Page 79 of The Rake Desires the Diamond

“Jimmy, my boy, you have grown a foot in the last few weeks.” Evan ruffled the boy’s hair.

Jimmy pulled his shoulders back proudly. “Only one inch. Alistair measured me. Said if I keep growing this fast, he’ll have to poke a hole in the roof.” Chuckling, he let go of Evan to bow, then extended his hand to Ethan. “You must be Lord Ethan, the duke’s brother. You look exactly like him. Did ye know he and I have become best mates?”

Before Ethan could shake hands with Jimmy, Evan locked his forearm around the boy’s neck. “I am your best mate.”

Who would have guessed that Evan tittered? But he did—quite adorably—as he and Jimmy tussled. Meanwhile, the barking Toonies ran circles around them.

After moments of absolute mayhem, Evan held his hands in the air. “I surrender.”

Jimmy raised an arm high, a stump where his hand should have been.

The old Katrina would have felt pity for the boy, fretting about how he would care for himself in this sometimes cruel world. But, the Kat who’d swum naked in the Atlantic and kicked a marquess in his testicles, felt only admiration for Jimmy.Exuding confidence and joy, half-gentleman, half-boy, he was a breath of fresh air. Undoubtedly, he would accomplish great things.

“I win. But only because you let me,” Jimmy said.

“Because I didn’t want Grandmother Louisa to hear the commotion, hurry down the stairs, have one of her spells, and break her hip. Last time, she knocked herself out cold.” Evan exhaled a massive sigh. “This blasted floor is hard as hell.”

“Lady Trent has not had a single episode since you left,” Jimmy said. “She is so excited about Baby Will. She keeps sayin’, ‘How fortunate that I have a new vinaigrette because I have no time for fainting or nonsense.’ I think she even loosened her—” Jimmy pointed to his torso “—lady things.”

Was the boy referencing stays in mixed company?

“’Tis about damn time,” Evan said.

“That’s what Georgie said,” Jimmy declared. “She insists ladies should ‘burn thebloodythings.’”

At least Jimmy had the decency to whisper the unseemly word. Georgiana had probably chanted it loudly.

Evan and Jimmy beamed at each other as they burst into laughter. Mayhap they shared a private joke involving women’s undergarments, the dowager countess, and the duchess.

“How in the deuce did my grandmother convince Georgiana to have the baby here instead of at Hockley Castle?” Evan asked.

Jimmy shrugged. “I think because Georgie and William were afraid that if she went to their home, she’d never leave.”

Evan laughed so hard he choked.

“But Evangeline doesn’t mind Lady Trent living here. She reads to baby Ali every night, and she’s a second grandmum to me.”

“Jimmy’s other grandmum is Mrs. Clayton.” Evan licked his lips. “Yum.”

This must be the same Mrs. Clayton who had ensnared Evan’s devotion using her biscuits and pies.

“Evan is my other best mate. I am Lord Trent’s ward.” Jimmy motioned for everyone to lean in. “When the dowager countess isn’t around, I call the earl Alistair.”

Ethan grasped the boy’s hand and pumped enthusiastically. “Nice to meet you, James Clayton. I have heard so much about you and what a promising student you are. Medical school is in your future, eh?”

“Right now, I am on my summer holiday. I plan to go to medical school someday. I probably can’t be a surgeon.” Jimmy held up his stump. “But I can still be a physician.”

“My brother believes in you, James.” Palm up, Ethan presented Anna. “This is my wife, Lady Harrington.”

As Jimmy studied her, his confusion morphed into joy. “Anna! I knew you were coming, but I didn’t recognize you in your fancy clothes. Even your hair is fancy.”

“He is used to seeing me in a mob cap.” Smiling, Anna patted at her coiffure. “Jimmy and I are old friends. When I visited Trent Castle with the duke and duchess, he looked out for me.”

“We had a jolly time,” Jimmy said. “I showed Anna, I mean Lady Harrington, all around the gardens. We went for walks with Duke and Lady. They were just puppies then. And we had winter picnics.”

Kat had heard the tales of William and Georgiana’s cross-country adventures, but she hadn’t realized Anna had accompanied them.

Evan placed his hand behind Kat’s back and gently nudged her forward. “This is William and Ethan’s sister, Lady Katrina Harrington.”