringing it to his lips for a kiss.

---