Page 48 of The Tenacious Lady Blackmore

She hurried to his side. Sitting once more, she whispered softly, “I’m afraid we must impose on you a bit longer.”

“Don’t worry,” he whispered back, “I know better than to wake a teething baby.”

“Actually,” she said slowly, though she knew he would be all right with what she had to say next, “I may have engaged you for longer than this one nap.”

“Oh?”

Charlotte resumed resting her head against Seth’s shoulder. “I told Susan you and I would stay with Samuel tonight while they attend a dinner party they were invited to.”

“So I’m spending the evening with you two?” he asked.

“It appears so.”

Seth’s hand found hers and he gave it a little squeeze. “I’d be delighted to.”

And a delight the evening proved to be. Samuel slept only a few minutes longer and was awake by the time Susan and William came in to kiss their little man goodbye.

“You behave yourself,” Susan told him.

“That’s right, old man,” William agreed. “No making grandmother grayer than she already is.”

“Oh, come now,” Charlotte said, swatting at William’s arm, but her son skipped out of reach. “One more comment like that, and wewon’tbe willing to sit with Samuel.”

Susan instantly started pushing her husband out the door. “We’re leaving now,” she said quickly.

Soon thereafter, Samuel grew fussy, but another cold handkerchief and some more sugar cubes proved just as helpful the second time. After that, they took him outside to watch the sunset in the warm autumn air. They took dinner all together in the nursery, Samuel eating more than Charlotte had seen him gobble down for the past two days.

After that, Charlotte read to him and Seth, who enjoyed adding random comments on nearly every page. By then, the sun had set, and it was time for Samuel to sleep. However, the moment she tried putting him down, Samuel cried and cried.

The nursemaid offered to take the baby, not for the first time since Susan and William had left, but Charlotte shook her head even as she picked up Samuel out of his crib.

“I think it’s his tooth again.” Samuel lunged suddenly, nearly jumping out of Charlotte’s arms. Charlotte wrapped her arms more securely around Samuel, only to find him reaching for Seth.

Seth stepped up and took the boy. “You know who gives you sugar when your gums hurt, don’t you?”

Charlotte turned to the nursemaid. “Will you prepare another handkerchief and some more sugar, please?”

“Right away, m’lady,” she said and left.

Samuel had his own fist in his mouth while he rested his head against Seth’s shoulder. The little boy whimpered softly.

“I think you’re right,” Seth said, bouncing the boy gently. “His tooth is starting to hurt him once more.”

“Well, let’s head down to the parlor, then. We’ll be more comfortable there.”

The nursery was lovely, but it only had a single rocking chair in the way of comfortable seating. All the other chairs and tables in this room were made for young children. Although she and Seth had made do at dinner, her back hurt slightly from the effort. Seth, no doubt, would agree that being downstairs would be better for them both.

By the time the cold handkerchief and sugar arrived, Samuel had grown quite fussy. Blessedly, the effort proved helpful yet again at calming him down. But it didn’t prove helpful in getting him to sleep.

Seth and Charlotte took to amusing themselves first with cards and later with soft conversation. At length, Samuel’s eyelids started to droop. This time, Samuel fell asleep on Seth’s shoulder, one arm looped around Seth’s neck, and the other hand clutching the slowly warming rag.

Seth sat in the wingback closest to the fire, saying the gentle heat would help Samuel sleep. Charlotte, who had been sitting on the settee, pulled her feet up and reclined an elbow against the armrest. Comfortable in the still room, they talked of the past summer and all the diversions they’d seen together. They talked of the whirlwind that had been marrying off three daughters in only a few months. They talked of being parents to adults and how those challenges were unlike any they’d faced as parents before.

And that’s how they were when Susan and William returned.

“How was he?” Susan whispered her question.

“A champ,” Charlotte said, sitting up straight once more.

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